When at home at the Roost, the stout Jacob was not idle ; he was prone to carry on a petty warfare of his own, for his private recreation and refreshment. Did he ever chance to espy, from his look-out place, a hostile ship or galley anchored or becalmed near shore, he would take down his long goosegun from the hooks over the fire-place, sally out alone, and lurk along shore, dodging behind rocks and trees, and watching, for hours together, like a veteran mouser intent on a rat hole. So sure as a boat put off for shore, and came within shot, bang went the great goose-gun, a shower of slugs and buckshot whistled about the ears of the enemy, and, before the boat could reach the shore Jacob had scuttled up some woody ravine, and left no trace behind.

About this time the Roost experienced a vast accession of warlike importance in being made one of the stations of the water-guard.

This was a kind of aquatic corps of observation, composed of long, sharp canoe-shaped boats, technically called whale boats, that lay lightly on the vi^ater, and could be rowed with great rapidity. They were manned by resolute fellows, skilled at pulling ari oar or handling a musket. These lurked about in nooks and bays, and behind those long promontories which run out info the Tappan Sea, keeping a look-out, to give notice of the approach or movements of hostile ships. They roved about in pairs, sometimes at night, with muffled oars, gliding like spectres about frigates and guard-ships riding at anchor, cutting off any boats that made for shore, and keeping the enemy in constant uneasiness. These musqaito cruisers generally kept aloof by day, so that their harboring places might not be discovered, but would pull quietly along, under shadow of the shore, at night, to take up their quarters at the Roost.