It took him but a moment to shove the light craft into the sea and a minute later he was rowing swiftly away from the land.
Nathaniel was certain that by this time Neil had abandoned his search for the captured _Typhoon_ and was probably paddling in the direction of St.James.With the hope of intercepting him he pulled an eighth of a mile from the shore and rowed slowly toward the head of the island.
There was no moon, but countless stars glowed in a clear sky and upon the open lake Nathaniel could see for a considerable distance about him.
For another hour he rowed back and forth and then beached his boat within a dozen rods of the path that came down from Obadiah's.
It was ten o'clock.

Two more hours! He had tried to suppress his excitement, his apprehensions, his eagerness, but now as he went back into the darkness of the forest they burst out anew.

What if Marion should not keep the tryst?
He thought of the spies whom Neil had said guarded the girl's home--and of Obadiah.

Could he trust the old councilor?
Should he confide his plot to him and ask his assistance?
As the minutes passed and these thoughts recurred again and again in his brain he could not keep the nervousness from growing within him.

He was sure now that he would have to fight his battle without Neil.