"They knew how much of a crew you had when the oyster bargain was made." "Well, what if the boys went ashore to go home for a couple of days? That yarn will go down, I reckon, an' if it don't I'll have to take the chances for the sake of gettin' you to Joshua Barney as soon as it can be done." Darius had evidently considered the plan well, and I understood that nothing would turn him from it unless one of us flatly refused to carry it into execution, which, considering all the importance of getting information to the commodore, I was not prepared to do. At the same time, the idea of going back to Nottingham in no better craft than our canoe, was by no means to my liking. "If you've got it worked out, Darius Thorpe, an' allow it should be done, I'm ready," Bill Jepson said, "an' it ain't noways strange that I should be willin' to jump at anythin', considerin' I'm like to go to the yard-arm if captured now." The old man looked inquiringly at Jerry, and my partner said slowly much as if not being exactly certain what he thought of the scheme: "I'm willin' to go if it so be you want to keep the pungy here; but 'cordin' to my way of thinkin' the chances are against our gettin' there in the canoe." "You can do it if the wind don't breeze up, an' it ain't likely to at this time of the year." Then, as if considering the question settled absolutely, Darius cried out to Jim, "Have you stowed everythin' in the canoe?" "Ay, sir, an' I've taken all the provisions for them, so we'll be left to suck our thumbs when we get right hungry." Darius not only planned the journey while we were absent; but had gone ahead with the preparations as if advised in advance that we would agree to it. "Well, there was no use in hanging back, since the thing must be done, and I had sense enough to know that if we were going to make the venture the sooner it was begun the better chance we had for succeeding, therefore I went over the rail into the canoe, where I found a small sprit-sail, a package of food, and one musket with powder and balls sufficient for two or three charges. "We've done the best we could by you, lad," Darius called out as he saw me examining the cargo. "You'll soon be where you can lay in a good supply." "Yes, if we don't go to the bottom first," I replied just a trifle sharply, whereat Darius replied with a laugh: "I'll trust you for that part of the business. Bill Jepson should be a master hand with a paddle, an' take it all in all, you're bound to push ahead right fast." "How are we to find you again?" Jerry asked. "The commodore will attend to that part of it. We'll stay here foolin' around as agreed upon, for a week--unless we get important news before then--, an' if you haven't shown up I'll allow that Joshua Barney set you about other business."