be possible to keep on your feet for such a long
distance?" I asked anxiously, because until this moment I supposed my
father was getting on as comfortably as a man in his condition could
reasonably expect.

"I'll manage that part of it, lad; the knowledge of what is to be
gained will keep me up."

Well, there is no good reason why I should try to set down all we said
while waiting for the owner of the pungy, and when he finally arrived,
having had little or no difficulty in finding the smoke-house, it was
as if a great and beneficial change was immediately apparent.

The captain's first act was to rebandage my father's wound, Jerry
getting him a supply of fresh water from the well at the ruins of the
tavern, and when that was done he set about making arrangements for
our moving, taking upon himself the entire direction of affairs, much
to my relief.

His first act was to explain to Jim, Dody and Josiah the location of
the pungy, sending them off at once, with explicit directions as to
the streets through which they should pass. The lads were to go into
the cuddy without loitering on deck, and keep the hatch closed and
bolted until his arrival.

Jerry and I were to stay in the smoke-house until it was time to begin
work in behalf of Darius and Bill, while the captain and my father
were to set out as soon as it was sufficiently dark to screen them
from view of the curious ones.

Jim and his friends started without delay, welcoming any change after
being shut in from the open air so long, and when they were gone the
captain announced that he would bring the rope to the jail shortly
before ten o'clock.

"I ain't sayin' but that you two lads could work the thing as well
without me; but I'm achin' to have a hand in settin' them two old
shell-backs free. You'll find that I won't be in the way, even if I
don't do any good."

It was a big relief to know that we were to have his assistance, and I
so gave him to understand.

After father had been made as comfortable as was possible under the
circumstances, we lounged around waiting for the night to come; but
never saying another word concerning what we hoped to do.

I for one was too nervous regarding the possible outcome to care about
holding converse even with friends, for there was in my mind a very
vivid realization of what would be the result in case we failed while
trying to get the sailors from the roof of the "stone house," or if
they were discovered when ge