Before an hour had passed we could see boats passing to and fro between the ship and the shore, and the beach, a short distance above where we lay hidden, soon became quite gay with sailors and marines who, as Seth explained, had been given a chance to stretch their legs. Because of being able to see so much going on around us, the time did not pass as slowly as I had fancied it would, and Seth kept us amused by telling stories of this man or that who came within our range of vision. Before the day was half spent it seemed as if we were really acquainted with a dozen or more of the marines, and already knew by sight at least two who might be willing to aid us to a certain extent if Seth could have a private interview with them. Shortly after noon our marine pointed out Barney Nelson, who was coming ashore with half a dozen others, and both surprised and frightened us by announcing: “I’m goin’ to take the chances of creepin’ well inland in the poor hope that Barney may come that way. You’re to stay here, even though anythin’ should go wrong with me, for in case I’m taken there’s no good reason to show yourselves when you can’t lend any aid.” “Why is there any chance of your bein’ taken?” I whispered. “Do you think Barney might do you an ill turn?” “Not a bit of it; I’ll answer for him. There’s no knowin’ who I might stumble upon, an’ there are mean Englishmen enough belongin’ to the Good Hope to lay me by the heels if the chance offered. I’d be counted as a deserter, if found hangin’ ’round here makin’ no effort to rejoin my ship, an’ some of my old mates might be glad to see me danglin’ from the yard-arm.” He was gone before I could make reply; but then I understood what had not come into my mind before, which was that of us all who were trying to do Abel Grant a good turn, Seth Hartley was running the greatest risk. If we lads were discovered, we would be made prisoners of war, whereas if he fell into the custody of his old mates, a shameful death must follow, for his officers would set him down as a deserter despite anything that could be said by us in his favor. CHAPTER XV. A RASH VENTURE. When Seth crept away on the poor chance that Barney Nelson might happen to wander where it would be possible to get speech with him secretly, I began to realize more thoroughly than ever before the risks which we who hoped to aid Abel Grant were taking, and it was by no means a pleasing subject for reflection. If misfortune came upon us, its lightest form would be imprisonment on board one of the ships, and it did not require any severe tax on the imagination to picture the horrors of such punishment. In case we were discovered and attempted to resist arrest, there would be little compunction in taking our lives, for as a rule the soldiers of his majesty believed a dead colonist was of more value than a live one.