es or more this day,
and repeat the same journey to-morrow forenoon?"

"You know why it is," Saul cried angrily. "You claimed to understand
all that Uncle 'Rasmus had in his crazy head."

"I did understand, and it is because of seeing what we may do with his
help, I am asking why the three of us should go from here to York and
back this night, simply to retrace our steps to-morrow morning?"

"What else may we do?" I asked impatiently.

"Two might go on with the blankets and the bundle, and, arriving at the
dead cottonwood, remain there all night, while the third, staying behind
now, can set off from the plantation at break of day, bringing with him
such an amount of food as will explain why we wish to visit old Mary's
cabin."

"Then those who went on to-night would sleep on the ground, whereas the
one who remained here would take his rest in bed," Saul said grimly, and
with that shrug of the shoulders which sometimes irritated and sometimes
pleased me, Pierre replied:

"Yes, that is true, and if you have not yet slept on the ground, you
could be the one to stay here. It makes no difference which two of us go
on; but it seems important that one remain here in order to bring fresh
food in the morning, thus making a pretext for entering the British
lines."

I was not so thick-headed but that I could understand what the lad was
driving at and straightway said to Saul:

"Suppose you go back home? Make such excuses for Pierre and me as seems
to you best. Perhaps it would be as well if you confided our secret in
mother, for we must have some one on the plantation who will work with
us, else we shall not be able to get provisions in sufficient quantity
to keep all of us from hunger."

"And suppose she demands that you return, and I take her command to
you?"

"She cannot call us back before to-morrow night in case only one stays
on the plantation now," Pierre said, "and by that time we will have been
able to get a look around the town--mayhap be so fortunate as to see
some way by which we can work our will. At all events, it seems best
that we do as I have said, although I am willing to fall in with
whatsoever other plan you lads may propose."

"Turn you back, Saul. It is not well we should stand here quibbling
about a trifle when there is a possibility that such sneaks as Horry
Sims may come along and wonder why we are carrying blankets toward the
town of York at this hour of the day."

I spoke impatiently becau