ou lads must go to the commodore with news of what we have
seen," Darius said, speaking quick and sharp as if to prevent us from
holding any parley on the subject. "The Byards are to be paid for
paddlin' the best they know how from here to Nottingham, makin' no
stop on the way, an' he who goes will only need to act as helmsman."

"Are the remainder of the party to stay here?" I asked, not minded to
take myself out of the way when so much of excitement might soon be
witnessed.

"Sure. We who stay will be ready to make the quickest trip on record,
once we've found out all that's to be known. Who will go to the
commodore?"

No one replied, and by this time the Byards had their canoe afloat.

"We'll draw lots," Darius said after finding that neither of us was
willing to volunteer for the service. "The one who pulls the shortest
twig starts without delay or grumblin', an' I'm free to tell you that
those who stay behind with me are like to have the toughest night's
work they ever put in."

While speaking he had been breaking into bits a small twig, and five
of these he held in his clenched hand.

"Make your choice quickly, for we can't waste many seconds over this
business," the old man cried impatiently, and we obeyed his command, I
hoping most sincerely that the lot would fall to some other than
myself, for I was willing to risk the hard work in order to remain
with the leader.

It was Jim Freeman who drew the short twig, and his face was pulled
down very long when he found that he had been selected.

"Into the canoe with you!" Darius cried, "an' listen well to what I
say. Tell the commodore that we came upon the advance ships of one
fleet five miles below Benedict, and are waitin' here to make certain
what they will do. He is to give these Byard boys three dollars for
takin' you to Nottingham. Make the best time possible, for the fate of
all our vessels in the river may hang on you're gettin' there
quickly."

The Byards dug their paddles deep in the water as if determined to
obey orders as promptly as possible, and in twenty seconds from the
time Darius ceased speaking the canoe was around the bend of the
river, Jim waving us a mournful adieu as he disappeared from view.

"Joshua Coburn is to go with me to hide the boat further up-stream,"
the old man said with the air of a general giving his commands. "The
others may stroll around the village; but in half an hour every one
must be here on the shore to meet me