“I’m looking to see the renegade Butler himself over this way within four and twenty hours,” Stephen Morley said in a tone of conviction. “It stands to reason that, after hearing the story his sneaks are likely to tell, he’ll want to know what’s afoot.” “Ay, but by that time we’ll be at the river, getting Jonathan Ogden’s Minute Boys ready for service,” Master Bartlett cried. “Let us get what sleep we may ’twixt now and daylight, for all hands of us must make an early start in order to reach Eben Towle’s tunnel ahead of the scouts who may come down the river.” Before obeying this suggestion, which was really a command, I asked Elias if he thought it would be possible for him to make the journey on foot, and then learned that it had already been agreed Mistress Morley should lend him her aid during the tramp. “With her to lean upon when it comes to climbing over fallen trees, I’ll get on all right,” he said, cheerily. “Sam Rogers believes he can walk alone, so you need have no fear concerning us two, Jonathan Ogden.” Stephen Morley stood guard while all the rest of the party slept, and as soon as the first gray light of coming day appeared in the sky we set off to make a change of quarters. The two cripples were sent away first, with the children and Mistress Morley, Giles March leading them. Then, each man and woman loaded to the utmost of his or her strength, the remainder of us followed as best we might, fearing no interruption so we arrived at the river within three or four hours, and it can well be fancied that we made all speed, heeding neither the difficulties of the way nor fatigue. Before he left Master Bartlett tramped twice far up the mountainside, so that it might look as if we had fled in that direction, and when the last person departed from that which had been to us a veritable cave of refuge, there was nothing remaining save the beds of leaves and the charred embers of the fire. Those of us who were in the rear soon overtook the crippled lads, and then one and another lent a hand, until they contrived to cover the ground at about the same rate of speed we would have been able to do without them; but I could see full well by the lines of pain of Elias Shendle’s face, and by his labored breathing, that he was making the effort of his life. Much as I pitied the dear lad, I could not advise him to go more slowly, for the lives of all might depend on the last one being within Eben Towle’s tunnel in a certain time, and all that remained was to give him such assistance as might be possible. Then came the time when we crept cautiously out from the thicket to approach the ruins, each moving swiftly with due regard to leaving a trail, and watching jealously the opposite bank of the river lest there be spectators.