ers."

Sam, who had by this time become well acquainted with the country about
his hiding-place, once more placed himself at the head of his men, and
led them down the shore for a quarter of a mile; and after passing
through two or three fields, came up on the other side of the
potato-patch. If the farmer was on the watch, this maneuver would lead
him to believe that Sam and his band had come from the village.

The governor had no difficulty in finding the place where the farmer had
left his potatoes, and after he had ordered two of the band to act as
sentries, he set to work with the others to fill the bags.

For a wonder Tom labored as hard as the rest, and without once noticing
how sadly he was soiling his hands and clothes. He was rendered
extremely uneasy by the precautions the governor had taken to avoid
capture, and he was anxious to get the work done as soon as possible.
When his bag was filled, he tied it with a string he had brought with
him for the purpose, and was making some desperate efforts to raise it
to his shoulder, when an exclamation from one of the sentinels caused
him to drop his burden as if it had been a coal of fire.

"See there, fellers!" whispered Xury.

"Look out, men!" chimed in Will Atkins. "I hear something."

Tom looked, but could see nothing. He knew there was danger near,
however, and without waiting to see what quarter it was coming from, he
jumped over his bag of potatoes, and drew a bee-line for the beach at a
rate of speed that astonished himself. He had not made more than half a
dozen steps, when an appalling yell rang out on the air, followed by the
roar of a gun which sounded so loud that Tom, in his terror, thought it
must have been fired close to his ear.

"Halt there, you villain!" shouted a voice close behind the flying
captain of the Crusoe band.

Tom heard the order, and knew it was addressed to him, but he did not
heed it. He ran faster than ever, the sound of rapidly pursuing
footsteps lending him wings. But all his efforts were in vain. The
footsteps grew louder, and presently Tom felt a strong hand grasp his
collar. A moment afterward he found himself lying flat on his back, with
a heavy weight on his breast holding him down.

CHAPTER V.

ATKINS REFUSES DUTY.

Tom Newcombe had his first fight that night. He resisted the active
young farmer who had seized him, to the best of his ability, although,
for all the good it did him, he might as well have su