sed us all to the danger, and
even though we had only a crew of lads, I felt confident no blunder
would be charged against us.

It was dreary work waiting there in the darkness, listening intently
for the lightest unusual noise, and believing that an enemy was, or
soon would be, close at hand. The gurgling of the water in an eddy;
the leap of a fish, or a bit of drift-wood striking against the side
of the pungy, sounded in our ears loud as thunder, and we heard the
ordinary night rustlings of the forest as if it was something strange
to our ears.

Then came that which caused us to bend far out over the rail, trying
to pierce the gloom with our eyes, for the measured stroke of oars
could be heard, and it was a positive relief to me, even though it
betokened the coming of strangers.

I felt certain an enemy's boat was approaching, because had any one
living on the river been coming up at that time of night, paddles
would have been used instead of oars. I knew of no one nearabout
Benedict who would have rowed a boat against the current when she
could have been handled so much more readily the other way.

Nearer and nearer came the splashing of water, as if more than one
oarsman was at work, and when it seemed as if the boat must be close
upon us, I heard a low voice, but could not distinguish the words.

Immediately the noise of the oars ceased, and then came the words, not
loud, but clear enough for us who were listening so intently to hear
with reasonable distinctness:

"On which side of the river were we to pick the man up?"

"The left, sir; the same side as the village."

The Avenger was lying near the right bank of the river, such position
having been taken because of the trees, and not through good judgment.

"One of you men get ashore, and see what can be found. If this is the
place agreed upon, and he said he would be about three miles above
the village, there should be a road running on a line with the river."

There was no question in my mind but that the speakers were Britishers
from one of the fleets, and that some of our people had agreed to play
the traitor by giving information, or piloting the boat. But, if such
was the case, where was Darius? He had not had time to reach Benedict
before this boat came past there, and might already be a prisoner on
his way to the nearest English vessel.

Even though he had gained the village while the strangers were yet
below it, then was his danger the greater