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diff --git a/41512-0.txt b/41512-0.txt index 1ce8b9c..5290e32 100644 --- a/41512-0.txt +++ b/41512-0.txt @@ -1,35 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by -John T. McIntyre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41512] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41512 *** THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT BUNKER HILL @@ -7760,360 +7729,4 @@ Other Books in this Series are End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by John T. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41512] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - -THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT BUNKER HILL - -John T. McIntyre - - - - -CONTENTS - - CHAPTER I--HOW EZRA PRENTISS HEARD OF A STRANGER - - CHAPTER II--SHOWS HOW EZRA MET WITH GILBERT SCARLETT, SOLDIER OF - FORTUNE - - CHAPTER III--TELLS HOW EZRA ENTERED THE HOUSE OF ABDALLAH - - CHAPTER IV--TELLS WHAT BEFELL EZRA THEREIN - - CHAPTER V--HOW JASON COLLYER CAME TO THE "PLOW AND HARROW" - - CHAPTER VI--SHOWS HOW EZRA ADVENTURED TOWARD THE "INDIAN'S HEAD" - - CHAPTER VII--EZRA MEETS WITH A STRANGE EXPERIENCE - - CHAPTER VIII--EZRA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO A DANGEROUS VENTURE - - CHAPTER IX--IN WHICH EZRA FARES INTO THE CITY OF THE ENEMY, AND HEARS - THE VOICE OF AN ACQUAINTANCE - - CHAPTER X--TELLS HOW ILL NEWS CAME TO GENERAL GAGE - - CHAPTER XI--TELLS HOW EZRA AND SCARLETT THRIVED IN BOSTON, AND HOW - THEY LEFT IT IN THE NIGHT - - CHAPTER XII--SHOWS HOW EZRA AND THE ADVENTURER WON BY THE BRITISH - FLEET - - CHAPTER XIII--SHOWS HOW EZRA RODE WITH PRESCOTT TOWARD BUNKER HILL - - CHAPTER XIV--IN WHICH IS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL - - CHAPTER XV--SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE - MET GENERAL WASHINGTON BY THE WAY - - CHAPTER XVI--IN WHICH EZRA LISTENS TO A DARING PLAN, AND HOW THREE - SPIES LISTEN TO IT LIKEWISE - - CHAPTER XVII--TELLS OF A RIDE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS AND OF HOW - TICONDEROGA'S GUNS BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY - - CHAPTER XVIII--CONCLUSION - - - - -[Illustration: THE MAN TOOK A STEP FORWARD] - - - - -THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT BUNKER HILL - -by - -John T. McIntyre - -Author of - - "The Young Continentals at Lexington" - "The Young Continentals at Trenton" - -Illustrated by Ralph L. Boyer. - -The Penn Publishing Company - -Philadelphia - -MCMX - - - - -COPYRIGHT 1910 BY - -THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -"The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill" tells of four boys who were with -the American Army in the siege of Boston. It shows how Gage and the -British Army were hemmed in by the colonial troops, tells of the -stirring events in and about the beleaguered city, and finally of the -heroic stand upon Breed's Hill by Putnam, Prescott and the little -patriot army. There is something also of the fights upon islands in the -bay, of the coming of Washington to assume command, and the hoisting of -the first American Union flag. - -The same boys figured in an earlier volume, "The Young Continentals at -Lexington." Their adventures are equally stirring here, and the blows -struck for liberty equally shrewd. This time Ezra Prentiss of the four -boys has the leading rôle; once suspected of being an enemy to the -colonies, he now proves that none can be more faithful than he. - -Ezra and his friends appear again in a volume called "The Young -Continentals at Trenton." It tells something of the struggles about New -York, and finally of the brilliant successes at Trenton and Princeton, -in all of which the boys play their little parts bravely and well. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -HOW EZRA PRENTISS HEARD OF A STRANGER - - -The tall bay horse and the little roan mare went at a hard gallop down -the long, gentle descent of a hill. Both were flecked with foam, for the -going was hard, despite the brisk April weather. - -"How is the mare taking it?" asked Ezra Prentiss, after a time, drawing -in the bay and patting his arched neck encouragingly. - -The roan snorted and shook her head as though trying to answer for -herself. - -"It's rather hard on her, I'm afraid," returned Ben Cooper. "But she's -good for a great deal more of it." - -Part way down the slope both boys checked their mounts completely as -though by mutual consent. Ezra sat silently in his saddle and swept the -countryside with his steady gaze. - -It was mid-afternoon and the sun was dropping fast toward the horizon in -the west. Acres and acres of brown furrowed fields lay before them upon -every side; afar off, men and horses were toiling with the plows; little -clumps of houses were to be seen here and there, and tall columns of -smoke ascended from the wide-mouthed chimneys into the clear air. - -"We are going to have plenty to do from here to Chelmsford," spoke Ezra -at length. "The houses thicken considerably and there seem to be a great -many men at work in the fields." He paused once more, and then turning -to Ben, added, "Do you think we can speak to all of them before night -sets in?" - -"If you took one road and I another, we might," said Ben. - -Ezra frowned. It was very evident that he did not particularly favor -this. - -"Since starting out from Cambridge we have separated twice," said he. -"And each time it had an almost serious result." - -"First a parcel of Tories were for putting an end to me for what they -called treason to King and Parliament," spoke Ben, good-humoredly. - -"And that rascally tinker near Acton almost decoyed me into another nest -of them," added Ezra. "In these unsettled times the road is safer for -two than one, especially after dark." - -Ben nodded. - -"Right," said he. - -"However," proceeded Ezra, "more or less danger was expected when we -started out." He touched the handle of a heavy holster pistol, and -something of Ben's good humor came into his face. "Another thing, the -Tories are running as much risk as we are." - -"Right again," declared the other boy. "That, I think, is the proper way -to look at it." - -"And then," continued Ezra, shifting his hand to a saddle pocket, almost -filled to bursting with what looked like printed sheets, "we have these -to deliver and no great time to do it in." - -There was a silence between them; they studied the country from the -hillside and seemed to be revolving the matter earnestly. The brown -fields were cut by the fairly smooth road which they were on, and a -narrow, rutted wagonway. - -"I'll take this," said Ezra, pointing toward the latter; "there seem to -be quite a number of farmhouses over there beyond that rise, if we can -judge by the smoke. You hold to the highroad and don't miss a single man -or boy." - -"Trust me for that," said Ben. "But," complainingly, "you always pick -the hardest things to do for yourself. Molly is just as fresh as that -beast of yours. And then she's lighter and can pick her way along that -broken road like a cat." - -Ezra laughed; and there was a look of appreciation in his eyes as he -slapped his friend upon the back. - -"Ben," exclaimed he, "you're the greatest fellow I ever knew! You always -think your share of the work the easiest, no matter what it is. If -General Ward had an army of fellows like you before Boston, Gage would -not be able to hold the town for a week." - -Far away, against the horizon line, a spire arose from amidst a clump of -dwellings. - -"I will meet you there as soon after dark as I can," continued Ezra, his -outstretched finger indicating the tower. "If there is an inn wait for -me there." - -After a few words more, Ezra urged the reluctant bay into the much cut -wagon road; Ben, upon the soft-stepping roan, went loping easily down -the highroad, his usually laughing face grave as became a rider with an -urgent mission to perform. - -Ezra Prentiss after a time dismounted and led his steed by the bridle. - -"Mr. Paul Revere used to say a horse well looked after always finished -earlier in the day," said he to himself with a smile. "And I guess it's -true. At any rate, old fellow," to the bay, "the going is too hard for a -rider here; so I'll try walking for a little, anyway." - -In a field he saw two men working with teams of oxen. He waited at a -fence corner until one of them had completed his furrow. - -"Good-day, neighbor," called the boy. - -"Good-day," returned the farmer. - -He wiped the sweat from his forehead and approached Ezra, glad of an -excuse for a moment's rest from his toil. - -"Riding from Boston way?" he inquired eagerly. - -"I left Cambridge a few days ago," replied Ezra. - -As he spoke the lad drew out one of the sheets from his saddle pocket -and unfolded it. It was covered with an announcement in heavy, -bold-faced type. - -"This," said the boy, "is issued by the Massachusetts Committee of -Safety, and riders have been sent out in every direction to deliver them -to the towns and people round-about." - -The farmer took the circular and began an earnest study of its appeal. -The other man, seeing that something unusual was going forward, halted -his team and also approached. Leaning over the shoulder of the first, -he, too, read the earnest lines. - -"You have heard long since what has been done," said Ezra, soberly, when -the two had finished and stood silently gazing at him. "We have struck -the first real blow against the oppressors of the colonies. But what was -done at Lexington and Concord is only a beginning." - -"A beginning!" said the first man, in surprise. - -"Do you really mean to say that Dr. Warren and those others actually -intend to go further in the matter?" exclaimed the second. - -"They must," said Ezra. The two before him had weak, wavering faces and -thin, light-colored hair; from the close resemblance they bore each -other, he judged they must be brothers. "To get any result from the -first blow, a second must be struck," he went on. "There would have been -no use in making a beginning if an ending were not also made." - -"England is a powerful nation," said the first man. "Eh, Josiah?" - -"Mighty powerful," agreed the other, "and so is the King and -Parliament." - -"If the people of the colonies remain united and if every man does his -full duty, the power of England, her King and Parliament, will be as -that," and the boy snapped his fingers. "This circular calls for the -towns to encourage the enlistment of men in the colonial army, as you -have seen. It tells you that every moment is precious. A day's delay may -mean the loss of all; it may bring slavery upon you." He was quoting the -document. - -But the two men shook their heads. Indecision and fear of the situation -were plain in their faces. - -"We've just lately taken this farm," said the one called Josiah, "and -we've counted on this season's yield to help pay for it. We can't go -into the army." - -"If every one thought of his personal affairs," said Ezra, "our tyrants -would crush us into the earth." The boy had absorbed the resonant talk -of the times, and its use had become a habit upon the present mission. -"Take, for