he only
remaining avenue of escape. I could no longer hope to get away either to
north or west--every picket post along those lines would be instructed to
watch out for me 'ere this. My uniform would be no protection, and,
without a horse, my early apprehension was almost a certainty. My sole
apparent chance lay in the Jerseys, and I must reach the opposite shore,
and attain cover before daylight. To my mind there was no reason why this
could not be accomplished. The swimming of the river was not beyond my
power; I could float down under water for a hundred yards, and then,
concealed by the night, strike out for the eastern shore. The current
might sweep me down stream another hundred yards before my feet touched
bottom. That ought to bring me to a comparatively safe spot, where I
could crawl ashore unobserved. What was awaiting me there in the dark
could not be reckoned; but surely no graver danger than what already
menaced me here. I knew the Jerseys, and that now, with the main
contending armies withdrawn, all that country from the Delaware to the
sea was overrun by small parties of partisans, more intent upon plunder
than any loyalty to either side. To pass through between these bands was
likely to prove a desperate venture enough, yet it seemed the only choice
remaining.

At the lower end of the float I managed to silently remove my boots, and
then waited, listening to the movements of the men above. I must have
clung there ten minutes, expecting every moment the party scouring the
shore would return, yet not daring to make the venture with those fellows
sitting there, and silently gazing out across the water. At last I heard
them get to their feet, and tramp about on the flat deck of the barge,
the low murmur of their voices reaching me, although words were
indistinguishable. I could hope for no better time. Filling my lungs with
air, I sank below the surface of the river, and then, rising, struck
boldly out into the full sweep of the current.

CHAPTER VIII

THE BLACKSMITH

I had come up gasping for breath, well out in the stream, either shore a
mere darker shadow showing above the water. How far I had been swept
below the barge could not be guessed, as I could distinguish no outlines
clearly, excepting the bare spars of a vessel, tied up to the west shore.
As this ship had not been in sight previously I concluded the drift had
been greater than anticipated, and I struck out quickly toward the
opposit