We worked like beavers until the gray streaks in the sky told that a new day was dawning, and even then our refuge was anything but satisfactory. We had not been able to gather sufficient material to make a dry bed, and when all four had crawled upon it the water stood here and there in sufficient quantity to keep our garments well saturated. The mosquitoes were plentiful and hungry, and a fellow might spend every moment trying to keep them at a distance, without coming anywhere near succeeding. “It’s goin’ to be pretty tough lines, if we have to stay here very long,” Abraham said as he curled up on the watery bed and strove to keep the winged pests from his face, and Seth replied gravely: “We can’t hope to finish our work quickly, for it’s a case of waitin’ till we get a chance to speak alone with Barney Nelson. I’d be willin’ to take my full share of greater discomforts than are to be found here, if by so doin’ I could have a hand in workin’ a good turn for the fellow who has been a friend to me.” “I reckon that’s the way we all feel,” Abe said with a grin; “but you must admit that it’s goin’ to be pretty tough.” “We’ll get used to the mosquitoes after a spell,” Sam suggested hopefully. “That may be, though it seems impossible; but what about something to drink?” I asked. “My tongue is as dry as a bone.” “Here is water in plenty,” and Seth pointed to the muddy liquid that oozed up among our bed of brush. “It must be fresh, an’ by waitin’ till it settles a bit, we can have what will be better than many of our sailors get on a long voyage.” If Seth Hartley, a lobster-back, could be cheerful under such circumstances, when he was helping those who had made him a prisoner, then surely it was not for us lads to grumble, and I said as much to my mates, whereupon the Britisher replied with a smile: “It may be that I’m blossomin’ out into a rebel, though I much misdoubt it. You people are workin’ pluckily in what looks to be a one-sided fight, an’ I shouldn’t be sorry to lend a hand, if so be my oath didn’t prevent it, in order to see fair play. In this case, however, I’m tryin’ to pay Abel Grant for what he’s done in my behalf since I fell into your hands, an’ if the effort don’t cost more than hidin’ in this place a few days, I shall believe that I haven’t paid a very high price.” “If Barney Nelson is anythin’ like you, we stand a good chance of seein’ Abel before a great while,” Sam said in a tone of admiration, and Seth added gravely: “We will at least be able to send word that we’re here tryin’ our best to serve him, an’ that will go far toward cheerin’ the poor fellow.” Then we fell silent, for the day was dawning so swiftly that we did not dare longer to indulge in conversation, and I occupied myself with watching the water around me grow clearer and clearer until at last I ventured to quench my thirst, though it was necessary to close my eyes else I could not have swallowed the disagreeable looking mixture.