The prisoners made no reply to the Captain’s statement but it was evident to Bob that they thoroughly understood what he meant.
As soon as they got back to the place where they had camped they prepared a hasty lunch and by one o’clock were ready for the start.
“Can’t you take these things off?” the little man asked holding out his hands. “It’s mighty hard work going through the woods without the use of your hands. We won’t start anything.”
“Not much,” the Captain replied. “You ought to have thought of the inconveniences of this business before you took it up. Smuggling diamonds is I fancy much safer and it’s a pity that you didn’t stick to it. No, I’m not going to take one little bit of a chance. I imagine you can get through all right without your hands if you are careful. Anyhow you’ve got to. That’s all.”
The man scowled and turned away muttering something which Bob failed to catch.
To travel through the thick forest without the use of one’s hands to protect the face from the twigs and branches is indeed a hardship and Bob could not help a feeling of pity for the prisoners. But he knew that the Captain was doing exactly right in refusing to free their hands. They were men of the most desperate character and, knowing that a long term in prison at hard labor awaited them, they would be sure to take advantage of the first opportunity that offered the least chance of escape. As the Captain had said they must take their medicine.
But the Captain was by no means cruel and he set a slow pace in order to make it as easy for them as possible without taking a chance. That night they camped beside a brook and Bob caught a good mess of trout for supper much to the delight of all even including the prisoners.
The Captain divided his party into two watches of three men each. The first to watch until twelve o’clock and the second the rest of the night.
“There, when I was talking with Jack I forgot all about telling him that we were going straight to Bangor,” Bob said as he and the Captain were talking together after supper. “Guess I’d better call him up and tell him.”
He caught Jack just as he was getting into bed and they chatted for some time.
“Then we’ll meet you at the hotel in Bangor some time tomorrow night,” Jack said.