ow, and Job Lord is
the more valuable to our friends in Cambridge," Hiram said, speaking
hurriedly as he began to cast off the bonds from the man's feet. "The
lobster back who went with me to the Bridewell knows I was given but
one, and he is to aid us in embarking, therefore to have two would cause
a suspicion to enter even his thick head."

Hiram had Master Lord in shape for walking by this time; but the fellow
flatly refused to rise from the bed, declaring that his limbs were so
cramped he had no control over them.

"It will be well that you get them into shape in short order, for we
count on taking you with us, or leaving you here dead, and there is
little time in which to make a choice," Hiram said in a tone which gave
proof that his were no idle words. "Carry the boy up the ladder, and
leave him on the floor," he added to me, and this Harvey and I did with
all speed, while Archie and Silas stood by to lend our leader a hand if
so be he might need it.

I had no opportunity of hearing whether Master Lord made further protest
against doing as he had been commanded; but it seemed to me that Harvey
and I had no sooner laid Seth Jepson by the side of the Tory who had
been so severely injured, than Hiram appeared at the top of the ladder
with the double-faced scoundrel by his side.

"Do you know where the ship-yard that is owned by a man named Edes may
be located?" Hiram asked immediately he had come up into the room, and
we lads soon gave him to understand that the place was familiar to us.

"Then lead the way, stepping out lively, for I am not minded to linger
here many minutes," he said sharply, turning to seize Master Lord by the
collar.

"But what about these fellows?" I asked, pointing to Seth and the two
men. "Are they to be left helpless and gagged?"

"There is no other way out of it, and I dare venture to say they would
not have any heart-ache to leave us in even a worse plight."

"But the wretches will starve to death!" I cried in horror, and Hiram
replied grimly:

"I would leave them to such a fate rather than miss taking Job Lord to
those whom he has deceived so long; but there is little danger, though I
won't say but they'll be mighty uncomfortable for a time. 'Twixt now and
morning one or more of this scoundrel's friends will come to concoct yet
further harm to the Cause, and, if we leave the door unlocked, they'll
be released sooner than is deserved."

Archie would have lingered to make Seth a