“You mean that Barney Nelson will carry a message?” I whispered. “Ay, lad, I’ll go bail he’ll do that much, for his oath to the king don’t bind his tongue. Everythin’ depends on our hidin’ place, an’ the sooner that has been found the sooner we’ll know whether we’ve come here on a fool’s errand or not.” Abraham, who had heard the words, now crept outside the bushes to look around, and I, knowing he was better acquainted with the shore than either Sam or I, depended on him to lead us from this point. “There’s a little creek down yonder where the bushes grow thickly, or did before the Britishers came,” he whispered after taking a long survey of the shore, as he pointed to the southward of where we were crouching. “I’m afraid it wouldn’t avail us if the lobster-backs roam around freely; but it’s the only shelter I know of within a mile or more.” “Let’s have a look at it,” Seth Hartley said hurriedly. “We haven’t any too much time, an’ can’t afford to loiter here.” We were forced to go well inland in order to come upon the place of which Abraham had spoken, and a good hour of time was spent before we were among the bushes where the buzzing of mosquitoes told that there would be little rest for those who were forced to remain within shelter of the foliage. “It’s the only bit of cover I know of,” Abraham said as if apologizing for the lack of natural advantages; “but from here, if so be we’re not routed out by curious lobster-backs, we can have a full view of all who pass to an’ fro between the ship an’ the shore.” Seth Hartley explored the entire place, which did not cover more than an acre and was largely made up of swamp, before giving any opinion. Then he said with a forced show of cheerfulness: “I’ve seen better hidin’ places; but reckon this will serve our turn for a while. Those who come on shore to stretch their legs won’t be likely to stray into such a swamp as this, an’ we have only to keep well back amid the bushes.” Even to do this it was necessary that considerable work should be done, for no fellow could count on being able to stand knee-deep in mud and water any great length of time, and we set about breaking down bushes and willows to make a bed which would uphold the weight of all four. As a matter of course we were obliged to work with the utmost caution lest we betray our whereabouts to some sharp-eared sentry on the ship, and it was necessary to make wise choice of the bushes to be broken down, otherwise the evidences of our work could be seen by those who passed along the shore.