instance, men like Mr. Hancock, Mr. Adams, Dr. Warren, and a -score of others. They risk very large fortunes in the cause; they give -every moment of their time to it. They have done so from the first." - -But there was one thing that the men were firm in--their indecision. - -"We'd like to join; we'd like to do all we can. But things won't let -us." The speaker shook his head nervously. "No, things won't let us." - -"You think that by holding back you'll save your property, your season's -crop and all that," spoke Ezra Prentiss. "But I believe you are -mistaken. Suppose most of the men and boys of the towns held back as you -seem inclined to do? What then?" - -"It might be a good thing," answered Josiah, fearfully. - -"It is sure to be a very bad thing for you and everybody else. If there -is no army to oppose him, Gage will march his regiments out of the city, -and he'll seize, burn and destroy until he has the people of -Massachusetts upon their knees." - -The fear that filled the eyes of the two brothers was almost pitiful to -see. - -"Do you think that will happen?" asked one. - -"I sincerely do," returned Ezra, who, to tell the truth, was rather -disgusted at this exhibition of selfish cowardice. - -The farmers consulted together in whispers. Then Josiah said: - -"As my brother remarked, we'd like to do all we can. But we have doubts. -It's not altogether our property that holds us back." - -"What then?" asked Ezra. - -The man looked toward his brother, who nodded what was intended to be -encouragement; but it was of a very timorous sort, indeed. - -"Things hereabouts are not altogether right," said Josiah, lowering his -voice to a whisper and leaning over the fence that Ezra might hear. -"They haven't been just what you might call right for some time." - -Ezra regarded him wonderingly. - -"Nothing has been right in all the colony for some time," said he. "So -what you say is not surprising." - -The man coughed dryly and waved his hand. - -"You don't quite understand what I mean," said he. "What you refer to is -what everybody has seen, and everybody knows. But what I refer to is -what nobody but my brother and I have seen, and what, more than likely, -nobody else has any idea of." - -"Something that has to do with the public good?" inquired Ezra. - -The man hesitated; but his brother made answer for him. - -"Yes," spoke he, "you might call it that." - -Ezra led his horse nearer to the fence and threw the rein over a post. - -"Perhaps," said he, "you wouldn't mind being a little more definite." - -Once more the men consulted in whispers. - -"He's only a boy," Ezra heard Josiah protest. - -"But he's from the head of matters at Boston," argued the other, in a -low but perfectly distinct tone. "They seem to trust him, so why not -we?" - -This seemed unanswerable reasoning; so Josiah again turned to the lad. - -"Do you know this section very well?" he asked. - -"No," replied Ezra. - -"Well, we do," said the man. "In fact, we were born and raised -hereabouts. And we know every man-jack for miles around." - -"Naturally," said the boy. - -"So," proceeded Josiah, "if a stranger comes to live here, particularly -a queer-acting stranger, we'd be likely to take notice of him. And if he -rented the next place to ours," with a jerk of the head down the -wagonway, "we'd be likely to more than particularly take notice." - -"Well?" asked Ezra, patiently. - -"Some time ago, just such a man did just that very thing," said the -farmer earnestly. "He is odd. He's not friendly. He keeps great dogs -and, save for them, seems to live alone. But now and then strangers -come. They always come after dark and are gone by daylight. Who they -are, and what they are, we never have been able to find out." - -"It does seem rather queer," admitted Ezra. "But I can scarcely see just -how it can have anything to do with the matter between the colonies and -the King's government." - -"Neither do we," confessed Josiah. "We can't see it either. But we feel -it. It's just as though we were being watched, somehow. We feel that -everything we do is taken note of by somebody we can't place. And we -think," again fearfully nodding down the wagonway, "that it's that man." - -Ezra studied the men carefully. That they were of a tight-fisted, -timorous sort, he had already made up his mind; but he had not given -them credit for so much imagination as they displayed. However, that -they were sincere was not to be denied. - -He remained for some time, questioning them curiously; at length he -mounted his horse and prepared to move on. - -"It's more than likely," said he, settling himself in the saddle, "that -this man's strange way of living has gradually brought you to thinking -other strange things of him." He gathered up his reins; the bay moved -forward a few steps; then he was brought to a halt once more, and the -boy turned, one hand resting on its flank. "Where did you say he lived?" -he asked with a careless air. - -"About three miles below there," said Josiah's brother, pointing down -the road. "You come to a wood, then to a stream of water, crossed by a -bridge, and just above it is the house, by the roadside. But don't stop. -Because if the dogs are loose, which they generally are, coming on -night, there's no telling what they'll do." - -"Thanks," replied Ezra. "I'll look out for them." He waved his hand. -"Good-bye, and give the Committee's circular another reading. There are -truths in it that can't be denied." - -Then with a glance at the fast lowering sun, he touched the bay with the -spur and turned down the narrow road. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SHOWS HOW EZRA MET WITH GILBERT SCARLETT, SOLDIER OF FORTUNE - - -"I sincerely trust," mused Ezra Prentiss as he rode along on his way, -"that there are not many men like those in the colonies. If there are, -the cause is sure to be defeated. They are too cowardly and selfish to -do anything but clutch what they have and cry out in fear of its being -taken away from them." - -For a moment a shadow rested upon his face. Then the picture flashed -across his mind of the heroic line at Lexington, of the desperate rush -at Concord Bridge, the long, running fight into Boston town. These had -happened only a few weeks before; and a smile banished the shadow -instantly. - -"The men who did those things were neither selfish nor cowardly," he -told himself. "They are as brave as any upon the earth, and would give -all they possessed in the cause of freedom. They drove Earl Percy before -them when they were merely a gathering of half-armed farmers; and when -drilled and properly equipped, they will prove their worth to General -Gage, his army and the hostile King." - -Several times he left the road and crossed some fields at sight of -chimney-stacks or shingled roofs; and each time he talked earnestly with -the householders and left one or more of the circulars printed by the -Committee of Safety. But each time he returned to the wagon road. - -"It's not because I expect to come upon any great number of people," he -said, as the question as to why he did this presented itself to him. -"And it is not because it is an easy road to travel." He paused for a -moment and then added: "I wonder just how much this stranger, who lives -so oddly and in such a queer place, has to do with it?" - -He laughed as the tall bay took a fence and landed once more in the -much-cut road. - -"That's it," he continued. "It's curiosity. I want to see the man who -has made those two, back there, fear him so." - -He had perhaps gone a mile and a half in a straight course, when the -fences began to thin; trees lined the roadside and grew in thick clumps -upon every hand; the ground looked rough and stony; apparently no plow -had ever broken it, no axe had ever been leveled against the timber. - -Heavy boughs, showing the first green of spring, hung so low that Ezra -was forced to bend low in his saddle in order to avoid them. He was -riding in this fashion when he was suddenly startled by a voice, -apparently only a few yards away, calling to him. - -"Hullo, you, sir!" - -Ezra drew in the bay and turned in his saddle. A tall, strongly-built -young man in long leather boots, and wearing a hat with a plume in it, -was standing beside a fallen horse. - -"A moment of your time, if you please," commanded this personage, in a -voice that was not to be denied. - -"You have met with an accident, I see," remarked Ezra, with a glance at -the prostrate beast. "Is he badly hurt?" - -"I think he is all but finished," replied the young man in the long -boots. "He was recommended to me as a nag of perfect quality; but I have -found none such in this sadly deserted corner of the earth." - -The speaker wore moustaches, something seldom or never seen in those -days. They were black, with spiky points, and he twisted at them -savagely. - -"But I have found in my journeys through the world that good horses are -only grown where there are fine up-standing men to see to them," -continued the stranger. He drew up his soft leather boots and shifted -his heavy sword belt, which bore a huge brass buckle. Then he devoted -his attention to the moustaches once more. - -"You are not of the colonies, then?" inquired Ezra. - -The other drew himself up haughtily and stared at the speaker. - -"I trust, sir," spoke he in a measured voice, "that I do not convey that -impression. I am Gilbert Scarlett, late of the Spanish service and once -of those of Hanover, Wurtemberg, Portugal and the Swiss. Also two -campaigns have I served with the Turks in Egypt, and once I bore a -commission from the Czar of Muscovy." - -Ezra regarded the other with wonderment. That so young a man could have -had so wide a military experience seemed extraordinary indeed. But, in -spite of the boastful tone and exaggerated manner, there was that about -the stranger that might make a doubter pause. - -"I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Scarlett," said Ezra Prentiss, politely. -"And I must say that I am rather astonished to see a man of your parts -in so unusual a place." - -"You might well be," returned the other, slapping his boot-leg with his -riding-whip. "And truth to tell, I am a trifle astonished myself. But -matters between the Spanish and the French grew very monotonous toward -the last, below there in the Floridas and on the Gulf. They made war -very politely and saw to it that there was plenty of breathing time -between cannon-shots. So I took ship and came north. They told me that -the clouds were gathering here and that there would be much credit for a -man of my inches to gain, in one way and another." - -"If you look for fighting," said Ezra, soberly, "I fancy you'll get your -fill of it before many days." - -The other laughed and leaned gracefully against a tree. He had thick -black brows, and he bent them at the young New Englander jeeringly. - -"Fighting!" mocked he. "Where is it to come from? Gage has an army of -veterans and dare not come out. This other man----" - -"General Ward?" suggested Ezra, as the other hesitated. - -"Yes--thanks. General Ward has gathered a rabble of peasants which would -tear off like sheep at the first sound of a heavy