“I’m not afraid of frightenin’ you, lad; but the words trip on my tongue because of the thought that you’ll laugh at me for a fool to propose anythin’ so wild. To be short, this is the plan: You are to come here in the sloop on the next night but one; keepin’ her out of sight if possible, but pullin’ in a skiff to a short distance of the Good Hope at about midnight. If Barney can work the rest, as he claims, Abel Grant will be on deck at the time. He is to let himself over the rail with Barney to screen his movements, an’ swim out to you. If so be he can make the distance, an’ you take him aboard without bein’ seen, it’s then a case of gettin’ aboard the Swiftsure as soon as may be, an’ puttin’ to sea. You see, lad, it’s a slender chance; but yet far better than we hoped might come our way when we set out on this venture.” “It is well worth the tryin’,” Sam said emphatically, “though there are so many quirks which must all fit into each other if it is to be a success, that we may well have doubts about it. Suppose your friend ain’t detailed to guard the prisoners on the night after the next, the trick can’t be tried; if the other members of the guard grow suspicious, the fat is in the fire, or if through lack of wind we fail to be nearabout, then will Abel Grant swim to his death.” “Ay, lad, an’ if he is seen by the sentries after droppin’ into the water, he’s well nigh certain of bein’ shot. It’s best to figure all the chances, an’ then say if the game is worth the candle.” “That much I can say now,” I whispered earnestly. “No matter how many the chances of death, it is better Abel Grant makes the venture, than that he eat his heart out aboard that ship. Does he know what your friend proposes?” “Ay, he an’ Barney talked it over last night, an’ he’s eager to try it; but first must know if you’re willin’ to do your share?” “He should know that without askin’!” Sam cried indignantly. “Now because of his doubts as to our courage, we must spend another day idly here, when we should be performin’ our part of the task. It’s by no means certain that the sloop is where we left her, an’ if she isn’t, we must hunt around for some craft that will answer our purpose.” “You will be wastin’ no time, lad, for if Barney fails to see me when next he comes ashore, it will be taken as token that we’ve left to attend to our part of the business.” “An’ we are to set about the work at once?” I cried, almost beside myself with joy at the prospect of doing something, instead of lying there in the swamp idle.