It was just when I believed we were close upon the spot where the Avenger should be stopped, that Jerry came tip-toeing aft, waving his arms to attract our attention.
"Macomber has hove in sight!" Darius whispered. "Take the tiller, an' head her for his canoe!"
As he spoke he darted into the cuddy, returning a few seconds later with two muskets, and these he carried with him well forward.
I strained my eyes in vain for a view of the canoe, which should be coming right fast, with a favoring current, and had not yet made her out when Darius hailed:
"In the boat there! Whereabouts are our people?"
The old man had disguised his voice, and the traitor must have believed that we were a party of British coming to join those whom he had piloted, for he paddled alongside fearlessly, as he replied:
"Up the river half a mile or so."
"Can you show us the way?"
"Ay, that I can; but it will delay me in—"
He ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that moment Jerry incautiously came toward the port rail, and even though the night was dark, it was possible to see that he was neither a British soldier nor sailor.