comes down stream."

"We won't wait here for him, lads. There's breeze enough stirrin' now
to send the pungy against the current, an' we'll push ahead."

Sheltered by the trees as the vessel had been, we were ignorant of the
fact that a night breeze was springing up, until the Avenger swung out
into the stream, and then we found it as Darius had said.

The little craft could make about two miles an hour against the
current, which, as I reckoned, was about what the boat could do with a
couple of men at the oars, and I suggested to the old man that there
was danger we might over-run our game.

He gave heed by sending all hands, save me, into the bow as lookouts,
and steered a zig-zag course, which reduced our speed a full third.

"I don't believe I've ever heard of this Essek Harland you tell
about," the old man said to me in a whisper, and, understanding that
he desired all the information I could give concerning the miller, I
replied:

"He's of much the same kidney as Elias Macomber, except that he was
born in this country. A mean native of North Carolina, who starves his
slaves, and makes them work twice as many hours as they should. He
runs the mill, and it is said that all those who carry grist to him
keep a sharp watch lest he take out too much toll. If he hides the
Britishers, or gives them any information, it will be because they pay
him, for he will do any mean thing for money."

"Have you ever heard it said whether he was for or against the war?"

"No, and I haven't heard his name spoken for a year or more. It would
make little difference with him which side he was on, if the opposite
party offered money they could buy him."

Then we fell silent again during half an hour or more, when Darius
said:

"You shall tell me when we are within a mile of the mill; it won't be
safe to run any nearer unless we have overhauled that snake of a
Macomber."

I was so well acquainted with the river as to know every crook and
turn for at least ten miles above Benedict, and when it seemed certain
the pungy had run three miles or more, I kept a sharp look-out on the
banks in order to comply with the old man's request.

It was just when I believed we were close upon the spot where the
Avenger should be stopped, that Jerry came tip-toeing aft, waving his
arms to attract our attention.

"Macomber has hove in sight!" Darius whispered. "Take the tiller, an'
head her for his canoe!"

As he spoke he darted into the cuddy