f our number were to be
taken from us, we would be made aware of it.

I stood by the side of Darius trembling with apprehension, and even
amid my fear I took note of the fact that Jerry was feeling far from
comfortable in mind, while the old man chewed incessantly on a huge
piece of tobacco that caused his cheeks to swell out as if on the
point of bursting.

Although we had good cause for being frightened, nothing came of it,
and never did words sound more sweetly in my ears than when one of the
officers said:

"You can get on about your business; but don't make the mistake again
of trying to get below us without first reporting."

"We wasn't countin' on goin' very far away, sir," Darius replied
awkwardly. "There's good fishin' to be found around the islands here,
an' I was reckonin' on gettin' the drags out."

"Very well, but see to it that you heave to when coming nearabout, and
remain until getting permission to proceed."

"Yes sir, I'll do it for certain," Darius cried, and as one of the
Britisher's crew cast off our hawser, we filled away, standing to the
northeast.

There was not one aboard the Avenger who did not realize what a narrow
escape we had had from being forced to serve the king, and I dare
venture to say that all hands drew a breath of relief as the pungy
sailed beyond range of the big guns.

"Where are you bound?" Jerry asked when he was sufficiently master of
himself to note the course.

"I reckon we'll run over to Pocomoke; we'll find oysters in that
locality, such as they are, an' there's no need of running too far
away from the market."

"You're goin' to lend Bill Jepson a hand!" I cried joyfully, for it
would have gone far toward breaking my heart to turn a deaf ear to the
poor fellow's appeal.

"That's just what I ain't so clear about," Darius replied
thoughtfully. "Suppose we talk the matter over a bit."

I called Jim Freeman and his friends aft, knowing full well what their
opinion would be, and when we were together, repeated the story as I
had told it to the old man.

Then Darius explained that by helping a sailor to desert from one of
the enemy's ships, we might get into serious difficulties, to say
nothing of losing the sloop, and he also put it very plainly that in
going outside the task set us, we stood a good chance of disappointing
the commodore.

It was Jerry who put the matter to my liking, when he said:

"There are chances in favor of our bein' able to do this wi