derably more than an even chance we might find
lodgement in the British guard-house.

Thus it was I journeyed on, one moment buoyant with hope, and the next
cast down by fear of what the future might have in store for us who
called ourselves Minute Boys, hoping the day might come when we would be
able to give good proof that we had a right to such a title.

The journey came to an end finally, as must all journeys in this world
whether they bring us to a haven of rest or a sink of iniquity, and then
did I forget all things in the outside world that might give me pain or
trouble, in the pleasure I had with my dear mother, telling what I had
seen in the American camp, repeating the words father had said to me, or
striving to make her believe it would be possible for Saul and me to
accomplish that which we had set before us. At the same time I tried to
keep in the background the dangers which must necessarily be
encountered, unless peradventure the Americans made an immediate
advance and were overwhelmingly successful.

I might have saved my breath so far as striving to hide from the good
woman who loved me so dearly, the possible dangers in the path we had
chosen. She had pictured them all in her mind, and I am bound to give
her credit for not having magnified them in the lightest degree. She
viewed the situation as you might expect a soldier's wife would,
carefully weighing this possibility and that, until she had come to have
even a better knowledge of all which threatened than had we ourselves.

It was, however, when I told her we had been forced to make a prisoner
of Horry Sims that she grew white lipped, pressing me suddenly to her
arms as if imminent danger threatened, and from that moment it was
necessary I bring to bear upon her every argument at my command, else
would she have set her foot down flatly that I should not return to the
town of York.

I believe of a verity all my attempts at making her more friendly with
our scheme which had been marred by the capture of the Tory cur, had
been in vain but for the fact that I could plead the shame which would
come upon me if I should abandon Pierre, Saul, or even Uncle 'Rasmus,
after having done my share toward luring them into a position of peril.

She realized even better than I that it was my duty, having set out upon
the road with these companions and accompanied them thus far, to bear my
full share of all that might result. As a consequence, instead of
deman