“If we could answer your question, Peter, the work would already be mapped out,” Abraham replied with a laugh. “It may be, an’ so it really seems just now, that you’re in the right; but the same can be said for Seth Hartley. There’s a chance something will come up to give us an opportunity, for we are nearby the ship, and however small that chance may be, it’s vastly better than to turn our backs on the poor fellow.” Peter was neither silenced nor convinced. To him it was as if we were going to certain death when we turned our faces toward Gravesend bay, and he begged most piteously, as if his own life was at stake, that we would not venture our heads into the lion’s jaws when there seemed to be no possibility we could withdraw them. “That you should feel thus keenly for our danger shows you to be a true friend, Peter Snyder,” Sam said when we were all wearied by the old man entreaties. “We would be bound to go even though it could be told in advance that no good would come of the attempt, an’ the greatest favor you can do us now is to say nothin’ more about it, lest the courage which Seth Hartley aroused ooze out at our fingers’ ends.” “At least you will wait until the day breaks,” Peter insisted, turning to the fireplace. “I shall have breakfast for you in a twinklin’, an’ he who goes forth on a full stomach is better prepared to meet whatsoever may come, than he who is hungry.” “We should be fillin’ our stomachs at the expense of our necks,” and Abraham tried to speak in a jovial tone. “Already has it cost us no little of courage to resist your entreaties, for a fellow doesn’t hanker to breast such a storm as this; but while the darkness continues we may travel more safely than when day has come.” “In that you are right, lad,” and Seth Hartley buckled his belt the tighter, as if making preparations for the journey. “You have not only Tory enemies; but British troops are here in plenty, an’ it is in my mind that unless you may get to the bay before daylight, it will be a case of layin’ in hidin’ until another night shuts down.” The idea of spending the day in hiding, without a chance to dry our saturated garments, was in itself, if there had been no other, an incentive to begin the journey without further delay, and we literally pushed our way past Peter Snyder to the door, for the old man really attempted to detain us by force, so great was his fear that we were going to certain death. “If you _should_ live to be convinced that you can’t hope to prevail against the enemy, an’ are in need of a shelter, you’ll come straight here,” he said imploringly, as if asking the greatest of favors for himself.