e of the ruins I
walked without undue haste in the direction of old Mary's cabin, knowing
that I had ample time to do all which was set me before the way into the
American lines would be opened.

When I entered the cabin Uncle 'Rasmus was seated by the window, as he
ever had been since we came into this place of refuge, patiently waiting
for our coming, and surely the old man's heart must have been tried
during that long, long day when we failed to give any token of our
whereabouts, for he had good reason to fear, because of our continued
absence, that some trouble had overtaken us. Yet there was never a word
of repining or reproach upon his lips when I showed myself.

"Bress de Lawd, honey; bress de Lawd dat you'se come back! Whar's de
odder chillun?"

I speedily made the old man acquainted with all that was going on; but
did not tell him what it was proposed he and I should do, for luckily I
realized that Abel Hunt's ears were open, and if I should advertise all
our proposed movements there might possibly be a chance of his
overtaking us to wreak revenge before our task could be finished.

Therefore it was I told the old man only that the British army was
retreating, and made an overly long story because he could not refrain
from crying out in his joy now and again, and insisted on hearing all
the little details concerning the movements of the soldiers.

But the story was told finally, however, and then I led the old man out
of the cabin, he following me obediently, never asking where we were
going, and when we had come to a ruined building mayhap fifty yards
distant from old Mary's cabin, I halted, explained what we would do,
saying that he should stay there while I went back and released the
prisoners.

For the first time in my life Uncle 'Rasmus set his face against that
which I would do. He declared that Pierre was in the wrong when he
would handle the Tories so tenderly; that our first and only thought
should be of our own safety, and no heed be given to the sufferings of
those who would have sent us to the gallows.

I was not able to argue successfully with the old negro because there
was in my mind much the same thought as in his, yet did I know that the
fellows must be set free since it was a portion of Pierre's plan. I had
promised him it should be done, and if I failed in my part of the work
then might all the rest go awry. It was to my mind a question of doing
exactly as the little lad had planned,