gun." - -"You are wrong," cried Ezra warmly. "I saw them under fire. They acted -the part of men." - -"I've heard of that fight," said the young man. "Pshaw! Such a thing is -not a test. Wait until they are forced to sleep out under the stars, to -mount guard in the wet, to obey popinjay officers, to keep hungry -bellies for days on end, to be sick without physic, to be cold without -clothing, to be beaten and asked to fight again. That will show the -color of their courage, sir. Your General Ward may be satisfied with -less; but nothing short of all I've mentioned would answer the needs of -an old campaigner." - -To hear him with his youthful face, and sprouting moustaches, calling -himself by such a name, caused Ezra to smile. Instantly the face of -Gilbert Scarlett changed. - -"But it seems that I am wasting good time speaking with you," said he, -coldly. "I find that men of experience are not understood by colonials." -His hard, black eyes ran over the lines of the tall bay horse which Ezra -bestrode, and he proceeded, "That is a fair-looking charger. Anyhow, -it's the best to be had at this time, I suppose. So do me the favor to -get down." - -Ezra looked at the speaker in some surprise. - -"Perhaps you will explain," said he. - -"The situation is so plain," proclaimed Gilbert Scarlett, "that I can -scarcely see the need of an explanation. But, since you ask for one, -here it is. My horse can go no farther. Yours can. So, as I have urgent -affairs to transact, I propose that we make an exchange." - -"It would seem that your military schooling has taught you to expect the -better of a bargain, if nothing else," said Ezra quietly. - -The other laughed. - -"It would have been of very little value if it hadn't," said he. He once -more hitched at his sword belt, and this time the movement held the -elements of a threat. "But," he went on, "that is neither here nor -there. We will come to the exchange at once, if you please." - -"I am glad that you mentioned that last," smiled Ezra. "Suppose I don't -please?" - -The points of the spiky moustache went up and the heavy black brows came -down. - -"In that event," said Gilbert Scarlett, "I shall be forced to alter your -mind." - -A little earlier, Ezra had had before him a youthful, careless face, had -listened to boastful, empty speech and had smiled. But in an instant all -was altered. The face was now hard and lined; the careless mouth was -tight shut and cruel looking, the voice was sharp and peremptory. - -"Once more--and for the last time, mark you--I invite you to get down." - -"I think your contempt for colonials has led you astray," said Ezra, -still with a smile. "We do not give up our belongings so easily in this -part of the world." - -The man took a step forward, his breath seeming to hiss between his -teeth; then his sword flashed out of its scabbard. But at the same -instant Ezra's long holster pistol came into play. The afternoon light -gleamed dully upon the steel barrel, as he supported it in the hollow of -his left arm. - -"Before you display any of your deftness with the sword blade," spoke -the young New Englander, coolly, "listen to a few words of disinterested -advice. I say disinterested, because it makes no difference to me how -you take it. But it would, perhaps, be a great deal better for you if -you reconsidered this matter. A gentleman of your confessed military -experience can no doubt play the sword with accuracy. But don't forget -that a bullet travels faster--and don't compel me to start this one on -its travels." - -The young stranger listened to this quietly-spoken warning with varying -expressions of face. At first it seemed that he would defy the pistol; -indeed he drew back his arm for a blow. Then he paused, baffled; at last -a comical look came upon his face, his point touched the ground and he -stepped back with a ringing laugh. - -"For your advice I offer many thanks." He took off his hat as he spoke -and its plume swept the earth. "And I will take it," driving his blade -back in its sheath. "I have made a grave military blunder. In what you -call my contempt for colonials I overlooked the possibility of your -being armed. I admit defeat and pray you mercy." - -The situation was so quaint a one that Ezra also laughed. But he did not -take his eyes from the other, neither did his pistol go back to its -place in the holster. - -"The situation remains as it was when I came up," said the boy. "Here -you stand beside your fallen horse and off I go on my way to -Chelmsford." - -He touched the bay with the spur; but it had only taken a few steps when -Gilbert Scarlett once more lifted his voice. Ezra drew rein and the man -advanced. - -"You are going toward Chelmsford?" inquired he. - -"Yes," returned Ezra. - -"By this road?" - -"If I can." - -"It always shows good quality in a soldier to be generous to a defeated -foe," smiled the young man. He paused a moment and studied Ezra -carefully; and as he did so the latter noted an odd light dancing in his -eyes. "As I have said," Scarlett resumed, "I have urgent affairs that -under other circumstances would require me to press on. And as I can't -do this, I would ask you to grant me a favor." - -"What is it?" asked Ezra. - -"At Cambridge I was entrusted with a mission of more or less -importance," spoke Scarlett easily. "And as the gentleman who so -entrusted me was most genial and generous, though to speak the truth I -did not know him from Adam's elder brother, I would like to see the -matter carried through as contracted." - -He drew from his belt a packet of papers sealed with black wax. - -"I was required to take this way and ride until I came to a certain -bridge," said Scarlett. "Not far from this I was to come upon a house -where I was to stop and ask for a man by the name of Abdallah. When I -saw him I was to hand over these," and the speaker held up the packet. - -At sight of the packet and Scarlett's announcement that he had been -bidden to come that way, Ezra's attention became fixed. The two farmers -had spoken of unknown riders who came and went to their mysterious -neighbor's. But when the other mentioned the bridge and the house not -far from it, the boy's eyes snapped with expectation. However, when he -spoke his voice was unconcerned enough. - -"And now, I suppose, you want me to undertake to finish what you have -begun?" said he. - -"If you will be so kind," replied Scarlett, with a little bow. "It will -not take you out of your way, since you are going by this road, and it -will greatly relieve my mind." - -Ezra bent forward and took the papers in his left hand. Thrusting them -into the breast of his coat, he said with a laugh: - -"It would show a sad lack of charity on my part to leave you in a -disturbed state of mind. A disabled horse and a long road are calamities -enough for any man." - -"I thank you," said Scarlett. He tugged at his moustache with one hand; -the thumb of the other was stuck in his sword belt, his legs were very -wide apart, and the plumed hat was set well back upon his head. "You are -a ready youth and a generous one. Perhaps your wit is not all that it -will be in the years to come. Nevertheless, I say that you are a ready -youth. And further, I will add that you have the makings in you of a -most excellent soldier." - -Once more the long plume swept the ground as Ezra, with a wave of the -hand, rode away; and the last the boy saw of him he was stripping the -saddle from the fallen horse and apparently railing against his ill luck -in a most hearty fashion. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -TELLS HOW EZRA ENTERED THE HOUSE OF ABDALLAH - - -"Rather an odd character, I should think," mused the young New Englander -as he rode along. "A soldier of fortune from his own account; and from -my own observations, one ready enough to provide himself with anything -that he lacked. But he seemed rather a good sort, for all," with a -laugh, "even if he did draw his blade on me and afterward cast -reflections upon my wit. I'm sure if I saw more of him I'd come to like -him." - -The pace was slow on account of the bad condition of the road; and -gradually the sun slipped downward in the west. At length, in a gloomy, -sunken place, Ezra came upon a forbidding-looking stream flowing into a -shattered dam. - -A treacherous-looking bridge of unstripped timber crossed it; and a -little to the left was an abandoned mill with staring, empty windows; -its broken roof was covered with green moss, a wheel hanging rotten and -silent at its side. - -"And some little way along I am to find a house by the roadside, am I?" -said the lad as he looked about upon this sullen picture. "Well, it -takes different tastes to make a world, of course; but I'd never have -thought that any one would select a spot like this for a -dwelling-place." - -Gingerly the bay picked its way across the bridge; the aged timbers -swayed and groaned; through the open seams between the planks, the dark -water could be seen flowing sluggishly along. - -Just beyond the bridge the road took an abrupt bend; and as Ezra rounded -this he found himself in sight of the house. - -He had only time to note that it was two stories in height and that -heavy shutters guarded all the windows, when there came a most -tremendous barking of dogs. Lion-like, three enormous mastiffs leaped -the low fence that ran about the house and rushed at horse and rider. - -The bay reared, his nostrils widening and his eyes shining with fright. -Ezra tightened the rein, spoke soothingly to him and at the same time -reached for his holster pistol. With wide jaws the great beasts bounded -forward; then came a sharp whistle and instantly they paused, growling, -indeed, and with savage eyes, but advancing no farther. - -From around one corner of the house came a man of commanding stature and -remarkable appearance. He was attired in a long, loose, robe-like -garment such as Ezra had seen in pictures of Eastern peoples. His head -was entirely bald, though the face was smooth, unlined and gave few -signs of age. His complexion was swarthy and his eyes singularly large, -dark and gentle-looking. - -"I ask your pardon, young sir," said this strange-looking personage -smoothly. "My poor beasts are a trifle unruly at times. But," -reassuringly, "believe me, there is no harm in them." - -Ezra looked down into the bloodshot eyes and formidable jaws of the -brutes. He said nothing in answer to the man's statement; but he held to -his own opinion, nevertheless. - -The man advanced to the fence, and Ezra noted that he wore no shoes. His -feet were bound in sandals; also he was belted with a thick cord into -which was stuck an ancient-looking, leather-covered book. - -But the stranger's most striking and noticeable feature was his soft -gentleness of manner. Ezra felt this the moment his eyes rested upon the -swarthy face; it were as though nothing could excite its owner to anger -or intolerance. And yet, for all that, as the boy gazed at the -strangely-clad one, that distinct feeling of repulsion came upon him -which we feel in the presence of those whom we naturally distrust. - -Here the man spoke to the dogs which still stood near at hand, growling -and