red-coated soldiers
will be here hunting for us. If Saul has been arrested, then are we
under suspicion."

"And if they come to search for us, there is no more assurance of our
remaining hidden with this Tory in the loft, than if he remained here in
the room."

"We will take him there nevertheless," Pierre said in a tone so decided
that I could not have contradicted him even though I had made ready a
good argument for so doing, and without delay the little lad from New
Orleans set about acting on his own suggestion.

It was not a simple task which we had before us, for Horry Sims, bound
hand and foot, was as unwieldy as a bundle of merchandise, and, in
addition, he fought as well as he might to prevent us from forcing him
up the shaky ladder.

Not until I had cuffed him soundly, promising a more severe punishment
in case he continued to resist, did the lad give over the useless
struggle, and after considerable labor Pierre and I contrived to hoist
him to the loft above.

It was when we had finally succeeded, and were seated on the puncheon
planks near the scuttle resting from our exertions, that Uncle 'Rasmus
said, speaking sufficiently loud for us to hear him while he yet
remained in his chair near the window:

"I'se 'lowin', chillun, dat you bes' stay right whar you are, an' de ole
man will keep an eye out here, so's dere won't any ob dese yere
Britishers sneak in widout our knowin' it. If de man from Jersey comes
erlong, I'se boun' to gib you notice, so try to get your forty winks ob
sleep while dere's a chance."

It seemed to me like veriest folly to talk of sleeping while our hearts
were so heavy with grief, and danger seemingly closing in around us, yet
when Pierre acted on Uncle 'Rasmus's advice by throwing himself down on
the puncheon planks by the side of Horry Sims, where he could have due
warning if that young scoundrel attempted any mischief, I followed his
example. With the Tory between us we two lads lay there on the hard bed,
both, I doubt not, thinking with tears in our hearts of Saul's possible
fate, and both within a short time journeying over into Dreamland
despite all there was in the situation to prop our eyes wide open.

When next I became conscious of my surroundings it was possible to see
the faint grey light of coming dawn through the narrow apertures which
served as windows, and I sprang to my feet quickly, almost frightened
because I had given myself up to slumber for so long a time