“How does it happen, think you, that those two are at liberty? It seemed to me when we turned them over to the squad of soldiers, that they were like to stay in one place for a long time.” “It must be that, save for the conversation which we overheard, there was no proof they were engaged in any act of treason against the Cause, an’ therefore could no longer be held prisoners,” I said, striving to assure myself at the same time I set at rest the fears of my comrades. That Abraham was not reassured, and that the others had much the same forebodings as had I concerning this inopportune meeting with the two men whom we had every reason to consider enemies, could be read plainly in the face of my companions, and I set it down as an ill omen. CHAPTER IV. THE ENEMY. It did not take me very long to realize that I was making a simple of myself, by feeling disturbed in mind because we had chanced to meet Luther Stedman and his big friend at the beginning of our voyage. The fact that we lads had not been called on as witnesses since we delivered our prisoners to the military authorities, was good proof that there was little or no evidence against Luther and his friend, save that which Abe and I could have given, and this last would not have gone far toward convicting them of any serious crime. Thinking the matter over as I sat near Abel Grant gazing at the skiff astern, I came to the conclusion that the two young Tories had simply been held prisoners until it was positive they could not give important information, and were then discharged. Thus at liberty, it was by no means strange that we should run across them, for the waters of the harbor were as free to Tory as to Whig, and it did not stand to reason they would remain under cover mourning because we had so successfully blocked their game. “There’s no good reason why you should trouble your head about those two,” Abel Grant said, motioning with his thumb toward the distant skiff. “They’ll hug home pretty close while our people hold New York, an’ we are likely to be in the lower bay for quite a spell, because this business of ours won’t be brought to an end very soon, no matter how much of news we come across.” “I’m not troublin’ myself,” I replied, trying to appear unconcerned. “It was only because they showed themselves at the exact moment when we were startin’ on what may be a dangerous enterprise, that I felt a bit disagreeable.” “If sich as that is all we have to bother us betwixt now an’ the time we make New York agin, I shall think we’re playin’ in the biggest kind of big luck,” he replied in a low tone, and I added nervously: “Is it in your mind that we are likely to meet with many dangers?” “That is a question you can answer as well as I. Does it strike you as bein’ child’s play to spy on the British fleet, when we know without bein’ told that every man jack of ’em will be on the lookout for sich as us?”