Britishers; but
again and again the so-called rebels had been worsted by the king's
soldiers, and why might they not get a drubbing here? It was well within
the range of possibilities that the British army would be reinforced by
vessels sent down from New York, in which case we stood to suffer.

Even though the Britishers allowed us to go here or there at will, we
were held as close prisoners, because of having Horry Sims in custody,
as though they put us under a strong guard. If at that moment when we
stood by the casks in the shed speculating upon the situation, I had
known that the town of York was to be besieged and shelled by our
people, I would not have reckoned that my life was worth the turn of a
hand.

Fortunate indeed was it for us that we could not look into the future.
Fortunate we had no inkling of all that was to take place between the
rivers of York and James within the next few days, else had our courage
failed us entirely. As it was, however, I had great faith Pierre would
pull through his scheme successfully, and trusted that the future would
show us some way out of this snarl into which we had been so suddenly
plunged.

"Come in here, and stretch yourself out beside this lad, with your hand
closing on his throat so that at the lightest sign of his counting on
giving an alarm you can choke him to death," Pierre said to Saul, who
was crouching that he might look into the cask, and my cousin did meekly
as he was bidden, for by this time he had come fully to understand that
he alone was responsible for all this trouble which had come upon us.

Not until Saul was within the cask, and had taken position close by the
side of the prisoner, did little Frenchie venture to come out. Then,
halting and leaning over so his voice would carry to the prisoner and
his jailor without being heard by any who might be in the vicinity of
the shed, he said, still speaking in a tone of command which, had I been
less excited and anxious, would have sounded comical from one so small:

"Remember, Saul, that your life, mayhap, and ours, depends upon your
holding that Tory scoundrel safe. Fitz and I will learn what we may
toward aiding us in getting him to the cabin."

"How long am I to stay here?" Saul asked, and I fancied that he was
growing sulky again, whereupon I said soothingly, laying my hand on his
leg in friendly fashion:

"Do not let your temper get the best of you again, Saul, else are we all
undone past mendin