Within five minutes I learned that nothing could be effected by trying to untie the knot with my teeth, and then I raised my head to see what Luther might be doing. He still remained on guard, and as I gazed at the cur Sam whispered: “I thought you couldn’t do it. Turn around; perhaps I may have better luck.” “Wait until I have done tryin’. The knot can’t be untied, but my teeth are good, an’ if Ezra Billings don’t come back too soon, I may be able to chew it apart.” Verily it seemed a hopeless task to thus sever the stout bonds; but if it could be done our prison doors would not be open so wide, and I worked as never before, hardly ceasing to draw a long breath, or to give any heed as to what Luther might be doing. Let him who thinks my task a simple one, himself try the experience of cutting a manila rope with his teeth, and he will soon understand that nothing save sheer desperation could have kept me at the apparently hopeless task. The blood bounded violently through my veins when, by the sense of touch, I knew a single strand had been cut, and I stopped sufficiently long to whisper to Sam at the same time that I took another look at Luther: “It ain’t impossible, lad; but is only a question of time. If Ezra will stay away half an hour longer I’ll have you free, an’ once we’re in shape to fight it must be to the death, rather than a long dose of British prison.” “Don’t waste precious time talkin’; but keep at the work, if so be it is possible to cut the bonds. Trust me for knowin’ what to do once my hands are loose!” CHAPTER IX. TURNING THE TABLES. I was literally trembling with joy when the moment came that I had gnawed half-way through the rope, and just when it seemed as if success must attend my efforts, the sound of footsteps told that some one was approaching. Only with difficulty did I repress a cry of disappointment and rage, believing Ezra Billings had come back, and Sam rolled hastily over on his back that it might not be seen we two had been in communication. Hope sprang up an instant later, however, when only Luther’s evil face looked in at us to make certain we were as he left us. I fancy we had remained so nearly silent that he thought it possible we might have rigged up some plan for escape, and it was well for us that he did not know how near such a supposition was to the truth. “This is the last time I shall have a chance of seein’ you Whigs, except through the bars of the frigate’s prison, an’ I don’t want to waste any chances,” he said with an evil leer. It was difficult to hold my peace, so strongly was I tempted to give him a tongue lashing; but I remembered that the longer we held him in converse, even though the subject might be a bitter one, the longer would we be deprived of an opportunity to continue the work so well begun, and some such thought must have been in Sam’s mind, for he remained silent when I knew full well he was actually aching to speak out that which was in his heart.