, and finally clapped into a cell without
having been so near Silas as to have speech with him.

I had no desire for food, and doubtless my comrades felt much the same;
but yet we ate because of having been told so to do, and forced the meat
down our throats when it was like to choke us.

Seth Jepson was not as averse to filling his stomach as were we, and ate
greedily when Harvey fed him, while Master Lord positively refused to
accept a mouthful of anything save water, of which he drank eagerly at
short intervals, thus telling me that there was, despite all his brave
words, a fear in his heart which parched his tongue.

Now because it was past sunset, when, according to what Job Lord had
said some time before, there might be danger of Tory visitors, we took
all precautions to prevent our prisoners from crying out. In fact,
Archie proposed that we gag them then and there; but I, believing Hiram,
even though he succeeded in all his purpose, would be long delayed, had
no heart to cause them suffering which might be avoided. I proposed that
we pull the bed out from the wall so that he could sit with bare knife
by the side of Seth, while I looked after the man who had deceived our
people so many days, and once more we promised to take their worthless
lives without compunction if they raised their voices ever so slightly.

The time passed slowly, wearingly, painfully on, and there we sat by the
side of the prisoners ready to take their lives if need be, while Harvey
paced to and fro, or ascended the ladder to the upper room only to
descend, until the noise of his footsteps well nigh drove me to
distraction, and I cried out that unless he remained quiet I should lose
my senses.

"You lost them when you embarked in such an enterprise as this of making
me prisoner," Job Lord snarled. "But what could be expected of three
boys, led on by a crazy man? I would have set your comrade free, and
sent you on your way in safety; but that you must needs upset all my
plans."

"The setting of Silas free and sending us back to our friends was not a
part of your plan, Job Lord," I said in a low tone, fearing lest even
then some one might be approaching the house; but determined to thrash
the matter out with the double-faced villain, if for no other purpose
than to occupy the time which was dragging so painfully.

"How else could it be, since I failed to deliver you up to the British?"
he asked with an air of innocence. "Had I been so m