casting savage looks at Ezra. - -"Blood," said he, gently, "go in, brave dog. Death, away with you. -Bones, be gone." - -The voice was soft, even purring; but the grisly names of the brutes -caused Ezra to shudder. - -Obediently the animals turned and leaped into the enclosure once more. -And as they passed their master, Ezra noted that they crouched and -fawned. - -"Only beaten dogs do that," thought the boy. Then, as he surveyed the -man carefully, "I wonder just how much of this gentleness is real and -how much assumed?" - -As the mastiffs vanished behind the house, the man turned to Ezra once -more. - -"The road is seldom frequented," said he, apologetically; "and so, poor -beasts, they are not accustomed to travelers." The soft, dark eyes -examined Ezra with much attention; then the speaker went on, "I -sincerely trust that you have taken neither harm nor offense." - -"Not in the least," replied Ezra readily. "My horse was a bit startled; -but that is all." - -Instantly the dark eyes went to the horse; its weary condition seemed to -excite the stranger's sympathy. - -"You have ridden far?" said he, gently. - -"From Cambridge," replied Ezra. "But it has taken several days." - -"And you are going----?" Here the other paused with undoubted expectancy. - -"Toward Chelmsford," replied Ezra. - -The man seemed baffled; he passed one hand over his shining bald head as -though in meditation. But the singular dark eyes never left the boy's -face. - -"This is rather an unusual way to select," he said at last. "Rough and -indirect." - -"Perhaps so," said Ezra. "But I had some small matters of business -hereabouts." - -An eager look came into the man's face; he held up one hand with an -inquiring gesture. - -"You were to ask for some one?" said he. - -"Yes. For a gentleman of the name of Abdallah." - -"I am he," said the other humbly. "Abdallah--son of Hamid--a poor scholar, -and a friend to all the world." - -Ezra took out the packet from the breast of his coat; riding close to -the fence he gave it into Abdallah's hands. - -"I thank you," said the man. "I had been expecting you for some days." - -His fingers pattered nervously upon the papers; it was plain to see that -he was all eagerness to tear them open that he might come at their -contents. - -But he restrained himself; with calm eyes he looked at Ezra and said: - -"Perhaps it was part of your instructions that you bear back any answer -to these that might be necessary." - -Ezra hesitated for a moment. His first impulse was to make a plain -statement of the facts, to tell him how he met Scarlett by the wayside, -relate how the papers had been handed over to him, and why. But second -thought prompted him to take advantage of the other's mistake. What the -lad had heard of Abdallah had interested him exceedingly. If there were -anything unusual in his transactions, or anything against the public -good, here was a most excellent opportunity of throwing a light upon the -matter. - -So, like a flash, he made up his mind. - -"I was given no instructions by the gentleman who entrusted me with this -errand," said he, "save only that I was to hand the packet to you." - -Abdallah nodded his head. - -"It is well to be careful. I have always approved of such a method," -spoke he. - -The great dark eyes were fixed upon Ezra's face; for all their -gentleness, the boy fancied that he caught an element of speculation in -them. But before he had time to note more, the man proceeded: - -"I am a reader of faces and you have a faithful look. You are of the -type that would be apt to do anything that he engaged to do." He tapped -the papers upon the palm of one hand for a moment, as though -considering; then proceeded: "Will you carry the answer to the person -who gave these?" And the eyes narrowed. - -"He was an utter stranger to me," said Ezra. "I would not know where to -look for him." - -The man laughed softly and seemed satisfied. - -"In matters like this," said he, "it is not always wise to give names or -addresses. It might prove inconvenient. However, it does not matter. I -will so advise you as to the answer that you cannot well go astray." - -With that Ezra dismounted without more ado. Tying his horse to the -gate-post, he followed the man through a low, wide doorway into the -house. - -The boy was open-eyed for something unusual. What he had heard of -Abdallah, and, indeed, the man's personal appearance, led him to be so; -and he was not disappointed. - -Without, the house was clumsy and ill-shaped, the product perhaps of an -uncouth workman of past generations. It was also neglected, unpainted -and weather-stained. The enclosure about it was yellow with the weeds of -a summer before. - -But within all was different. The shutters did not admit a ray of light; -candles, set in queer twisted sconces of copper, burned behind -rose-colored shades of glass. Large mirrors glittered upon the walls; -the doorways were hung with rich draperies; a soft Turkey carpet and -rich rugs were upon the floor. Several broad couches covered with -crimson leather stood about. - -And books were everywhere--upon shelves, upon tables and chairs; faded -scrolls covered with strange Oriental characters were scattered about; -queer manuscripts, musty and tattered, lay open to view where some one -had been lately consulting them. - -On a broad, brick hearth stood a small furnace with a leather bellows -attached. Beside this were queer instruments and vessels of metal and -glass at whose uses the boy could only guess. - -"Be seated, I beg of you," spoke Abdallah, with grave courtesy. "It is -but a poor place to ask a guest; but to what there is, you are welcome -indeed." - -Ezra sat down upon one of the couches. It was soft and extremely -comforting to one who had been in the saddle since early morning. And as -he sat, his eyes went about the apartment wonderingly. - -The man noted this and smiled. Ezra hastened to say: - -"I ask your pardon. But there is not, I will venture to say, such -another place as this in all Massachusetts." - -Abdallah inclined his stately head gravely. - -"No doubt you are right," said he. "In this Western world the lore of -the East is all but unknown." He sighed and shook his head. "All is so -new. The men, the customs, the very country. They have no leisure for -employment of a deeper sort." - -Ezra looked at the speaker curiously. - -"I have heard but little of the unusual sciences of the East," said he, -"and have read very little more. I have no doubt but that they are -wonderful and interesting; and I am pleased to meet with a gentleman so -learned in them." - -Abdallah made a gesture of protest. - -"You give me too much credit," said he, gravely. "I am but a poor -scholar. 'Tis true that some of the mysteries of life have been made -known to me. But that is all. I am a struggling student as yet, and -cannot hope to be more until years of labor have been gone through." - -Glass vessels containing liquids stood upon a shelf. They were long -necked and yet with squat, round bodies; their contents were of amber, -purple, jade and other rich colors and they twinkled and flashed in the -subdued light of the candles. - -"You practice the art of healing, sir, I perceive," suggested Ezra, -looking at these. - -But Abdallah shook his head. - -"I am fairly well versed in the business of a leech," he replied. "But I -give but little time to it." - -[Illustration: Illustration: "YOU PRACTICE THE ART OF HEALING, SIR"] - -Here Ezra caught an odd, muffled, lingering sound. It was low and -indistinct. Thinking it was something outside--a bird, a small animal or -such--he paid no attention to it. But at the same time he noticed a -peculiar expression upon the face of Abdallah, and he also saw the look -which the man flashed at him. - -"To be a surgeon, or even an apothecary in such a lonely place, would -profit mankind or myself very little," proceeded the man in his usual -tone of grave gentleness. - -He smiled at the boy, who nodded a reply. Again the odd sound was -repeated. It was murmurous and lingering, rising and falling in a -measured sort of way. - -"It is within the house," Ezra told himself. "And it is the voice of -some one in conversation." - -But he felt the dark eyes of the Oriental fixed upon him and his face -never changed. The sound, apparently, was one that Abdallah would prefer -to have unheard; so Ezra's face held nothing but polite interest in the -other's remarks. - -"I suppose you are quite right," said the boy. "And so," with the -suspicions of the farmers well in mind, "you devote your time solely to -the study of your philosophy?" - -"Entirely so," replied Abdallah, suavely. "It is a great science, and to -get even the rudiments of it, one must spare neither one's self nor -time." - -Again came the murmurous sound. Whoever the talkers were, they seemed to -be deep in some discussion. As Ezra watched he saw the habitually gentle -look leave the eyes of the Oriental; the pleasant mouth tightened and -grew hard, the long-fingered brown hands clenched. - -"I will ask your pardon," said Abdallah in his smooth voice. That he was -filled with a bitter anger was plain; but he held himself wonderfully in -control. He bent his head in a salaam of much dignity; then drawing -aside some hangings that concealed a doorway, he disappeared. - -Ezra settled back more comfortably into his easy seat. - -"Master Abdallah evidently does not lead the lonely life that my friends -of a short time ago supposed," said he. "If these are not regular -inmates of his house, they are persons over whom he professes some -control; at least his manner said as much." - -There was a huge clock in the room that ticked with steady, solemn -regularity. Now and then a candle sputtered or leaped behind its -rose-colored shade. But these were the only sounds that Ezra heard. - -"Whoever it was, he has silenced them," smiled the boy. "Behind that -soft manner, our friend has a temper of his own. I saw that from the -first." - -But another moment proved that Abdallah's was not the only temper in the -house. Suddenly the silence was split by a heavy voice, thundering: - -"What do you mean, sir? What do you mean by addressing me in that -manner?" - -A quick, excited murmur followed. Then the heavy voice was heard once -more. - -"I know we are in his house. I am perfectly aware of it. But that does -not deprive me of the right to protect myself from impudence." - -Abdallah's voice was then heard; but it was pitched so low that Ezra -could not catch the words. After a moment the heavy voice came again. - -"Of course, sir, that puts a different face upon the matter. But you -should have warned us to moderate our tones. Remember, I am Major -Buckstone of His Majesty's Artillery, and I permit no man to hector me." - -"Hush-h-h-h!" came another voice. And then there was a silence. - -"It seems that Major Buckstone is a person quite ready and competent to -regulate his own affairs," smiled the boy. Then his brows puckered -thoughtfully as he continued: "And the fact that he is of His Majesty's -Artillery makes him a gentleman of whom I should take more than ordinary -notice." - -On the whole, as he thought the situation over, all