“Never mind, darling; it is but for a season. Go on, Pendleton. You seem to have settled everything in your own mind for us. Let us hear the rest of your plan,” said Mr. Berners.
“It is this,” continued the Captain. “I will bring these disguises to you to-morrow night. I will also have a covered cart, loaded with turnips, potatoes, apples, and so forth; I will have this cart driven by your faithful Joe down to the Blackville ferry-boat, in which of course he can cross the river with his load of produce unsuspected and unquestioned.”
“Or even if some inquisitive gossip should ask him where he might be going, Joe would be ready with his safe answer. He can beat us in baffling inquiry,” put in Sybil.
“Like all his race,” laughed Lyon.
“The chance you have mentioned is provided for. Joe is instructed to answer any haphazard questioner, that he is bringing the load to me, which will be the truth.”
“But proceed, dear Pendleton. Develop your whole plan,” urged Mr. Berners.
“Well, then, once safe on this side of the river, Joe will drive the cart to some convenient spot, to which I myself will guide you.”
“Ah, how much trouble you take for us, Pendleton!” sighed Lyon.
“Not at all. As far as I am concerned, it is a piquant adventure. Try to look at it in that light. Well, to our subject. When you reach the cart you can put your wife inside, and then mount the driver’s seat, and start upon your journey like a plain old farmer going to market to sell his produce. As you will have but the one pair of horses for the whole journey, you will see the necessity of making very short stages, in order to enable them to complete it.”