t's glad to hear ye. An' so, what is it, captain dear? Out
with it. Tell me what yer plan is, an' I'm wid ye--so I am."

"I think, Terry, that we can manage to get the schewner from these
chaps--can't we?"

"Sure we can. Sure, an' I'd ingage to do it alone, almost."

"They don't watch much."

"Not a bit of it."

"The two that watch at night sleep half the time."

"Sure, an' that's thrue for you, for I've seed thim at it whin I was
asleep mesilf."

"We can git Jericho to bar down the cabin door, Terry, an' then you
an' I can seize the two on deck."

"Aisy enough--so it is. They'll all be dead asleep--so they will."

"Wal, thar we'll have them; an' then I hope to be able to bring a
pressure on the natyves of these regions by which I may git my friend
out of their clutches."

"Sure, an' I don't onderstand ye at all, at all."

"Why, I'll have these six Acadians prisoners, an' then I'll sail up
off Grand Pre, an' threaten to cut the throats of all of them if they
don't send off Motier to me in ten minutes."

"Tare an' ages!" cried Terry. "Whoroo! but isn't that the plan? It
is. It bates the wurruld--so it does. An whin'll ye begin, captain
darlint?"

"To-night," said Zac.

CHAPTER XIII.

A STROKE FOE LIBERTY.

Zac and Terry talked for a long time over the plan, trying to chat in
an off-hand and careless manner, so as not to excite any suspicion.
No suspicion appeared to be raised among the Acadians, who took no
notice of them whatever. So Zac and Terry had sufficient opportunity
to arrange all the details of the plan, and it was decided that Terry
should indicate to Jericho what was to be done by him. It was agreed
that the best time would be about three o'clock in the morning; for
then the Acadians below would all be in their soundest sleep, while
those who kept watch on deck would probably, in accordance with their
usual careless fashion, be sunk into a slumber no less sound. Terry
at length left Zac, and moved about in a desultory fashion, after
which he finally settled down among the Acadians, and began to sing
to them the immortal strain of St. Patrick.

Although Zac had upon his mind the weight of such an important
enterprise, yet it did not at all interfere with his usual slumbers.
He went to bed at nine, and slept soundly. At about half past two he
awoke, and waited a little longer. Then he roused Terry and Jericho.
Terry then went upon deck noiselessly, and reconnoitred. It was as
the