My heart sank within me as he spoke. It was impossible any of our friends would come that way before daylight, and he could readily put us aboard a British vessel where would be no chance of escape. The only wonder in my mind was that he did not set about the task at once, instead of waiting until morning. Afterward I came to know that the Tories of Long and Staten Islands had received most peremptory orders not to make any attempt at going within the British encampment or among the fleet during the hours of darkness, unless they brought information of the most vital importance. It was useless to bandy words with the villain, because, while we were helpless and in his power, he would get too much satisfaction from an exchange of threats, and I held my peace while he told of all that he would do once we were confined in the prison of the frigate from which we had escaped. “After we’ve left you safe in the hands of our friends, where you’ll have a chance to think over your sins against the king, an’ won’t grow overly fat on bread an’ water, we’ll set about cuttin’ the claws of that idiot who trains in your company--Abel Grant, an’ by this time to-morrow we’ll have possession of your sloop. I allow Ezra an’ I can make better use of her than you have,” Luther said tauntingly, as he stood over me with hand upraised to shut off my wind if I should venture to speak, and Sam cried stoutly: “Don’t count on too many chickens at one time, you sneakin’ Tory! It will do Abel Grant’s heart good to have a whack at you, an’ I’m thinkin’ our sloop won’t advantage you much, save when you’re carried to New York in her to answer for what has been done this night!” Luther turned as if he had suddenly been stung, and I said, raising my voice for Sam’s benefit: “Let him wag his tongue for a while, lad; it isn’t harmin’ us, an’ comes more natural than to stand up in a fair fight like a man. It’s a long lane which has no turn, an’ he can count to a dead certainty that our day will come.” “It will be a good many years hence, Ephraim Lyttle, for once you’re safely housed on one of the king’s ships, there’s small chance of your goin’ free in a hurry.” I winced under the words, knowing only too well that they were true. Already had the officers of a certain frigate in the king’s fleet cause to feel sore against us because we had pulled the wool so completely over their eyes, and even though that trick had not been played, the son of so well known a Whig as my father, would not soon be set at liberty. Once aboard the British vessel we could count on staying there, or in some other prison, for many a day, unless by a lucky chance our people might come off the victors in the struggle, and just then so happy a conclusion did not appear probable.