that one yell would be his last, I'm thinking it is safe enough to let
him have the use of his jaws."

Therefore it was that while we feasted Master Lord asked in what you
might call a manly fashion, if, when the meal was come to an end, we
would give him so much of food as might serve to satisfy his hunger,
claiming that he had not broken fast that day.

"Neither have I," whined Seth, "and I'm nearly dead with having been
mauled about so much."

"It wouldn't do a little bit of harm if you were wholly dead; but we're
not counting on starving either of you, so depend upon it that your
stomachs shall be filled, for when we once set out, having Silas
Brownrigg in our company, you will be called on to step mighty lively."

I looked at Hiram questioningly, asking, so far as was possible with my
eyes, whether he was wild enough to think of hampering us with these
prisoners, and he nodded in a way to show that he was not minded to have
any argument regarding it.

"Aye, lad, if I read your face aright, that's exactly what I do count
on doing. There is no better place for hatching a scheme than over a
cook-stove when you have plenty with which to work, as I had this
afternoon, and I've got an idea that it won't be such a terrible hard
matter to land these fellows in Cambridge. If so be everything goes to
my liking, you will soon understand that it is as easy to take the
prisoners, as to go alone."

I knew that Hiram did not care to discuss whatsoever plan he might have
in mind while the prisoners might hear him, and therefore held my peace;
but when we were done with feasting because it was impossible to eat any
more, I beckoned him to follow me into the room above, where I asked
what mad scheme he had hit upon.

"It may come to naught, lad, therefore we won't discuss it; but I'm
going out around the town a bit, and you can bar the door after me. I'll
knock twice on the window shutter when I come back."

"Going out in the daytime?" I cried sharply. "Show yourself in this town
where you are like to be taken into custody? Don't, Hiram, don't take
foolish risks now when, by being careful, we have plain sailing before
us!"

"I'm not taking chances," he replied doggedly. "You must remember that
my face is not known here as yours is, and with what I have in my pocket
who will dare put aught of hindrance in my way?"

"The first officer you come across may know Job Lord well, and, finding
you in possession of a document whic