How that afternoon passed I am unable to say even now, while looking calmly back upon it. Then I was in such a fever of anxiety and self-reproach as to be hardly conscious of what I did or said, knowing, however, that before the day was come to a close all of Tarleton’s or Wemyss’s followers must have arrived at that one plantation, and on the road in the rear lay our people, waiting for the information which we should have carried them. There was not one among our party who did not realize that having thus entrapped ourselves, we might bring direst misfortune upon our people, who, not receiving intelligence from us that the enemy were near at hand and in such numbers, might advance only to find themselves overwhelmed. During the early part of the afternoon the British officers enjoyed themselves noisily in the room below, but as the day came to a close all was hushed, while sentinels were stationed, so far as we could see, around the house to prevent the troopers from disturbing the repose of their superiors, for it seemed probable these representatives of the king had ministered to their appetites until sleep became a necessity. We lads, tired of standing, and not daring to move around the room lest the noise of our footsteps should betray us, sat or lay upon the floor as fancy dictated, but Gabriel remained close by the door as if studying profoundly, while I crouched by his side, attempting now and then to beguile him into conversation. When the sun had set we could see the gleam of fires here and there about the grounds, showing where the soldiers were encamped in the open air, and I said to myself that even though we might succeed in leaving the building, there was little possibility we could make our way undetected past the sentinels and idle soldiery. The evening was well along when Gabriel began drawing off his boots, and I, not dreaming of the plan in his mind, followed his example, thinking he was making ready to move about because his limbs were cramped, as were mine. “You are not to go,” he whispered sharply, laying his hand upon mine, and I, like the simple that I was, asked in surprise: “Go where?” “I count on making an attempt to get away from this place, but there is little hope that two could accomplish it undetected. Because it is through my stupidity that we Minute Boys are here in this trap, I am the one who should undertake all the risks.” “You would venture down-stairs and then out upon the grounds, which are lighted up by the many camp-fires?” I asked incredulously, and he nodded his head emphatically. “Then I shall go with you.” “You will do no such thing, Rufus Randolph! Even though I have been a fool, you must still admit I stand as leader of the party, and my orders are to be obeyed. One may do what two could not.” “But suppose you succeed in getting out of the house, what then? You cannot hope to travel on foot so far as will be necessary to come upon our people.”