I've breathed indoor air long
enough. It's layin' heavy on my lungs, an' I want to put in its place air
that's swep' clean across from the Pacific Ocean an' that ain't hit not
bin' foul on the way."
"Five minutes is too short notice, Jim," laughed Paul, "but we'll surely
start soon, though it's a tremendously long tramp through the woods and
even if we had 'The Galleon' we'd have to pull and sail against the
current."
Oliver Pollock was watching them as they talked and his eyes gleamed, but
he said nothing until they were within his house, where he took them and
gave them refreshments. There he had a proposition to make.
"The boat, of course, you have lost," he said, "as it belongs to Spain,
but your arms and other equipment are all in my possession--they were
given to me to keep for you. But our fleet of canoes loaded with arms and
supplies will start north in three days. Will you go on it? Not to work,
not to paddle, unless you wish, but to guide and to fight. It is no favor
that I am conferring upon you, but one that you can confer upon me if you
will. We need such as you and with you I shall feel that the fleet is
safer."
It was a most welcome offer. They could serve the cause and themselves at
the same time.
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