held at the Bridewell, all the
more reason why we three should strain every nerve to do whatsoever may
be in our power to aid you."

"The only thing within your power, lad, will be to save your own skins,
for once this trick of ours is discovered, you may rest assured the
Britishers will pay a visit to Job Lord's house in order to learn what
has become of him, and if peradventure you delay after there is reason
to believe I am a prisoner, you will have effected nothing save a loss
to the Cause of three stout-hearted lads."

Well, we chewed over this question as to whether it would not be
cowardly to desert Hiram if he was taken, until a full two hours had
passed, when Archie very wisely said:

"If no move is to be made until nightfall, will some one tell me what
prevents our breaking fast? My stomach cries out for food, and if
peradventure all goes this night as we would have it, then is it
necessary we put our bodies in fair condition, for there are many miles
to be traveled before we again see the encampment at Cambridge."

Hiram immediately acted upon this suggestion, insisting that he was
better fitted to play the part of cook than any other, and as he set
about the task I saw Job Lord writhing in pain, which caused me to
realize how much of bodily suffering must be his, therefore said to my
comrades:

"Don't let it be thought that there is any softness in my heart for such
as him; but it does not become us to cause another unnecessary
suffering, therefore it is I propose we take the gag out of Master
Lord's mouth for a time, since he must be in great pain."

"I never saw any good come of favoring a snake," Hiram grumbled; but yet
he did not make any protest against my proposition, and I pulled the gag
from the mouth of the man who had worked us so much injury, saying at
the same time as I seated myself near the bed, holding the knife which
had been taken from its sheath:

"You can well understand that we would not stick at doing you harm, and
it may be our fingers itch to pay you for your treachery, therefore
should any one approach this building and you attempt to make an outcry,
I shall consider that I have done the Cause a service by taking your
life."

It was nearly a minute before the man could speak, so cramped were his
jaws, and then, with a look which had in it, if such a thing can be
possible, a mingling of gratitude and hatred, he said softly:

"I'm not such an idiot as to kick when I'm fairly