have to be satisfied with the other five Moosoos. If
the first Moosoo runs for it, he'll leave the other five, an' I ain't
goin' to b'lieve that the farmers here air goin' to let five of their
own relatives and connections perish, rayther'n give up one stranger."

A few more words followed, and then Zac retired below, leaving Terry
on deck.

A few hours' sleep sufficed for Zac, and not long after sunrise he
was all ready for action. But the tide was not quite high enough for
his purposes. The long-extended mud flats lay bare in the distance
for miles, and Zac had to wait until a portion, at least, of this
space should be covered. At length the water had spread over as much
of the red mud as seemed desirable, while every hour the schooner
would have a greater depth beneath her; so Zac concluded to start. Up
then went the anchor, the sails were set, and yielding to the impulse
of a favorable breeze, the Parson turned her head towards the
landing-place at Grand Pre.

Various preparations had to be made, and these now engaged the
attention of Zac, who committed the care of the helm to Terry. The
first was the composition of a letter. It was to be short and to the
point. Zac had already settled in his own mind about the wording of
this, so that the writing of it now occupied but a little time. It
was as follows:--

"_To any Magistrate at Grand Pre_:--

"Know all men by this, that the six Acadians sent to take charge of
the schooner 'Rev. Amos Adams,' are now held by me as my prisoners
until such time as Mr. Claude Motier shall be delivered free from
prison. And if Mr. Claude Motier shall not be set free, these six
shall be carried to prison to Boston. And if Mr. Claude Motier be put
to death, these six shall one and all be put to death likewise.

"An answer is required within three hours.

"Zion Awake Cox,

"Master of the schooner 'Rev. Amos Adams.'

"Minas Basin, May 28, 1743."

This Zac folded and addressed, thinking that if no one in Grand Pre
could read English, it would be taken to Claude himself for
translation.

He next prepared to hoist a large British ensign. It was not often
that the Parson showed her colors, but on this occasion it was
necessary, and Zac saw that this display of English colors would be
an act which would tell its own story, and show Moosoo that the
schooner had once more changed masters. The colors lay on deck, ready
to be hoisted at the proper moment. What that moment was to be