the persons -concerned were of great interest to him and to the cause of the -colonies. Here was a stranger, an Oriental, who received mysterious -communications from equally mysterious horsemen. And here, also, were -British officers making his house a place of resort and carrying on -conversations which would not allow of being overheard. - -"Decidedly," said Ezra, "it has an interesting look. And I am quite -pleased that I chanced to come this way and overtake Master Scarlett as -I did." - -His thoughts had run this far when once again the mighty voice of Major -Buckstone was heard. - -"But, sir," it cried, "I disagree with you. I utterly disagree with you. -You may have your own ways of doing these things. If so, you are -perfectly welcome to them. But I am a soldier, sir; an officer in His -Majesty's Artillery, and I am accustomed to do things in my own way." - -A soft protest followed, but the thunderous major cut it short. - -"If this gentleman has been trusted thus far, he can be trusted -further," he declared. "Why should we remain concealed in the houses of -our friends? It is preposterous!" - -A sharp moving about of furniture followed as though some one had pushed -back a heavy chair; then footsteps were heard, the hangings parted and a -burly, red-faced man entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -TELLS WHAT BEFELL EZRA THEREIN - - -Directly behind the red-faced man came Abdallah, and a small, -weazened-looking youth, with the face of a ferret and the covert manners -of a fox. - -That Abdallah was not pleased with the situation was very evident. There -was an angry light burning in the dark eyes; and though his manner was -as suave as ever, his voice, as he spoke, had gained distinctly in -sharpness. - -"This," said he, addressing Ezra, who had arisen, "is a gentleman who -insisted upon making your acquaintance." - -Major Buckstone laughed loudly, and held out his hand to the boy. - -"And that is the plain truth," spoke he, with great heartiness of -manner. "I am a bluff soldier, young sir, and I am always delighted to -see those who do their work out in the open." - -As he said this, his eyes went quickly to Abdallah and the ferret-faced -young man. It was the latter who made answer. - -"In a time like this, Major Buckstone," said he, "there is work of all -sorts to be done for His Majesty, the King. You have your place--we have -ours." - -"And you will pardon me for saying it, I'm sure," said Abdallah, also -addressing the major, "but your place is decidedly not here." - -The words were softly spoken; but, for all, there was behind them the -bitter resentment of a man not accustomed to being crossed. - -Major Buckstone drew himself up, and saluted formally. - -"Sir," he made reply, "you have complimented me highly. You are quite -right. This is not my place. In plain words, a man of my quality should -never have been detailed upon such duty." - -The ferret-faced youth, his eyes full of alarm, furtively tugged at the -speaker's sleeve; then he whispered some words of caution. But the burly -soldier shook him off impatiently. - -"I understand you very well, Jason Collyer," said he with ponderous -disdain. "But as I have told you many times in this last twenty-four -hours, I will pay no heed to you. I have my own way of conducting my own -business, and that I will persist in." - -Abdallah made a sign to the ferret-faced youth, and the latter fell back -from the plainspoken major. Then the two drew together at a far corner -of the room and consulted in whispers. The major turned to Ezra once -more. - -"You have ridden from Cambridge, I understand," said he. - -"I have," replied the lad, briefly. - -"It has been a week since I passed through the rebel lines," said the -officer. "I was in disguise," in a tone of great disgust. "Much rather -would I have been in full uniform, and at the head of two regiments of -hardy fellows." Then in another tone, "But what news?" - -"The papers, I should think," and Ezra nodded toward Abdallah, "would -tell you everything." - -"Everything of this nature," and the burly speaker gestured about him in -great contempt. "But I want to have as little to do with spying and -ferreting as possible. What I want to know is: what has General Gage -done to break the preposterous condition at Boston, that the rebels call -a siege?" - -"Nothing, sir," replied the boy. - -The great, red face grew grim, and the heavy round head wagged from side -to side. - -"British prestige will suffer for this," said the major, solemnly. "It -will suffer the world over." Then with a tightening of his jaws, "Come, -then, tell me what the rebels have done. I'll warrant they have been -active enough." - -Ezra smiled. - -"You are right in that," said he. "Never were men more busy before. Not -a day goes by but that something is done. Earthworks are thrown up, -companies are enlisted, stores are gathered, noted men of the colonial -wars are offering their swords and their experience." - -This last caused Major Buckstone to grow grimmer than ever. - -"And tough fighters, those same rascals are," said he. "I've fought -shoulder to shoulder with them, and I know their mettle." - -Then little by little he drew from the boy all the details of what -had passed, to the colonists' credit, since the day that the -column under Lord Percy had been driven pell-mell into Boston. But the -boy shrewdly neglected to mention anything that would show the real -and pitiful weakness of the colonial force. He did not tell how the -slackly-disciplined farmers grew tired of the dull routine of the -siege and left for their homes in droves. He did not tell how General -Ward had written to the Provincial Congress declaring that if this was -not somehow stopped he would soon be left all alone. Nor did he say -that for sheer want of men, Boston Neck was at times almost -unguarded--Boston Neck, the most important avenue of all out of the -beleaguered city. - -Major Buckstone listened to the rosy story of the colonists' prowess; -his thick iron-gray brows were drawn together in a frown. - -"I understand that they have Putnam from Connecticut with them, and that -tall fellow John Stark, of New Hampshire, too. Well, they are both nasty -fighters; I've seen them in the thick of it many a time. The only way to -beat such fellows is to prevent them from making a fair beginning." - -Here Abdallah came forward. His dark eyes had grown calm once more; and -there was a gentle smile upon his lips. - -"In that, Major Buckstone, you are perfectly right," said he. "Once -these men get a fair start in the conducting of a war it will be most -difficult to put them down. And to prevent them is our mission." - -The major growled out an angry exclamation. But Abdallah proceeded -smoothly. - -"When the military force has shown itself to be incompetent," said he, -"such as we step in." He paid no attention to the glowering look that -the major directed upon him for this criticism of the army. "Our work is -of such a nature----" - -The ferret-faced youth thrust out a thin, large-knuckled hand and tugged -at Abdallah's robe. - -"Our work and its nature is well known to us all," remarked he, with a -sharp look at Ezra. "So there is nothing to be gained by talking over -it, that I can see." - -Abdallah smiled. - -"Right," said he, "though it is somewhat late in the evening for us to -think of becoming secretive. Major Buckstone has seen fit to----" - -"We have been all over that, also," said the major, brusquely. "As I -have said before, this lad has been entrusted with other and perhaps -cleaner business of the King than this. And I can see no harm in -speaking openly before him." - -"You are in command," said Abdallah, smilingly. "And I defer to you in -everything." - -"If you had been bred to the artillery, you would have done that in the -first place," replied Major Buckstone, dryly. "And, now, since that -rather important point is settled, let us get to our affairs." - -The seal upon the packet of papers brought by Ezra was now broken and -the three bent over them intently. Ezra once more seated himself, -watching them keenly, for he was struck by the great difference in their -appearance. - -Major Buckstone was huge of limb and body; his great red face shone with -perspiration; despite his rather uncouth farmer's dress, he looked every -inch a British officer of the old school. - -Abdallah's commanding height would have marked him almost anywhere as a -person of unusual parts; and his queer robe-like garment, his bald dome -and his singular dark eyes only accentuated this. - -And the furtive-mannered Jason Collyer came in for his fair share of the -boy's attention. There was a peculiar something in the sharp face and -the light eyes that caused Ezra to class him as dangerous. - -"Even, perhaps, more dangerous than Abdallah himself," thought the boy. -"He is of the kind that never trusts any one and would halt at nothing -to gain its ends." - -It did not take many minutes for these strangely-contrasted coworkers to -master the contents of the documents. Then Major Buckstone drew an -ink-pot toward him at a table and took up a broad-nibbed quill pen. - -"A line will suffice," said he to the others. "General Gage will grasp -the situation instantly. A single dash upon Boston Neck of a dark night -will do the work. If I were only there with my artillery, I would soon -have it as wide open as----" - -"Hsh-h!" warned Jason Collyer again. And once more he threw a sharp, -distrustful look at Ezra. - -With a snort of contempt the bluff soldier dipped the broad-nibbed pen -deep into the ink-pot; then he dashed off some heavy lines of writing, -folded the paper and affixed a seal. - -"There," said he, rising, "that will answer." He handed the message to -Ezra and continued, "Is your horse fresh enough to mount at once?" - -Ezra knew that the beast was not; but then he had seen and heard all -that was necessary and had no desire to linger in the house of Abdallah. - -"He will do until I reach my first stop," said he. - -"Good," spoke the major as he watched the lad button the message tightly -up in his breast pocket. "Make all haste." - -"You may depend upon me to do so," returned Ezra evenly. "But first you -must tell me where I am to go?" - -Amazement was written large upon the soldier's broad, red face at this. -His eyes went to Abdallah; and the latter smiled easily. - -"It is our way of conducting things," said he. "We never allow our right -hands to know what our left hands are doing." Then turning to Ezra, he -went on, "Return by way of Charlestown. Just outside of that village, -near an elevation called Bunker Hill, there is a small place of resort -known as the 'Indian's Head.'" - -"I can find it," said Ezra. - -"Excellent!" Abdallah smiled pleasantly. "At the 'Indian's Head' you -will ask for Mr. Pennington. And when he is pointed out to you--by the -landlord, mind you--deliver the message to him." - -"Very well," said Ezra. - -"You understand perfectly?" inquired Jason Collyer. - -"Perfectly," replied Ezra, briefly. Then turning to the others he -continued, "If that is all you have to say to me, I will be off at -once." - -"That is all," said Major Buckstone; and Abdallah smiled and inclined -his hairless head. - -They held candles for him as he went out, for night had come on. - -"Ride carefully," warned Major Buckstone. "It will be a dark night." - -"I am used to it," said the boy, as he unfastened the tall bay and -climbed into the saddle. "And then, this nag of mine has eyes like an -owl." - -And so, with a shake of the rein and a wave of the hand to the three, -the young patriot was off along the dark road, going by the way he had -come. