“They are not for me,” Master Morley said sharply, when I held the twigs toward him. “I am not bound to you, lads, and therefore do not take chances with you. Besides,” he added, as a new thought came to him, “I have no knowledge of where the hiding-place may be, and could not find it.” Without parleying I threw one of the twigs away, and held the remainder toward Giles. He drew quickly; Daniel took the second, and the third remained in my hand. We held up the twigs that all might see, and it was Daniel Hinchman who had the shortest. One would have thought he had missed a great prize, instead of having been saved from much the same as death, for his face paled, and he turned away quickly, as if to hide a tear. “Do not lose any time in setting out,” I said, again sharply, lest he plead to remain. “Take at least two muskets, and let the remainder of your burden be made up of ammunition. If it so chance that either of us three be left alive and free when this day’s work is done, we will join you at the cave. It seems to me well you and Master Bartlett should be on the watch for fugitives, beginning at sunset, for some of these people must escape death, and perhaps gain the opposite shore.” “I will go to find a boat, so that he may set himself across the river, without danger of wetting the powder,” Giles March said, as he hurried away, and Master Morley and I went with Daniel to make certain he got that which was so sorely needed by those in hiding. CHAPTER IX. DISASTER We loaded Daniel Hinchman with all he could lug through the thicket, and more than it would be possible for him to carry comfortably; but the need of those of us who lived through the day would be so great for weapons of defence that we did not hesitate to overburden him. Giles March had no trouble in finding a canoe, for there were scores of them drawn up on the shore, and many would be unclaimed when night came. I was in a fever of impatience for Daniel to be gone, lest some of those who were so eager to come against the overwhelming force under command of John Butler urge him to remain, and we bundled the weapons and ammunition into the boat hurriedly, pushing the light craft from the shore almost before he had entered it. “Make all speed!” I cried, as he began to ply the paddle vigorously lest he be carried too far down-stream. “At the best possible pace, with such a load, you cannot hope to reach the cave before the unequal battle has begun, and within a very short time after that our people will be seeking refuge from the knives and hatchets of the savages. You and Master Bartlett should be able to save more than one life ’twixt now and sunset.” He waved his hand in reply, as if not daring to trust himself to speak, and then we turned away, lest our standing there should attract the attention of those who might hail him.