Under ordinary conditions I would have been too weary to walk at any very swift pace; but the thought of what we had so narrowly escaped caused me to forget all else, and on I pressed as if having come from a long time of rest. Luther and Ezra had probably walked a number of miles before having come upon us; but they showed no signs of lagging, and when we struck the trail which showed that Wallabout was less than five miles away, I believed we had ample time in which to conclude the journey. “We’ve got over the worst of it,” I said to Sam, speaking for the first time since we set out, it having been agreed that we would not indulge in conversation lest the sound of our voices betray us, and he replied grimly: “I’d rather not do any crowin’, though I’m beginnin’ to believe that we’ll work the trick all right. If Luther an’ Ezra hadn’t been quite so sure things were all goin’ their way, we shouldn’t be drivin’ ’em along in this fashion.” I felt reproved, for the lad had hit the nail on the head. It would be more becoming in me to save my breath for the task before us, instead of crowing over what was not yet finished. We pushed forward without slackening speed save once when crossing a brook, and I would have slaked my raging thirst, when I realized that our prisoners, with the cruel gags in their mouths, must be suffering more severely for water than we, and at once said to Sam: “We won’t show ourselves brutes, even though they were inclined to do so when everythin’ was in their favor. Stand by to prod ’em with your knife in case they make any noise when I take out the gags.” Luther was the first who had the opportunity of wading into the brook and quenching his thirst. He said never a word until having drank his fill, and then how the cur did beg that I would not replace the gag! “It seems as if I should choke to death with that rag in my mouth,” he cried appealingly. “I’ll agree not to make the least little noise, no matter how many may come along, if you’ll only let me have a fair chance to breathe!” While he was speaking I unfastened the ropes of cloth which bound Ezra’s gag in place; but he said never a word until after literally flinging himself into the brook to drink his fill, and we could well understand how great must have been his sufferings. “What do you say, Sam?” I asked, and the lad replied: “I wouldn’t take the oath of a Tory, if anythin’ depended on it, an’ believe Luther would give an alarm if he saw any show to escape, even though he’d sworn himself blue in the face. However, we know full well how tough it must be to travel at a good pace on this hot night, with one’s mouth tied up, an’ if you’re willin’ I’ll take the chances.” “I’ll remember the favor, Sam Garratt,” Ezra said feelingly as he arose refreshed from the brook, “an’ if it ever comes my way to do you a good turn in payment, no matter what happens, I’ll do it.”