ey to drown or be taken
prisoner."

"Here, help me in!" came from the stern of the craft, and stepping
quickly aft, hardly crediting the evidence of my ears, I felt two cold,
wet hands that were gripping the stern-board.

Hiram gave no heed as Archie and I pulled the brave lad in; but was
fumbling about in search of oars that it might be possible for him to
guide the craft, and thus it was we were driven by the tempest from out
the very midst of the Britishers where they must have been as thick as
ants in a hill, although, fortunately for us, ill inclined to brave the
fury of the blast in the open.

Every red-coated rascal on duty had sought some place of shelter, and
Hiram must have counted upon this fact when he decided that we would
despoil the enemy of at least one boat, at the same time taking chances
which seemed little short of madness.

Hiram succeeded in finding that for which he sought, and when he was on
the forward thwart with a pair of oars in his hands, pulling only when
it was necessary to give her a sheer from the land, or toward it, he
said in the tone of one who speaks in a place of security:

"I call that a mighty neat trick, and if so be you lads are lucky enough
to turn the tables once more on the Britishers in the same clean fashion
that we have done to-night, you can count yourselves on the way to earn
commissions in the American Army."

"It is you who should have the commission, if this night's work counts
in the eyes of our people," I cried, determined that the brave fellow
should have all the credit due him. "Except you had forced us, we would
never have made such a venture, for when we left the prison it seemed to
me you were little better than a madman to make a try for that which has
turned out so happily."

"There was little of madness in it, lad, when you count that we had
everything our own way. The only surprising part would have been that we
had come across a Britisher while the rain was pouring down as now. I
haven't seen overly many of the king's men; but those I have come across
took good care of their bodies, and hated like the mischief to do that
which might mar the beauty of their flashy uniforms."

Then it was that Archie spoke for the first time since Hiram hauled him
neck and crop out through the shattered window:

"If ever the time comes when I can repay you fellows for what you have
done this night, I'll strive hard to make the reckoning even."

"You'll not do any