"Remember us to him when you meet him, Ted," said the leader. "You can charge him for the loss of the Washington, too!"
"His door will be free of all chalk scores when I'm done with him," said Ted savagely. "That's goin' to be my work, clearin' the land of pine robbers, just as I once cleared it of pine stumps!"
"We must start on now," said the leader. "Take your wife and children up to my house, Ted. The women can fight together against the pine robbers, if they come there."
"They won't come there," replied Ted. "There'll be fewer of 'em when I've done my duty. There'll be no more hangin' Sallies. Sallie's my wife, ye know."
"I suspected as much from your words," said the leader. "Are you going with us?" he added, turning, as he spoke, to Little Peter.
"No," replied the lad.
"What are you going to do now? You can't get your father out of the New York prisons. You'd better come with us."
"I can't. I've other work to do."
"Have it your own way, my lad, though I think you're making a mistake not to come with us."
The band soon departed, leaving Little Peter and the huge Ted behind them. There was slight likelihood that the men who had captured the Washington would venture on shore to pursue the fugitives, and the knowledge of this fact had made all the parties feel comparatively safe.