"By the creeks and rivers. Here, for instance, is a creek that we ought to cross about ten miles ahead. If we come to it short of that, or if it proves to be further off, I shall know that I have got to-night's camp placed wrong on the map. I shall then correct my estimate. When we come to the next creek I shall be able to make my guess still more certain, and by the time we get to Pensacola I shall have the whole march marked pretty nearly right on the map." "I'd give a purty price for that there head o' your'n, Sam," said Sid Russell. "It isn't for sale, Sid, and besides it will be a good deal cheaper to use the one you have, taking care to make it as good as anybody's. Now let me explain to all of you why we are going to Pensacola," and with that Sam entered into the plans which we know all about already, and which need not be repeated here. When he had finished the boys plied him with questions, which he answered as well as he could. Jake Elliott said nothing for a time, but after a while he ventured to ask:-- "Don't they hang fellows they ketch in that sort o' business?" "They hang spies," replied Sam, "but they can scarcely hold us to be spies, especially as we shall be in the territory of a friendly neutral nation, where there cannot properly be a British camp at all." "Well, but mayn't they do it anyhow, just as they are a campin' there, anyhow?" "Of course they may, but I do not think it likely. In the first place we mustn't let them suspect us, and in the second, we must make use of what law there is if we should be arrested." "Well, but if it all failed, what then?" asked Jake. "Oh, shut up Jake," cried Billy Bowlegs. "You're afeard, that's what's the matter with you." "Well," replied Sam "that is simply a risk that we have to run, like any other risk in war. I told you all in advance that the expedition was a hazardous one." "Of course you did, an' what's more you didn't want Jake Elliott to come either," said Billy Bowlegs. "Go into your hole, Jake, if you're scared," said Bob Sharp. "Jake ain't scared, he's only bashful," drawled Sid Russell. "I ain't afraid no more'n the rest of you," said Jake, "but you're all fools enough to run your heads into a noose." "What do you mean by that?" asked Sam, looking up quickly from the map over which he had been poring. "I mean just this," replied Jake, "that this here business 'll end in gettin' us into trouble that we wont git out of soon, an' I move we draw out'n it right now, afore its too late." Sam was on his feet in an instant. [Illustration: "DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, SIR?"]