Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ...from the occasional soft chuckles he gave, and, presently, I had an explanation of it. "'T is like the British to be looking for sparks with a lanthorn," he whispered. "But soon or late they must find us," I said, under my breath. "Nay, fear not, cousin," he answered confidently. "We 're as safe as if we were on Brooklyn Heights." For all his confident tone I was far from being assured and the happenings in the next few minutes brought my heart to my throat more than once. At first there had been a more or less scattered effort on the part of our pursuers, but now all the small boats had formed a wide circle of which we were, somewhat, the center and now they began to converge toward the spot where we lay. Nearer and nearer they came cutting down the darkness in all directions until it seemed certain that a few moments more would leave us at their mercy. Meanwhile, Mr. Travers did nothing, or at least, so it seemed to me. Now and then he would pull at the oars slowly and carefully, shifting our position, first this way and then that, but soon it became plain that the limit of the shadows had been reached and that nothing could be done save surrender. A few strokes more and the British boats would be upon us. Then, to my great surprise, Mr. Travers began to shout at the top of his lungs: "Ahoy, there! This way! This way! Here they are!" he yelled, and I thought for certain he had fallen daft, for surely this was a strange method of effecting our escape. I soon saw, however, that my cousin's hail was the result of no thoughtless plan; for at once a great hubbub arose and, amid shoutings and splashings, the British boats began to make toward the sound of Mr. Travers's voice, each one, ...