“No,” Harry replied.  “They allow none such in the port, for fear that they might be so taken.  There are large rowing boats, pulled by twelve slaves, that come to take produce from the plantations farthest from the port round to ships there.  But it would be madness to trust ourselves to sea in one of these.  We should either die of hunger and thirst, or be picked up again by their cruisers.  The only way would be to seize a ship.”

“That is what William Long and I have been thinking of,” Jacob said.  “But there is a shrewd watch kept up, and the ships are moored under the guns of the battery.  We passed, on our way hither, a bark bringing a number of prisoners taken at Waterford.  She is a slow sailer, and, by the calculations of our captain, will not arrive here for some days yet.”

“If we could intercept her,” Harry said thoughtfully, “we might, with the aid of the prisoners, overcome the guard, and then turning her head, sail for Holland.”

“That might be done,” Jacob assented, “if you have force enough.”

“I can bring forty men,” Harry answered.  “There are eight here, and we have communication with those in the neighboring plantations, who are ready to join me in any enterprise.  That should be enough.”

“It is worth trying,” Jacob said.  “I will hire a rowboat, as if to bring round a cargo of sugar from this plantation to the port.  I will station a man on the highest point of the hills to give me notice when a sail is in sight.  He may see it thence forty miles away.  The winds are light and baffling, and she will make slow progress, and may bring up outside the port that night, but assuredly will not enter until next morning.  The instant I know it is in sight I will ride over here, and William Long will start with the barge from the port.  When you see me come, do you send round word to the others to meet at midnight on the beach, where you will see the boat drawn up.  Can you let your friends know speedily?”

“Yes,” Harry replied.  “My signal was to have been given at daybreak, but I will send round word of the change of hour, and that if, when they are locked up for the night, they see a fire burning on the point agreed, they are to meet on the shore at midnight.  Tell William Long to haul the boat up, and let the rowers go to deep on the shore.  We will seize them noiselessly.  Then we will row along the shore till off the port, and at first daybreak out to the ship if she be at anchor, or away to meet her if she be not yet come.  They will think that we bear a message from the port.”

After some further discussion of details the friends separated, and the next day Mike sent round by the negroes the news of the change of plans.  Two days later Jacob rode up to the plantation.  He had upon the first occasion told Stebbings that the sum he asked for the estate seemed to him too high, but that he would return to talk it over with him, after he had seen other properties.  Immediately upon his arrival, which happened just as the slaves returned from work, Mike sent off one of the negro boys, who had already collected a pile of brushwood on the beacon hill.  Half an hour later a bright flame shone out on its summit.