He dashed the water about as though he was about to sink, and instantly a musket ball struck the water within a few feet of him.
Then he dived and swam in another direction, knowing that the boat would continue on its straight track.
When he reappeared above the water he saw that he had gained very materially on his pursuers, and as he did not care what part of the coast he reached, he again dived and swam farther down the shore.
When he came to the surface and floated, he looked round and saw that the boat's crew had given him up for lost.
The boat was circling round and round, and every eye was strained to find his dead body.
Eben leisurely swam to the shore, and was glad when he reached land, for he was nigh exhausted.
He had to be very cautious, for many tories resided on the shore, and he knew that he would be treated as a suspicious character.
He found a wood which afforded him shelter.
Undressing, he hung his clothes out to dry, while he climbed into a tree, with the double object of not being found in a state of undress and be the better able to see if anyone approached.
There was a warm breeze blowing, and his clothes soon dried, and once again he felt like a human being.