When all the story had been told the officer asked:
"Can you give us a place on the river where we may lay by during the day? I am minded to have a look at the boats before going back to make report."
I bent forward eagerly to hear the reply:
"At a mill, five miles above here, you will find a friend by name of Essek Harland. He can give you all that may be needed."
"You shall go with us to make certain he takes us in."
"Very well, sir; but in that case I cannot get back home before morning."
"You should be able to pull eight miles with a current in a few hours, and I will pay for the hire of a boat."
"Very well, sir," Macomber replied in a tone of content, and I laughed inwardly with joy, for he would be our prisoner to a certainty if he came down the river alone.
Then the word was given for the oarsmen to resume their work, and we heard the light splashing of water as the boat was pulled up-stream.
After that all was silent once more, and Jerry came tip-toeing aft to whisper in my ear: