One and then another invited them to drink, but they refused, saying they had merely dropped in to light their pipes and look for the men who were to join them.

Various questions were now put to them concerning their mission and its object.

But the boatmen affected a mysterious air; and all that could be got from them was that when they returned it would be with money enough to buy all Nyack.

They seemed somewhat disappointed at not meeting some one, whose name they would not disclose, at the inn.
Bright now mixed warm punches and set them before the boatmen, saying that on such a night they were just what were needed to prop a man's courage up.

The men, however, steadily refused all invitations to drink, and when they had lighted their pipes, and bid the host and his customers good night, left the inn and proceeded to a landing at the bank of the river, where a boat with two men in it was waiting them.
The manners of the boatmen had so excited the curiosity of the inn-keeper and his guests, that no sooner had they left the inn than Bright and several others put on their hats and followed, resolved to see for themselves what was going on.