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -HOW JASON COLLYER CAME TO THE "PLOW AND HARROW" - - -Once he had gotten the candle-light well out of his eyes, Ezra found -that the darkness was not quite as thick as he had supposed. - -"All of which suits my purpose very well," he told himself, well -pleased. - -He had no idea of proceeding any great distance in the direction in -which he was heading. He had promised to meet Ben Cooper at the place -where the church tower reared itself above the tree-tops toward -Chelmsford; and this he determined to do. - -"If I fail to keep my promise, Ben will begin to imagine all sorts of -things," mused Ezra. "And, also, I'll need to talk over this matter with -him before I do anything." - -He rode along until his horse's hoofs sounded hollowly upon the timbers -of the bridge. - -"The sound will no doubt reach the house," he muttered, "and perhaps -they will be listening for it." - -In the middle of the bridge he wheeled his steed and slowly recrossed; -then dismounting he led the animal into the woods and struck out upon a -course parallel with the road. The way was much darker here because of -the overhang of the trees; he was compelled to proceed with the utmost -care in order to avoid accidents. - -"I said you had eyes like an owl, old fellow," said he to the bay. "Now -prove that I did not overpraise you; for a misstep means, perhaps, a -broken leg." - -And the horse, as though in answer, stepped gingerly along, his mane -brushing Ezra's shoulder, and his nose pointed toward the ground. In a -short time they arrived opposite the house of Abdallah; the mastiffs -must either have got scent of, or heard them. At any rate they broke -into a tremendous barking. - -Now Ezra spoke to the bay and it stopped. His hand sought the long -pistol in the holster and his eyes were fixed upon the dark, silent -house across the road. - -Then the door opened and a flare of light shot out upon the neglected -garden. Abdallah appeared in the doorway, and behind him was Jason -Collyer with a shaded candle in his hand. - -The Oriental spoke sharply to the clamoring brutes and they instantly -subsided. Some words passed between the two men, and then both went in; -and the door was closed and all was darkness and stillness once more. - -Ezra waited a while; then, as the dogs appeared to be silenced for good, -he spoke to the horse and once more started on. Almost immediately the -dogs recommenced their barking and once more the boy brought the bay to -a halt. With his hand upon the pistol he watched the house, expecting -the door to open. But this time it did not, and the mastiffs made the -night echo with their uproar. - -"It would seem that they are now tied up," said Ezra after a little. "It -is a lucky thing for me that Abdallah was so minded. Otherwise I would -have had them at my throat before this." - -Again he spoke to the horse and they proceeded upon their way through -the trees. The mastiffs grew all but frantic in their ravings; but still -no sign came from the house. - -"I suppose the owners of such beasts grow accustomed to their noise in -time," thought the lad. "And in that I am fortunate, too; for if -Abdallah and his friends had taken it into their heads to make a search, -they must have surely found me." - -About a hundred yards beyond the house he ventured into the road. As -this was soft and he walked the horse, no sound of hoofs was heard. It -was a good half mile farther on that he got into the saddle, and -gathered up the reins with a breath of satisfaction. - -"Now for the hamlet with the church tower," he said, and he touched the -bay with the spur and went loping down the dark wagonway. - -There were stars in the sky, but no moon; a faint sheen filtered through -to the earth, and as the road was of a light-colored soil, the boy could -trace it faintly as it stretched on ahead of him. From among the trees -that still continued to line the way, there came the mysterious shadows -and sounds of the night; but Ezra Prentiss was not a lad to give such -things much heed, but went plodding steadily on, his eyes bent keenly -ahead, his whole attention given to making his destination in as short a -time as possible. - -A number of times he fancied that he caught dull, indefinite sounds in -his rear; indeed, he once drew in his horse and listened. But as nothing -more followed, he credited the noises to the whispering voice of the -night, and so rode on. - -At length he came to a place where the timber had been cleared away; -fences were erected and the ground broken by the plow. Off to the left -was a small group of houses, and above them, strongly marked against the -background of stars, was the church tower that he had pointed out to -Ben. - -"Plowed ground is slow traveling," he said to himself as he slipped from -the saddle, "but as I don't know the roads hereabouts, it's the best I -can do." - -But as luck would have it, he found a place in the fence where the rails -could be slipped. - -"A gate," said the boy, well pleased. "Well, that can mean only one -thing; there's a path hereabouts, somewhere." - -He mounted once more and gave the horse its head. In a moment it had -picked out the path, invisible to Ezra, and went plodding along with -lowered head. This led across some half dozen fields; at each fence Ezra -was forced to get down and lower the bars. At length he found himself in -the midst of what seemed a level green. There were scattered houses all -about, their windows cheerfully lighted; the doors of some of them stood -open, for the night was not unpleasant. - -"And there is my old acquaintance, the church," said Ezra, as he noted a -large lantern swinging over a doorway. "And judging from the people -passing in, there is a service going forward." - -He led his horse across the green and finally encountered a man bearing -a lantern. - -"I ask your pardon, sir," said the boy, "but is there any place of -public entertainment in this village?" - -"There is," replied the man with the light. "Directly before you--where -you see the door standing open--is the 'Plow and Harrow.'" - -"I thank you," said Ezra. - -He made his way to the place indicated. It was a two-storied, -clean-looking place with a sanded floor, polished oaken tables and a -stout, white-aproned landlord. - -A thin man, with a straw in his mouth, took the horse, and Ezra entered -the inn. At once his eye fell upon Ben Cooper, seated at a table, with a -rasher of bacon and a dish of eggs before him. - -"Hello," said Ben, pausing in his attack on the provisions. "You've got -here at last, have you? I'd almost given up hope of you for the night, -and so ordered my supper." - -"And very good it looks," said Ezra, regarding hungrily the bacon, the -eggs, the huge white loaf and the great square of golden butter. - -The stout landlord approached, wiping his hands upon his apron. He -smiled in a pleased fashion at Ezra's words. - -"Can I bring you some, young gentleman?" asked he, good-humoredly. "The -bacon is most excellent. It has just the faintest tang of the smoke in -it, and that adds vastly to its flavor. The eggs are fresh laid; the -bread is our own baking, and the butter of this countryside is the best -in all the colony, perhaps." - -"How could I say no, after that?" laughed Ezra. "As you put it, it is -really fascinating. But first I'll have some water, a towel and soap." - -In a little while, freshened up with these latter articles, he was -seated opposite Ben, with the wholesome food before him and doing it the -justice that its excellent qualities deserved. - -"I don't know how you found it," said Ben, as their meal proceeded, "but -the people along the road I took are heart and soul with the colony. -Almost everywhere, I heard of men settling their affairs that they might -be off to the army." - -"That's good news," said Ezra. "Settling their affairs, eh? Very likely, -then, what I heard General Ward say about a week ago is pretty close to -the truth. Speaking of the many desertions, he said that very likely -they were caused by the men having been called away from home at a -moment's notice to repulse the Lexington column. No one had time to make -preparations; some left their families without even a good-bye, others -were known to have mounted their plow horses, leaving the plows in the -field." - -"The circulars, which I read and distributed, seemed to touch the right -spot," said Ben Cooper. "The people seemed to realize that if they let -the army under Gage get the better of them now, their liberties would be -gone forever. All are patriots in this section." - -Ezra made no answer to this, but went on with his supper. There was an -expression upon his face, however, that caught Ben's attention; the -latter gazed curiously at his friend for a moment and then asked: - -"What is it? Come now, don't deny that you've got news of some sort. -When you take on that look, I'm sure that something has happened." - -Ezra smiled. - -"This time," said he, "you are right. Something has happened." He leaned -across the table and lowered his voice. "You say that all in this -section are patriots. But I have found a nest of British spies right in -the heart of it." - -Ben stared at him. - -"There are Tories everywhere," said he, at length. - -"I am not speaking of Tories," said Ezra, "but of what looks like a -regularly organized system of British espionage." - -Then he related his experiences to Ben, who sat in round-eyed wonder, -drinking in the story. When he had finished there was a long silence; -then Ben said: - -"It seems to be a sort of place of call for them, with an officer of the -British service in command?" - -Ezra nodded. - -"But," continued Ben, "it all seems very queer to me. Why is such a -strange person as you describe this Abdallah to be concerned in it? And -why is a place, so out of the way as that one, selected as a -headquarters?" - -"To be out of the way, must be an advantage in a matter of their kind," -smiled Ezra. - -"No doubt. But that is not just what I mean. This adventurer, Gilbert -Scarlett, for example, brings a packet of papers from Cambridge. They -are read upon your delivering them; and you are sent with an answer to a -gentleman at a place near Charlestown. Why is that? It would have been -much simpler and less inconvenient to have sent the message to the -'Indian's Head' in the first place." - -Again Ezra nodded. - -"I get your point," he said. "And I have been thinking over the same -thing ever since I left Abdallah's house." - -Ben glanced quickly at his friend; there was that in his tone that -attracted his attention. - -"And you have made up your mind to something, I know," said he. - -"Not