“We’d best hold to the agreement that was made by drawing lots,” I said with a smile which did not tend to sooth the lad. “It was only in my mind that if it seemed impossible Seth an’ I could come out of the venture alive, then your duty would be to look after the safety of those who had a show of goin’ free.” “Suppose you was runnin’ the sloop, an’ I had gone in the skiff with Seth,” Abraham cried, irritably. “If you saw a boat-load of Britishers overhaulin’ us, would you turn tail an’ run away?” I could not well answer the question without going back on my own advice, therefore held my peace, and Seth Hartley put an end to the conversation by saying with a smile: “I’m thinkin’ you lads, now that the details have been arranged, had better set about makin’ preparations for the night’s work, instead of rufflin’ each other. Even if matters go exactly as we could wish, there’s a deal of hard work to be done, an’ he who gets the most rest ’twixt now an’ sunset will be in the best shape for it. How about standin’ hourly watches, one at a time, all the others to make every effort at goin’ to sleep?” I question if either of us felt any inclination to turn in just then; but all understood that Seth had spoken wisely, and we made a downright task of sleeping, I taking the first trick. Luther was allowed to remain at liberty, with the understanding that he was not to come on deck, and I had little to do save think of what the night might have in store for us. Seaward not so much as the wing of a gull was in sight, and as far as could be seen along the sandy shore it was as if the land had never been inhabited. My eyes were really heavy with slumber when I aroused Seth, after an hour or more had passed, and, lying at full length on the cuddy floor, I slept without being disturbed when the watches were changed, throughout nearly the whole of that day. The sun was no more than an hour high in the heavens when I awakened because of having had my fill of sleep, and found Seth and Abe both in the cockpit. “Have you two been standin’ more than your share of the watches?” I asked sharply, and was soon made to know that Seth had but just come out of the cuddy, while Abe, like myself, was surfeited with slumber. Five minutes later Sam awakened of his own accord, and we four sat in the cockpit silent and motionless, awaiting the coming of night. It was not a time for conversation, and yet so great was the suspense that to think of what remained to be done was almost painful.