Douglas
of the `Chatham' has received orders to go on shore at midnight to bring
off our spies, the two Meekses. You are to accompany him. It is a
delicate service, and I must caution you to be careful that none of your
men do anything to give the alarm. I send you on the expedition as I
know that I can trust to your discretion."

I thanked him for the good opinion he was so often pleased to express of
me, and went below to prepare for what was before me. I took Grampus
and Tom with me, and a picked boat's crew, and at the hour arranged
shoved off from the ship's side. Mr Douglas had come on board in the
afternoon. He had to communicate with a person on shore, while I had to
look-out for the spies. It was a darkish night, but there was very
little wind, so that it was necessary to muffle our oars in order that
our approach might not be perceived. As we pulled over the still
waters, in which here and there the reflection of a star might be seen,
as it peeped out between the clouds, we could just distinguish the
fringe-like tops of the trees which surrounded the sheltered nook
towards which we were steering. All was still as death as we approached
the shore. We ran into the nook and landed. Two men were left in
charge of the boat, and while Mr Douglas proceeded to the place where
he was to meet the person he had appointed to see, I led the men through
the wood to a spot where two roads met, and where the Meekses had
arranged to be in waiting. I whistled twice very low as agreed on, but
no one answered. Telling Grampus to wait, I walked along the road in
the hopes of meeting our friends; but seeing no one, I returned to await
their coming. It occurred to me, that as strangers might be passing it
would be unwise to expose my men to view; so I posted them behind a
thicket, and sat down where I was myself concealed, and could at the
same time command a view along the roads as far as the light would
allow. I had remained there fully half an hour, when I heard footsteps
approaching at a rapid rate. The person stopped where the road branched
off, as if in uncertainty which to take. I was about to rush forward
with my men to seize him, when I recognised Mr Douglas. "We shall have
to retreat to the boats, I fear," said he; "some one has given
information that we are here, and the neighbourhood is alarmed; but we
must wait till the last moment for the poor fellows we were sent to
bring off."

Ten minutes, or rat