“That is for Seth Hartley to say. If so be I can serve the plan, then will I leave the Tory with old Peter, believing he’ll be more faithful to the charge than any other we could select; but I much prefer to have the scoundrel in my own keeping, an’ then if the enemy should suddenly appear, showin’ that he could not fail of bein’ released, I would take his life with my own hands rather than let him go free again.” To this blood-thirsty remark Seth Hartley gave no heed; but at once began outlining a plan for Abraham to get away with the Tory, in the course of which he said: “Since it is certain that we shall not be able to do anythin’ in behalf of Abel Grant within the next four an’ twenty hours at the least, why not take Ephraim and Sam with you in case you should come upon such a small force as could be overcome?” “I will have no one run the risk but myself. If either of the lads went with me, then would the danger be doubled, since he who thus lent a hand would be forced to return, an’ one portion of the journey is as dangerous as another,” Abraham said decidedly. “If it is agreed there is no real reason for me to come back, then all the risk must be mine.” “Ay, an’ you are right, lad,” Seth Hartley said quietly, and to one who was ignorant of the situation there would have been no suspicion that these two talking so quietly, were discussing a matter which meant the life or death of all concerned. “We will carry our prisoner out through the swamp when midnight shall have come, since to trust him to walk would be dangerous. Then you must be guided by whatsoever occurs, for no one can say what should or should not be done.” “Ay, that I know full well, an’ you may trust me to get him there, or else both of us will die on the way,” Abe said emphatically, and that ended the conversation regarding the keeping in our custody of Luther Stedman. But for the fact that we had a prisoner, our hearts would have been very light now since communication had been opened up with Barney Nelson and he had agreed to carry word of our whereabouts to Abel; but as it was, every nerve was strained to its utmost tension, and when after a long while Seth Hartley proposed that we try to gain some sleep, leaving one on watch, I could have laughed at the idea, for slumber at that moment was as far from my eyelids as was the sense of security from my heart. CHAPTER XVI. A RAY OF HOPE. It is beyond my power to set down a fair account of what we said and did during this day when we lay amid the slime, covered with mosquitoes, and surrounded by the enemy. A stranger could not understand the feelings which were ours as we guarded Luther Stedman lest peradventure he slip his bonds sufficiently to make so much noise as would attract attention, knowing that at any moment it was not only possible, but probable, the tables would be turned completely, putting us at his mercy.