he rendezvous."

"Ay, we need spend no time over that."

"Come with me to Barton's point," I said, now grown eager through
understanding that Hiram was ready to lay plans for the rescue, and
determined that no loitering of mine should put any obstacle in the way.

Night was already come when I had completed the task of pointing out the
available hiding places near at hand, and then we two went to my
mother's house for supper.

"I'm thinking we had best bottle up forty winks of sleep, if so be we
are to make a midnight visit to the prison, for no one can say whether
our business may not keep us a long while," Hiram said once his hunger
had been appeased, and, not waiting to learn what might be my opinion,
he went upstairs to my chamber.

As a matter of course my mother was eager to know what might be afoot,
for she understood, because of our long absence and Hiram's words, that
something was in the wind, and therefore it was I told her what we
counted on doing, and all we hoped it might be possible to accomplish on
the first cloudy or stormy night.

She, dear soul, had naught to say against our purpose, knowing that we
of the colonies were fully committed to the struggle against the king;
but she grieved because I was like to have so much of a hand in the
business.

"With your father in the army it would seem as if a poor woman's only
son should be left at home to comfort and protect her. Yet I would not
say that which might prevent you from doing what your heart inclines to.
You have ever been a good boy, Luke, and it would indeed be a sad blow
to me should misfortune overtake you, therefore I pray that you be
careful and prudent, undertaking no hazardous enterprise which may be
avoided with honor and in view of your duty to the Cause."

It goes without saying that I promised to keep in mind all she had said,
striving in so far as lay within my power to do what she desired. Then,
following Hiram's example, for mother had promised to waken us near to
ten of the clock; I went into the chamber where, despite all of
excitement which was in my mind, I speedily fell asleep by the side of
the widow's son.

It seemed to me as if I had but just lost myself in the blissfulness of
slumber when mother wakened us with word that the time had come, and we
made ready to set out, Hiram, much to my surprise, taking from behind
the kitchen door a stout oaken stick, too long to be used as a cudgel.

"For what purpose is that?"