Then came the supposition that, being given a chance to redeem himself, Nathaniel Hubbard might become a better man. If he would do his part in such a plan it was strong reason why he should be set free; but I doubted the man’s desire for reformation. The shame which would come upon his family with the publication of his guilt was another argument, and I did not try to answer it. The strongest reason for freeing him was a general one, and did more toward convincing me than any other. I knew full well there were many in the United States who cried out that this was an unjust war--that Americans had no right to uphold it, and once it was noised about that a prominent citizen of the town which had begged the hardest for troops was in full sympathy with England, it would go far toward proving to the people at large that the wrongs of us on the frontier were imaginary rather than real. I know not, even now the words are written, whether I have made my meaning plain; but it is the best I can do in the way of explanation. I know for a certainty that the arguments convinced me even against my will, and when we two lads came down from the forecastle-deck I was pledged to do whatsoever lay in my power to set Nathaniel Hubbard free in such a manner that the crew of the _Lawrence_, and all others in the fleet, for that matter, should remain in ignorance of our movements. “When is it to be done?” I asked, as we walked aft, and Alec replied in a whisper:-- “After we have arrived at Put-in-Bay. There we shall come to anchor, and ample time will be given us.” This was the ending to our conversation, and the matter was not referred to again until the evening of August 15th, when our fleet entered the harbor known as Put-in-Bay. Then it was that Alec said to me, when our duties were come to an end for the day, and we free to remain on deck or below as best pleased us:-- “The work must be done tonight. I will speak privately with my brother, and do you broach the subject to old Silas. We shall need the assistance of at least one man, and Oliver believes the gunner can be fully trusted.” Having said this Alec went into the commodore’s cabin, and I approached Master Boyd, who was pacing the forward deck in a manner which told that he had some weighty subject for thought. “I would have speech with you, if it so be you are at liberty,” I began; and before it was possible to say more the old man interrupted gruffly:-- “Very well, lad; but there’s little need to make many words over it, for I can guess what you would talk about. It goes mightily agin the grain to help such as that traitor; but I suppose it must be done if both the commodore and your father have set their hearts upon it.” “How did you know what had been kept a profound secret?” I asked in surprise, forgetting for the moment that the old man had intimated as much a few moments before the plan was revealed to me.