altogether. But I have figured out some possibilities. This spy -system, while under the supervision of a British officer, has been -organized by Abdallah. He was imported by Gage for just this purpose. It -is possible that it is his profession. Experience has probably taught -him to isolate himself. But his spies, who are perhaps unknown to each -other, are scattered all about. When they have anything to report, they -send a rider who can be trusted; and he in turn carries the answer, if -one is called for, to a person who stands close to Gage and his -counselors." - -Ben rapped the oaken table smartly with his knuckles by way of applause. - -"Good!" cried he. "That is just the way of it!" He looked at his friend -in high admiration for a moment. "And it is very fortunate that you -stumbled across it. Yes," thoughtfully, as he renewed his inroads on the -bacon, "Abdallah is the chief spy, as you think. His little tilts with -Major Buckstone show that plainly enough." - -They discussed the matter for a long time, over the remnants of their -meal. The fact that the British had discovered the practically unguarded -condition of Boston Neck worried the boys not a little. One swift rush -of the trained regiments of the King might undo all the good that had -been accomplished. They spoke in low voices, for the landlord, and now -and then some other of the inn people, were constantly about; at length -some patrons entered and took seats at no great distance. - -Safe in a hamlet where practically all were united in hatred of the laws -of Parliament, the boys gave little heed to those who came or went. The -newcomers ordered elaborately of the fare of the "Plow and Harrow"; the -host, in high good humor, bustled about giving them his best attention. - -"Your horses, gentlemen," said he, "should be rubbed down and unsaddled. -It will do them much good." - -"Leave them as they are," said one of the strangers; "we may require -them at----" - -The thin hand of one of his fellows tugged at his sleeve. - -"Sh-h-h!" whispered the owner of the hand, warningly. - -The first speaker laughed. - -"But you are right," admitted he, with great candor. "It is a well -established fault of mine that I talk too much." - -It so chanced that Ben Cooper sat facing the strangers. He caught the -landlord's words and the answer that followed. He also heard the warning -"Sh-h-h!" and saw the tug at the speaker's sleeve. - -Lowering his voice, he described the scene to Ezra. - -"Why," said the latter, "there is something familiar about that." - -"Just what I thought," agreed Ben. "The warning reminds me a great deal -of what you have just told me of your acquaintance Jason Collyer." - -"I wonder," said Ezra, "could it, by any chance, be he?" - -"If it is, he has followed you," replied Ben. - -As Ezra was opposite his friend, his back was to the newcomers; but some -little distance away there was a broad framed mirror, and by sitting in -a certain way he discovered that he could get a very good view of them, -indeed. - -There were four in the party and all were attired in the soiled dress of -farm laborers. However, three of them bore themselves in a swaggering -manner much out of keeping with their apparent station. And all of them -wore pistols belted at their waists. The fourth man, and much the -smaller, sat in a shadow and for a time Ezra could not make him out. -However, he finally turned his head to reply to a remark of one of his -companions and his countenance was fairly reflected in the glass. There -was no mistaking the furtive eyes and ferret features. It was Jason -Collyer. - -When the lad made this discovery known to Ben, the latter became greatly -excited. - -"He's followed you. You thought he suspected you all along, and you were -right." - -"And who, I wonder, are these others that he has brought with him?" said -Ezra, regarding the reflections in the glass with much interest. "They -look like tall, active fellows, and of a stamp that would not hesitate -at a trifle like a man's life." - -"Would they dare, do you think, attack us here?" - -"Why not? Jason Collyer has learned that I did not ride in the direction -of Charlestown. He probably suspected my presence among the trees -opposite Abdallah's house when they came out and then made a quiet -investigation later. That is why no one answered the second cry of the -mastiffs. When he learned positively that I was not what I seemed, he -gathered this small, but very competent-looking force and made after me. -In his eyes I am a dangerous person; and in days like these, dangerous -persons are not treated very gently, as you know." - -"True enough," replied Ben, his round face seeming to grow rounder as he -examined the strangers. "But, still, there is so much danger of a hue -and cry being started in a place like this." - -"They have not overlooked that," Ezra told him quietly. "The fact that -they desired the landlord to leave their horses ready for mounting -proves that." - -"Well, what do you think we'd better do?" asked Ben, a combative -expression coming into his face. - -"Nothing as yet. We must first see what they intend doing, and act -accordingly." - -They had no great while to wait, for one of the men arose and came -toward their table. He leaned familiarly upon it, gazing into each of -their faces in turn. He was a hard-featured man with a great thatch of -reddish hair; and a wide, mocking sort of grin displayed a set of -strong, yellow teeth. - -"I give you good-evening," said he, the grin growing wider. - -"Good-evening to you," replied Ezra, with great coolness. - -The man examined them once more. Then he continued: - -"You are strangers hereabouts, I take it." - -Ezra leaned back and regarded the speaker in turn. - -"And, sir," said he, "I'd take the same of you." - -The mocking grin lost a little of its tone; and a flush came into the -coarse, heavy-featured face. - -"Hah!" said the man. "You are very apt in your answers, I see." - -"It's a habit that's like to grow upon one after a little experience -with the world," answered Ezra, evenly. - -"You are very young to have had much experience of any sort," spoke the -man. He pushed back the platters and cups in a most offensive way and -seated himself upon a corner of the table. - -"Age does not always bring experience, any more than it brings manners," -returned Ezra, pointedly. - -The grin disappeared entirely; two points of anger showed in the man's -eyes. - -"You grow more and more apt in your sayings," spoke he. Then in a -jeering way: "I have no doubt but that you think yourself a smart and -proper youth, indeed." - -"And you may also have no doubt, sir," replied the boy, "that there are -many things that pass through your mind that give me very little -concern." - -A subdued burst of laughter came from the man's comrades; his face -darkened and he rose up from the table, his hands clenched. What he -would have done Ezra never knew; just then the lad caught the reflection -of Jason Collyer in the mirror; he was beckoning the man away. And, with -a shrug of the shoulders and a snap of his strong jaws, he obeyed. - -"They aim to fasten a quarrel upon us," breathed Ben. "Have you your -pistol?" - -"No," replied Ezra. "It is in my holster." - -"And mine," said Ben. "I had no idea that we'd ever need them here." - -Ben was ready enough when left to himself but when accompanied by Ezra, -usually left the planning of any important step to him. And now, as he -looked at him, expecting some ready ruse that would enable them to evade -danger, he was not disappointed. Ezra's face was confident and -unruffled. Indeed, there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes, as he said: - -"I want you to make some sort of an excuse to go outside. It must be a -good one or they will prevent your going. When you get there, slip off -the bridles of two of their horses and loosen their saddle girths. Do -you understand?" - -"Perfectly," answered Ben. - -The four men were whispering together and casting undisguisedly hostile -glances at the boys. The landlord and some of the inn's people who -lingered about noticed this, and began to exhibit concern. - -Ben Cooper arose with much self-possession. - -"Landlord," said he, "what is our bill? Your inn is a fairly good one, -but much too uncomfortable for persons who desire to be unmolested." - -The stout host mentioned the sum, and Ben put a hand in his pocket. A -look of dismay came into his face, and turning quickly to Ezra he said: - -"I'll have to see to my saddle-bags. I'm growing very careless of late." - -He hastily crossed to the door, and went out. The hard-faced man rose -and went to a window overlooking the space before the inn; he stood -there with his back turned to those in the room, his whole attitude -indicative of watchfulness. - -"That won't do," said Ezra to himself. "If my plan is to come to -anything he must not stand there." - -He was casting about in his mind for a means of drawing the man's -attention from Ben, when Jason Collyer spoke to the host. - -"Landlord, I take it that you are not troubled a great deal with Tories -in these parts." - -"No, gentlemen," replied the stout man fervently, "I am thankful to say -that we are not. Those who were of that way of thinking went their way -into Boston; you see, it was made unpleasant for them hereabouts. If -they loved Gage and his army so well, we thought it better that they -should be there where they could see them every day." - -"And quite right," spoke Jason Collyer. Ezra noticed that he no longer -took the trouble to keep in the background. At first he had done so, but -now, apparently, his plans had changed. "Quite right," repeated Jason -Collyer. "Such folks are most dangerous, and scarcely of the kind that -honest folk care to mingle with." - -From indications, the subject of Tories was one that had great interest -for the stout host of the "Plow and Harrow." He puffed out his cheeks -and smoothed the white apron carefully. - -"Preserve me from any such!" said he. "They come sneaking into one's -house, prying and asking questions. And all the time they have it in -their hearts to send one to the gallows. They should be dealt with -hardly!" - -"They are a poisonous tribe," said Jason Collyer. He darted a covert -look at Ezra as he said this, and the boy noted a smile of satisfaction -upon his thin lips. Like an inspiration, the other's intention flashed -upon the boy. - -"He's sounded the landlord upon this subject with one thought in his -mind," Ezra told himself. "He'll tell him that Ben and I are Tories; and -so these friends of his will be left to work their wills with us." - -Ezra was not a lad to sit and ponder while something to his injury was -going forward. With the solution of the other's plan, came a counterplot -with which he hoped to balk it. - -"If you will pardon me, sir," spoke he, leaning forward, his elbows upon -the table, "I would like to agree with you in what you have said. The -greatest enemies of the colonies are those who should naturally be at -one with us--the Tories." - -"Truly spoken, young gentleman," beamed the landlord, "and very well -spoken too." - -Jason Collyer was about to say something, but