e. Therefore I asked how he had it in his mind we should release the
prisoners, for I was not burning to go into the loft and set Abel Hunt
free, because of knowing that the first of us lads with whom that
scoundrel came in contact when he was at liberty to use his hands, would
suffer most severely.

Pierre had it all planned out, and, as I believed, in a most skillful
manner. He proposed that after Uncle 'Rasmus had left the building, and
had gotten say twenty or thirty yards on his road toward the Hamilton
plantation, I should bring Horry Sims down to the lower floor, and there
set him free with instructions for him to remain where he was a certain
length of time, after which he was to go up and release Abel Hunt.

Before this could be done I ought to be well toward the enemy's outer
works, where I was to remain in hiding until all the Britishers had left
their posts. This would give me the advantage of starting instantly the
works were abandoned, and even before the last of the army had embarked,
therefore was it reasonable to suppose I might gain speech with some of
the officers of our army while there was yet time to draw the nets
around the fleeing red-coats.

"I will go whenever you shall say the word," was my reply after little
Frenchie had explained thoroughly the plan. "But what is Saul to do in
the meanwhile?"

"I am counting that when you start for old Mary's cabin, he shall set
off further to the eastward, where he will remain hidden as I propose
you are to do, until the works have been abandoned."

"And you yourself, Pierre?"

"I am counting to wait here only until I see the boatmen return from the
Gloucester shore to take on another cargo, and then I shall follow your
example, giving no heed, however, to either you or Saul; but bending all
my energies toward getting within the lines of our people with as little
loss of time as may be."

After this there was nothing for me to say, unless peradventure I had
some fault to find with the plan, and I lingered only to press each of
my comrades by the hand as I whispered:

"God grant that we Minute Boys of York Town, as from this instant we
will call ourselves, may be able to do that thing to-night which will
result in the capture of Lord Cornwallis and all his troops!"

Then I crept out from the shattered timbers, not taking overly great
care to avoid making a noise for there were none who would pay
particular attention to me at that time, and once fre