“O, Tom!  O, Prime!” exclaimed the poor fellow, “let us go home.  I wish we was fairly out of this scrape.”

“Why,” said Tom, “we’re ’most there now.  We should be laughed at if we was to give it up so.  Who’s afraid o’ sperits?  They’re nothing but moonshine.  I vow,” he cried, pointing over the opposite side of the boat, “if he ain’t there agin!  Look, Basset.”

But Basset was too busy with his paddle to look.  With a twist of his wrist he had whirled the bow of the boat in the direction of the bank they had just left, and was paddling away for dear life.  This time he appeared to arrive at the condition that the middle of the stream would be the safest position, and having attained that, he kept, as nearly as he could judge, at equal distances from the banks.  A short space only now remained to be passed over, and in a few moments they were abreast of the island.  Here the two men rested on their oars, and a whispered consultation was held, at the conclusion of which the boat was quietly pulled towards the goal.  This was not done, however, without another attempt on the part of the constable to postpone the capture for that night, but the proposal was overruled by his associates, who scouted at his fears, and declared there was no danger.

Basset’s nerves were in a shocking condition.  The doleful stories croaked into his ears the whole passage down; the darkness of the hour; Holden’s terrible character; and the remoteness from any assistance other than that of Gladding and Primus, in whom his confidence diminished every moment, conspired to throw him into the abjectest trepidation.  But there was no retreat; Gladding was as obstinate as a mule, and as for the General, true to his military reputation, he insisted on advancing, and the unfortunate officer of the law, who was as much afflicted, with spiritual as with material fears, found himself in a dilemma, the solution of which was taken away from him.  No alternative remained.  He must, be the consequences what they might, see the adventure through.  Borrowing, therefore, courage from despair, with a timid step and palpitating heart, he left the boat and closely followed his companions.

No light was visible, and the constable began to hope that Holden was away from home, and made the suggestion that since such was undoubtedly the fact, they had better return and come another time.  But Gladding, pointing to a canoe not before observed, convinced Basset of the contrary, and it was then agreed that they should first according to the plan arranged approach the cabin and reconnoitre through the window.  This being the post of danger was offered to Basset who however could be prevailed on by no entreaties to accept it which finally forced Gladding to volunteer.  They all stood now on a side of the hut where there was neither door nor window, being, indeed, the side they had been careful to approach in the boat.  Gladding was to steal to one of the windows and after examining the interior (if possible) to return and apprise them of his discoveries.  Accordingly he started off.