hat matter has
been settled, I count on leaving you. Don't be so foolish as to think
you can wiggle out of the scrape by lying, for when you made your talk
with the Britisher this pungy was on the other side of the river, her
spars hidden by the trees. We heard nearly every word that was
spoken."

"An' you're gettin' out of this part of the trouble mighty easy, if
Amos insists you shall be left alone," Jim added angrily. "If I had my
way, all hands of us would take a turn at thumpin' you, an' then the
account between us wouldn't be square."

"Come on, Jim," I said impatiently. "It is doing no good to parley
with such as him. Leave the traitor to himself until the commodore
directs what shall be done."

Elias called after us imploringly as we went out of the hold; but I
had no desire to remain longer with the cur, and we put on the hatch
in order that, if he did succeed in freeing himself of the bonds, he
would yet be imprisoned.

On gaining the deck I looked around for Darius, but he was not to be
seen, and Jerry, understanding for whom I searched, said:

"The old man has gone ashore. He counts on lookin' around the mill, so
that we may know exactly how to get at work when the time comes."

"At work?" I repeated in bewilderment. "What does he reckon on doing
now that we have caught the traitor?"

"It is in his mind that we can make prisoners of all the boat's crew,
an' if that could be done, we'd be takin' with us such as would insure
a hearty welcome from the commodore."

"We had better let well enough alone," I replied irritably. "If
Commodore Barney won't be pleased to see him when we offer our own
services, the use of the pungy, and the biggest traitor in Maryland,
then there's little reason to try to purchase his favor."

"You've agreed that Darius should run this thing to suit himself, an'
he's doin' it. I believe he's right, too! If there's a chance to take
a few prisoners, it would be downright folly to let it slip."

"And do you expect that we can capture at least half a dozen
well-armed Britishers?"

"There are as many of us, when you come to figgerin' up the fightin'
force, an' the advantage of takin' them by surprise will overbalance
the difference in weapons."

It was useless to argue with Jerry, as I understood by his tone,
therefore I turned away, saying to myself that by trying to bite off
too big a piece in the way of taking prisoners, we might find the
tables turned very suddenly to our