The strangers half-rose, staring about them stupidly, not understanding for several seconds the true situation of affairs, and while they were trying to gather their scattered senses it was impossible for me to restrain a cry of joy and exultation, for among them was none other than that cur we had so long been seeking, Seth Hastings. At the very moment when we had given over, for the time being, all hope of coming upon that traitorous lad, he was in our power. We had searched for him in this encampment of the enemy and that, but without succeeding in our purpose, and now, when making what appeared an unimportant capture, we had the scoundrel at our mercy. He did not recognize us at first, as I understood by the grayish hue of fear which came over his face a few seconds after he opened his eyes, and then, glancing from one to the other only to see those whom he would have so cruelly wronged, the Tory villain sank back as if fearing we were about to wreak vengeance upon him then and there. His surprise was no less than ours, and had his companions kept their wits about them, observing closely all our movements, they might have succeeded in effecting their escape while we stared at the lad in mingled surprise and joy. However, exultation soon gave way before the knowledge of what we had yet to accomplish, and we set about making certain that those whom we held at our mercy could not give us the slip. It can well be understood that Seth Hastings was the first to whom we gave our attention. Archie and Gabriel stood with levelled muskets while I advanced unarmed to search the prisoners for concealed weapons, and bind them in such fashion that they could not run. When I came to that Tory cur he gave me a look which told how greatly it would pleasure him to take my life, and I laughed aloud as I realized the impotence of his rage. “Be careful, Seth Hastings, not to make any sudden move, or I shall take it as an indication that you intend mischief, and fire with true aim,” Archie cried, and again I saw the pallor of fear creep over the cur’s face. He could plan to send to the prison-ships three lads who had never done him injury, and yet cringe with cowardly fear when there was possibility his own precious body might come to harm. I found on the scoundrel two pistols, which no doubt had been loaned or given by whatsoever British officer had sent him in search of us. These I put in my own pocket, as a matter of course, saying as I did so: “We rebels are not in the way of getting such fanciful weapons as these, and ought to thank you for bringing the toys so far.” “I will bring you worse than that, Rufus Randolph, before many days have passed,” he said in a low, vindictive tone, and I laughed while fastening his arms behind him with his own belt.