In other words, that my meaning may be more plain, I understood at the moment that it was in the highest degree important to the enemy that we two lads be prevented from carrying any information back to Presque Isles, and, therefore, did I realize that the Britishers would spare no labor in the effort to take us prisoners. The soldiers were advancing without heed as to noise, and before they were come so near that I could distinguish the words of their conversation, Alec awakened, looking toward me as if on the point of asking some question. On the instant my hand covered his mouth, and the quick-witted lad needed nothing further by way of explanation. With a motion of the hand he let me know that the situation was fully understood, and arose to a sitting posture as I removed the pressure from his mouth, the voices of our enemies speedily telling the whole story. Nearer and nearer came the men, until we could distinguish every word that passed between them. Instead of talking about the possibility of capturing us, they spoke of the vessel which had arrived during the night just past, and questioned why the other craft were delayed when the wind was in their favor. We soon came to understand that the time for the expedition to move was near at hand, and the blood literally boiled in my veins as I believed that the attack would be made while we were thus virtually prisoners. Although apparently deeply engrossed by the topic of conversation, the search was not being conducted in any slipshod fashion. From the sounds we knew that every bush sufficiently large to shelter us was being examined, and it was not probable we could escape detection. In less than five minutes the soldiers would have come to the mouth of the cave, and our capture was positive. After that had been accomplished, a shameful death would speedily follow for us, and the cold dew of fear covered my forehead as I saw, in fancy, the last acts in our lives. For an instant it was as if I already stood upon the scaffold, and then Alec broke the horrible chain of thought which was making of me a woful coward. He, dear lad, must have had the same mental pictures before him as were distressing me, for, leaning over until his cheek rested against mine, he clasped both my hands. It was a mute farewell; the soldiers were so near that it seemed as if they must be upon us before one could count ten, and I shut my eyes, fearing to see what I believed was inevitable. It seemed as if the men were standing within half a dozen paces of us, shut out from a view of the cave by the fringe of bushes which screened the entrance, when suddenly from the distance we heard a hail: “This way! Quick! I have found traces of those whom you are seeking!” It was Leon Marchand’s voice, and both Alec and I knew the lad was imperilling his own life in the poor hope of being able to save ours.