qually certain he would go to
the jail by the shortest route. In event of failure, however, and I
was positive he would fail, the villain might wander anywhere while
working off his disappointment, therefore it stood us in hand to be
exceeding cautious.

As it proved, however, we had seen the last of that miserable
British-lover, and after Jerry saw him on the street, he passed out of
our lives for many months.

I believed of a verity that we walked at least three miles, cutting
across lots here, or traveling many rods out of our course there,
until it seemed as if we had traversed every lane and obscure passage
to be found in the city. But we arrived safely at last, which repaid
us for all the extra work; we had seen no one who gave any heed to us,
and when we sneaked into the smoke-house from behind the ruins of the
tavern, I felt positive no one saw us.

It can well be supposed that our comrades gave us a hearty welcome,
and when I explained how much had been accomplished, they became quite
as certain of ultimate success as Jerry; but the question of
procuring a rope put the matter in a different light.

We counted every penny belonging to the party, and had less than three
shillings, while the length of rope we needed would cost three or four
times as much.

"It's certain we can't buy one, even though all the shop-keepers in
the city stood ready to wait upon us," I said after we had ascertained
the amount of capital on hand. "Now what is to be done?"

No one answered for many minutes, and then Jim Freeman proposed that
if we couldn't get what we needed in any other way, it would be
admissible to steal the rope, in view of the use to which it would be
put.

Dody Wardwell thought we might go to a shopkeeper who dealt in such
goods, and, telling the story, beg what was needed.

It was my father who solved the riddle.

"I don't believe we are warranted in stealing," he said, "no matter
what might be accomplished, neither do I think it safe to confide in
any stranger whom you should meet; but the begging proposition, if
carried out properly, comes nearer filling the bill than anything
else."

"What do you call doin' it properly?" Jerry asked.

"There must be oystermen in port, either here, at Georgetown, or
Alexander, and the chances are you would know some of them. Go round
the water front, and see what can be found. Then try the other towns,
and I'll guarantee you can strike an acquaintance somewhere. Af