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rocking upon the billows until he fell asleep。
＇1＇ A long； narrow island in the East River； between New York and
Long Island City。
When he woke all was quiet。 The gust had passed away； and only now
and then a faint gleam of lightning in the east showed which way it
had gone。 The night was dark and moonless； and from the state of
the tide Sam concluded it was near midnight。 He was on the point
of making loose his skiff to return homeward when he saw a light
gleaming along the water from a distance； which seemed rapidly
approaching。 As it drew near he perceived it came from a lantern
in the bow of a boat gliding along under shadow of the land。 It
pulled up in a small cove close to where he was。 A man jumped on
shore； and searching about with the lantern； exclaimed； 〃This is
the placehere's the iron ring。〃 The boat was then made fast； and
the man； returning on board； assisted his comrades in conveying
something heavy on shore。 As the light gleamed among them； Sam saw
that they were five stout； desperate…looking fellows； in red woolen
caps； with a leader in a three…cornered hat； and that some of them
were armed with dirks； or long knives； and pistols。 They talked
low to one another； and occasionally in some outlandish tongue
which he could not understand。
On landing they made their way among the bushes； taking turns to
relieve each other in lugging their burden up the rocky bank。
Sam's curiosity was now fully aroused； so leaving his skiff he
clambered silently up a ridge that overlooked their path。 They had
stopped to rest for a moment； and the leader was looking about
among the bushes with his lantern。 〃Have you brought the spades？〃
said one。 〃They are here；〃 replied another； who had them on his
shoulder。 〃We must dig deep； where there will be no risk of
discovery；〃 said a third。
A cold chill ran through Sam's veins。 He fancied he saw before him
a gang of murderers； about to bury their victim。 His knees smote
together。 In his agitation he shook the branch of a tree with
which he was supporting himself as he looked over the edge of the
cliff。
〃What's that？〃 cried one of the gang。 〃Some one stirs among the
bushes！〃
The lantern was held up in the direction of the noise。 One of the
red…caps cocked a pistol； and pointed it toward the very place
where Sam was standing。 He stood motionless； breathless； expecting
the next moment to be his last。 Fortunately his dingy complexion
was in his favor； and made no glare among the leaves。
〃'Tis no one；〃 said the man with the lantern。 〃What a plague！ you
would not fire off your pistol and alarm the country！〃
The pistol was uncocked； the burden was resumed； and the party
slowly toiled along the bank。 Sam watched them as they went； the
light sending back fitful gleams through the dripping bushes； and
it was not till they were fairly out of sight that he ventured to
draw breath freely。 He now thought of getting back to his boat；
and making his escape out of the reach of such dangerous neighbors；
but curiosity was all…powerful。 He hesitated； and lingered； and
listened。 By and by he heard the strokes of spades。 〃They are
digging the grave！〃 said he to himself； and the cold sweat started
upon his forehead。 Every stroke of a spade； as it sounded through
the silent groves； went to his heart。 It was evident there was as
little noise made as possible； everything had an air of terrible
mystery and secrecy。 Sam had a great relish for the horrible； a
tale of murder was a treat for him； and he was a constant attendant
at executions。 He could not resist an impulse； in spite of every
danger； to steal nearer to the scene of mystery； and overlook the
midnight fellows at their work。 He crawled along cautiously；
therefore； inch by inch； stepping with the utmost care among the
dry leaves； lest their rustling should betray him。 He came at
length to where a steep rock intervened between him and the gang；
for he saw the light of their lantern shining up against the
branches of the trees on the other side。 Sam slowly and silently
clambered up the surface of the rock； and raising his head above
its naked edge； beheld the villains immediately below him； and so
near that though he dreaded discovery he dared not withdraw lest
the least movement should be heard。 In this way he remained； with
his round black face peering above the edge of the rock； like the
sun just emerging above the edge of the horizon； or the round…
cheeked moon on the dial of a clock。
The red…caps had nearly finished their work； the grave was filled
up； and they were carefully replacing the turf。 This done they
scattered dry leaves over the place。 〃And now；〃 said the leader；
〃I defy the devil himself to find it out。〃
〃The murderers！〃 exclaimed Sam involuntarily。
The whole gang started； and looking up beheld the round black head
of Sam just above them； his white eyes strained half out of their
orbits； his white teeth chattering； and his whole visage shining
with cold perspiration。
〃We're discovered！〃 cried one。
〃Down with him！〃 cried another。
Sam heard the cocking of a pistol； but did not pause for the
report。 He scrambled over rock and stone； through brush and brier；
rolled down banks like a hedgehog； scrambled up others like a
catamount。 In every direction he heard some one or other of the
gang hemming him in。 At length he reached the rocky ridge along
the river； one of the red…caps was hard behind him。 A steep rock
like a wall rose directly in his way； it seemed to cut off all
retreat； when fortunately he espied the strong； cord…like branch of
a grapevine reaching half way down it。 He sprang at it with the
force of a desperate man； seized it with both hands； and； being
young and agile； succeeded in swinging himself to the summit of the
cliff。 Here he stood in full relief against the sky； when the red…
cap cocked his pistol and fired。 The ball whistled by Sam's head。
With the lucky thought of a man in an emergency； he uttered a yell；
fell to the ground； and detached at the same time a fragment of the
rock； which tumbled with a loud splash into the river。
〃I've done his business；〃 said the red…cap to one or two of his
comrades as they arrived panting。 〃He'll tell no tales； except to
the fishes in the river。〃
His pursuers now turned to meet their companions。 Sam； sliding
silently down the surface of the rock； let himself quietly into his
skiff； cast loose the fastening； and abandoned himself to the rapid
current； which in that place runs like a mill stream； and soon
swept him off from the neighborhood。 It was not； however； until he
had drifted a great distance that he ventured to ply his oars； when
he made his skiff dart like an arrow through the strait of Hell
Gate； never heeding the danger of Pot； Frying Pan； nor Hog's Back
itself； nor did he feel himself thoroughly secure until safely
nestled in bed in the cockl