“I shall be in no more danger aboard the skiff, than when we were hidin’ in the swamp, an’ if I had not been willin’ to take any an’ every chance, I should not be with you now.” “If all Britishers were like you, Seth, how quickly this so-called rebellion would come to an end!” Sam said admiringly, and Abe asked impatiently: “Who is to go with Seth, that’s what I want to know? It seems as if, since I was willin’ to set off with Luther Stedman, leavin’ to you fellows all the chances that might come to finish the job without me, I should be given an opportunity to show myself.” “You must be a glutton for danger if the night tramp across the island, when you were hampered by a prisoner, was not enough,” Sam cried laughingly. “So far I haven’t had a chance to do very much, but it is known full well that I can pull a good stroke at the oars, an’ it seems as if you an’ Eph might give way for me.” I had not spoken, though I was aching to have a hand in the adventure despite all the dangers which caused the cold chills to run down my back, and Seth must have understood somewhat of this, for he said after Sam had made his plea: “It strikes me that the only fair way would be to make the decision by lot. Each of you is eager to have a hand in the matter, an’ well it should be so, since it shows you to be lads of mettle; but the claim of one is no greater than that of the others.” “Very well, we’ll settle it that way!” Abraham cried, and I knew he was praying that he might win what was like to be the prize of death. “You shall make ready the lots, an’ we’ll abide by the decision.” Seth went into the cuddy where was Luther, still at liberty, only long enough to get three bits of ratline stuff, which he held in his closed hand as he said: “One of these is much shorter than the others, an’ he who draws it shall be entitled to go with me in the skiff.” Sam made his selection hurriedly, eagerly; Abraham came next, and when I took the remaining lot it was to find that mine was the shortest. It was a great piece of luck, and I knew full well that both the other lads envied me. “Now that the matter is decided, I hope you two who are to handle the sloop will be cautious.” I said, speaking as I believed a leader had the right. “Do not come within sight of the prison ship unless we have been discovered, an’ you feel certain it will be possible to lend us a hand. In case you see that we cannot escape, if chase be made, think only of securin’ your own safety, leavin’ us to our fate, for it is better that two of us pay the penalty than that all be captured an’ our Tory set free.” “If you think there is fear that I may not be sufficiently cautious, change places with me, an’ then you’ll know to a certainty that the sloop will be handled with due regard to the safety of those on board,” Abe cried eagerly, and for the moment I verily believe he thought it might be possible to work his will by using such an argument.