you were not counting to make the venture until midnight," I
cried.

"That was in my mind, lad, when matters were quiet here within the
entrenchments; but from the sounds of conflict it would seem as if the
Britishers had all they could attend to without looking after a man here
or there. I count on making my way very near the outer works, where I
shall await an opportunity of slipping through the lines."

"Think you it will be possible to do so?" Pierre asked thoughtfully,
and the Jerseyman replied without a tremor in his voice:

"I am of the mind, lad, that the odds are strongly against it, and yet
must the venture be made. I have the hope that if death comes to me you
may have knowledge regarding it, so that that which I have failed in may
be carried on by one of you. It is not a time to think of taking
precautions to save our own lives; but rather to try how we may so
sacrifice them that by our dying we shall have benefitted the Cause."

Even while he was speaking in such a strain as to bring tears to the
eyes of us all, little Frenchie, ever realizing what should be done, was
unbarring the door, and when he had finished the task the Jerseyman went
out without so much as turning to look at us. Never a word did he speak,
but went quickly into the open air as if eager to rid himself of our
company.

Only those who have been in a like situation can understand our feelings
at this moment when we were left alone, and knew that the man who stood
our friend, had gone most like to his death.

We remained silent and motionless, not daring to gaze at each other,
much like a band of mourners who have gathered around the lifeless body
of a dear friend, and so we would have stood there until all the courage
oozed out from our hearts, had it not been for dear little Frenchie,
himself quite as brave a man and as good a patriot as the one who had
just left us.

Regardless of the sorrow in his own heart, and of the forebodings which
I knew must be his, he put on a cheerful face, saying as he righted
Uncle 'Rasmus's chair which had been overturned during the struggle:

"There is no good reason why we should stand around here like a company
of sore-heads, for there is work in abundance to be done. We must have
food, and now would seem to be the time to procure it, when the
Britishers have all on their hands to which they can attend."

"For my part I have no desire for food," I cried, almost irritated
because he had brought u