“We’ll not, I am sure; they are away off down the bay, and we’ll not go far.” “Well, I wish you wouldn’t go at all. James ought to have more sense than to take you.” “He had to, because I told him I’d go alone if he didn’t.” “Sauce-box! you’d do no such thing.” “Wouldn’t I?” “Lettice, you wouldn’t. Don’t you ever dare to do such a thing. Remember Hampton.” Lettice looked suddenly grave. “I reckon I’d better not go alone,” she said, as she turned away. “It is such a lovely afternoon for a sail,” she remarked, as she settled herself in the boat. “You don’t expect to shoot any game, do you, Jamie? What’s the gun for?” “For defence, if need be, and this pistol, too.” He laid it down by the side of the gun. Lutie put both hands to her ears. “Law, Mars Jeems, yuh ain’t gwine in de way o’ dem Britishers, is yuh?” she asked in terror. “I’m not going to get in their way if I can help it, but they may get in ours. I think, after all, Lettice, you and Lutie had best go back.” “Not I!” Lettice returned. “I’m here, and here I’ll stay, Britisher or no Britisher. I don’t mean to have you go alone; besides, Aunt Martha is not well, and I ought to go over as soon as I can, she might need me.” “Rhoda said they might need me, not you.” “How self-satisfied some one is all of a sudden! I say they may need me. Now, push off; there’s no use parleying. I’ll jump in and swim there if you don’t hurry.” “I believe you are capable of it,” Jamie returned. “Of course I am. I am sure the packet would not be running if there were any danger, and you told me, yourself, that none of the enemy had been seen around here.” “I know I did; I would bear you back to the house by force if I thought there would be any danger for you. At all events, we’ll trust to luck, and get over to the landing as quickly as possible.” “We’ve plenty of time, haven’t we?” “Yes.” “Then do let us stop at Betty’s cove. Mrs. Cooke promised me a plant, and I’ve long wanted a chance to get it.” James consented, and before long they were turning into a little creek which lay back of Mr. Cooke’s property. The boat, however, hardly touched her moorings before a shout was heard, and two men started up from behind some bushes, crying: “Halt there! We’ve got you, have we, you foul deserter!” James, who had scarce set foot on shore, turned and dealt the man about to grab him a heavy blow; but before he could regain his footing upon the boat, the second man gave a shout, and a couple of others came running from a small boathouse near by. The first seized James and dragged him off, despite his manful resistance.