"How long do you count on keeping him there?" I could not refrain from
asking, and Pierre replied promptly, thus showing that he had a plan
thoroughly mapped out in his mind:

"Only until night, when we must get him to old Mary's cabin where he can
be held prisoner."

I was astounded, to use a mild term, by the idea that we were to hold
this Tory a prisoner for any length of time. Here we were, shut up
within the British lines, in danger at any moment of being haled before
some high mightiness of an officer to answer to the charge of being
rebels, or of being in the town with evil intent, and we took it upon
ourselves to capture a lad who stood to a certain degree in the favor of
our enemies!

It was to my mind at that instant, and is even now, as reckless a bit of
business as can well be conceived. Why we did not take to our heels at
the first moment when Saul gave way to his anger, leaving Uncle 'Rasmus
to his fate, and shake the dust of the town of York from our feet, I
cannot understand. Yet I am wrong in saying this last, for it was Pierre
Laurens who held us where we belonged, and who proved that if there were
Minute Boys in York Town, he stood above them head and shoulders as
their commander.

But for Pierre's quick wit and decision we had at that moment been
racing through the village intent only on passing the British lines. Yet
I said then, while we pulled Horry Sims across the rubbish, that perhaps
it would have been greatly to our advantage if we had fled the town even
though the hue and cry was raised on the instant, rather than remain
where it might be impossible for us to go out again save in the custody
of a squad of red-coated soldiers.

By the time Saul barricaded the door Horry Sims had been taken to the
rear of the building, and there little Frenchie turned two huge casks
down on their side, with the mouths facing each other, leaving
sufficient space between them for a lad to crawl in, saying to the
prisoner when this work was done:

"Creep in there, lad, and hold your peace! If you raise your voice above
a whisper, I swear that it shall be the last moment of your life! You
can well fancy we would not flinch at killing such as you when it might
be to save ourselves. To hold you secretly, and yet securely, is our
hope, therefore bear well in mind to what lengths we are bound to go
rather than allow you to give us the slip!"

The Tory crawled head foremost into one of the casks, which was so