on. Git dere,
honey, git dere!"
Uncle 'Rasmus's advice, instead of strengthening my courage, was
weakening it. In the darkness, and now when we were about to make this
venture which I knew to be in the highest degree dangerous, I was
growing weak-kneed. The attempt to bring Horry Sims across the entire
length of the village, where were Britishers on every hand, seemed an
entirely different matter from what it had been when the sun was
shining, and, fearing lest I might show the white feather if we stood
there many moments, I went out hurriedly into the night, giving little
heed as to whether Pierre followed until I felt the soft pressure of his
hand upon my arm.
"There is no need of great haste, Fitz," he whispered, and I replied in
a tremulous voice:
"Indeed there is, Pierre, else am I like to grow so cowardly as to turn
tail and make for the Hamilton plantation, regardless of anything save
my own feelings."
"You will never do anything of the kind, Fitzroy Hamilton, and that you
know as well as I," the little lad whispered with emphasis. "I am not
afraid you will turn coward, for it is not cowardly to be afraid when
one makes such a venture as this, providing he keeps his face
resolutely toward the goal."
I might fill up an hundred pages with an account of my fears and
forebodings as Pierre and I went cautiously through the darkness from
old Mary's cabin, to Bemis's shop, and yet not have told anything which
would interest a stranger, therefore it is that I shall content myself
by simply saying that we crossed the village without having been
molested, almost without having heard a sound from the enemy.
As a matter of course it was necessary we pass at this point or that
near by where soldiers were in camp, or on duty; but the darkness was so
intense that by making a slight detour we could avoid being seen, and,
judging from what few noises we heard, the encampment was in a state of
almost complete repose.
Arriving at the shed door we stood motionless and silent while one might
have counted twenty, our ears pricked up to catch the lightest sound
which would tell of the approach of an enemy, after which, hearing
nothing, we set about making our way into the rude building and thence
across the rubbish to where were the two casks which formed Horry Sims's
prison.
This last was anything rather than a simple matter, if we would move
noiselessly, for in the darkness it was impossible to make out what
obstr
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