Ezra calmly waved him -down, riveting the host's attention with a look. - -"And, as you say, sir," with a little bow, "they intrude themselves into -one's very house with the basest of intentions against one's peace. And -they come when least expected, also in many guises." - -He looked coolly toward the man who still stood watching from the -window, and proceeded, slightly lifting his voice: - -"It is all but impossible to detect them in time. One seldom suspects -them. For example," and he gestured toward the man at the window, "that -gentleman over there, for all we know, may be a Tory." - -Ezra knew perfectly well that the next few moments must precipitate a -struggle. In order that Ben might have an opportunity to do his work, -the watcher at the window must relax his attention. - -The raised voice and the boy's bold insinuation had the effect which he -intended. Instantly the man turned from the window, a snarl upon his -lips; he approached Ezra menacingly. - -"So, my lad, I hear from you again," spoke he, gratingly. "Perhaps if -you knew me better, you would not be so ready with your tongue." - -Ezra regarded him quietly. That his ruse had succeeded greatly delighted -the young patriot; but he concealed his pleasure under a mask of -indifference. - -"As you suggest," replied he, "if I knew you better, I might hesitate in -speaking to you." He was looking the man coolly in the eye; it would -take a practiced hand like Ben Cooper's but a moment to strip off a -brace of bridles, and he did not now care what action the red-haired man -might take. So he proceeded with even greater nonchalance than before: - -"And it is also possible that, in the same case, I might go to even -greater lengths than I have." - -For an instant the man glared at the boy as though dazed by his -boldness. Then he leaped toward him in a fury. - -But Ezra was prepared for the attack. Like a flash he was upon his feet; -the heavy oaken table fell, with a crash of crockery, before the man; -unable to stay himself, he went sprawling over it. Ezra's quick eye had -noted the concerted action of the man's friends at the moment of the -attack. All had leaped up, their hands fingering the locks of their -pistols. - -But the boy gave them no time to think after the fall of the table. With -a series of soft-footed bounds he reached the window. Placing his hands -upon the sill, he vaulted out into the night, and ran toward a group of -horses, at no great distance from the door. - -"This way," cried Ben Cooper. In another moment the boys were in the -saddle and tearing madly away from the "Plow and Harrow." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -SHOWS HOW EZRA ADVENTURED TOWARD THE "INDIAN'S HEAD" - - -As Ezra Prentiss and Ben Cooper dashed away from the "Plow and Harrow," -Jason Collyer and his comrades flung themselves with loud cries out of -the door. A moment later these cries were redoubled. - -"They've found their chargers without bridles," said Ben. "And perhaps -more than one of them has got a fall from a twisting saddle. I'm sorry -for the landlord; but I'll contrive to pay him later." - -They drew rein and sat their horses, looking back toward the inn. The -stout landlord was plain in the doorway, and visibly much distressed; -hostlers and others appeared with lights; riderless horses were prancing -and snorting about with angry men pursuing them. - -"How did you come to get out our own nags?" asked Ezra, who had -recognized the familiar gait of his tall bay horse at once. - -"When that fellow came to the window, I thought I'd not have the chance -to do what you suggested," answered Ben. "So I went to the barn, and by -good luck found that our mounts had not been unsaddled. When I led them -out, taking care to keep in the shadow, I noted the man gone from the -window. So I out with my knife and cut the bridles of my friends, gave -each girth a slash, and there they were, as neat as you please." - -"I think we'd better make the best of our way to Chelmsford," suggested -Ezra, after a time spent in watching the dim confusion before the inn. -"And it would be better, also, that we keep our pistols ready to hand, -for Master Jason Collyer seems a person of some parts." - -The road was good and within an hour they had reached Chelmsford, where -they had the good fortune to fall in with others upon the same errand as -themselves. - -"That means," said Ben, as they stretched themselves contentedly between -the cool sheets at a cool, clean little inn, a short time after, "that -this riding about is over and done. Our section has been covered with -the circulars, and we can return to Cambridge." - -"And I'm glad of it," yawned Ezra. "There promise to be certain matters -of interest before Boston at no distant time, and I, for one, want to -see the whole thing." - -Next morning Ezra gathered the riders of the Committee of Safety -together, and, with their number added to by a half dozen young farmers, -they made a descent upon the house of Abdallah. - -But they were too late. The place was in ashes; not a sign or trace of -any one was to be found. - -"I suppose Jason Collyer lost no time in making his report after the -affair at the 'Plow and Harrow,'" said Ezra to Ben, after they had left -the others and were making their steady way toward Bedford. "And now, I -suppose, an alarm will be sent out, and this Mr. Pennington, whoever he -may be, will take care not to present himself at the 'Indian's Head' to -receive messages of any sort." - -From Bedford they took the road to Lexington, and late in the afternoon -entered the town of Cambridge. At once they sought out Dr. Warren, as -the leading spirit of the Committee of Safety, and made him acquainted -with all that had occurred. - -The great patriot knit his brows. - -"It has a bad look," said he. "The fact that our strength is known and -perhaps our every move, is not calculated to give us much satisfaction. -But I will see Colonel Prescott in the matter, also Generals Ward and -Putnam. And in the meantime," placing a hand upon the boys' shoulders, -his kind, grave face alight, "let me tell you that you have both done -well. If all who professed the cause did half so well, we would have -very little to fear from any source." - -Upon the beginning of the enlistment, which commenced after the -Lexington fight, both Ezra and Ben had promptly put their names to the -roll of Prescott's regiment, as did Ezra's twin brother, George, and -Ben's stalwart, ready-handed cousin from the Wyoming wilderness, Nat -Brewster. But they had all four been detailed upon special duty for the -Committee of Safety, and so lodged at a house at no great distance from -Dr. Warren's. - -The candles were lighted when Ben and Ezra reached their lodging. George -and Nat sat at a table playing at draughts. Both leaped up at the sight -of the newcomers. - -"Something told us that you would get back this evening," cried George, -as they shook hands all around. - -"And we asked Mrs. Parslow, as a special favor, to delay supper," spoke -Nat Brewster. - -"That was thoughtful enough, eh, Ben?" laughed Ezra. "And to show how we -appreciate it," to Nat, "we'll try to do it full justice." - -While Mrs. Parslow, a good-humored, elderly woman, was bringing in the -smoking dishes, the four lads related their experiences. George and Nat -had ridden together upon the same mission as the other two, but had gone -in the direction of Milton and Braintree. - -"And the people listened to the Committee's warnings with their hearts -in their eyes," said Nat Brewster. "Let there be only action, and -General Ward will not want for men." - -"But Massachusetts cannot be expected to do it all," said Ben. "The -other colonies must bear their share of the burden." - -"They will, never fear," said Ezra. "Only this afternoon I heard of a -company of riflemen being recruited as far south as Virginia. Then there -are the Connecticut men and those from New Hampshire. And don't forget -that these last bring leaders with them. The British themselves -acknowledge the ability of Putnam, Stark and Greene." - -Ezra and George sat side by side and Mrs. Parslow looked bewilderedly at -them. - -"One of you likes griddle-cakes with honey," she said, "but for the life -of me I can't tell which of you it is." - -"It's George," spoke Ben Cooper, with a grin. - -"And which is George?" asked the good woman, looking from one to the -other. - -"Here he is," responded George, reaching for the much-prized -griddle-cakes. "I'll never fail to acknowledge myself for these, Mrs. -Parslow; and I've never seen any one that made them like you." - -Mrs. Parslow looked vastly gratified. - -"I'm sure I'm glad to please you," she said. "But how your mother ever -told you two apart, I'll never be able to say." - -The Prentiss brothers had been a puzzle and a delight to her ever since -the four came to lodge with her. Nat Brewster, with his grave, competent -ways and manly face of character, she had taken to at once; and the -chubby face of Ben Cooper, his merry eye and ready laugh, had always -pleased her. But the twins were a perpetual bewilderment and mystery to -her, as indeed they might be to many with greater observation and -sharper eyes than she. - -After supper George and Ben got out the draughts, while Ezra and Nat -drew their chairs together and discussed the features of the situation -as each saw it. - -"I heard a long talk between Dr. Warren and Colonel Prescott, only -to-day," said Nat. "I had come to make report of our work and the two -were deeply engaged with each other. It would seem that each has a great -respect for General Ward, but no large idea of his military ability." - -"It requires, I should say, a man of much power to grasp things and -bring them into a state of order," said Ezra. "The Congress at -Philadelphia is, I believe, to name a commander-in-chief for the -colonial army; and let us hope that their choice will be one that will -bring the best results for the cause." - -"He will have no great soldier to fight in Gage," spoke Nat, "if the -opinions of the experienced Englishman, Charles Lee, and our own General -Putnam, have any weight. I have heard it said that Lee has repeatedly -declared that Gage is woefully incompetent; and that his every move has -been a blunder since the first gun was fired." - -"At any rate," said Ezra, "he has permitted General Ward to compass him -about. He is as tightly boxed up as a tame badger." - -"If it were not that the sea is open to him, we'd starve him out in a -very little while. However, King George will see to it that his servants -do not go hungry." - -"But it will be salt beef and hardtack that will keep them from it. The -colonial lines and earthworks so hedge them in that they'll never get a -scrap of fresh meat or measure of vegetables." - -"But what of our own people who are closed up in the town along with the -enemy?" questioned Nat, gravely. "If the British are in want of -palatable things, can we be sure that the townspeople have sufficient -food of any sort?" - -"You're right," said Ezra, thoughtfully. He leaned his head upon his -hands and stared at the floor. Nat watched him for some time and then -said: - -"Your grandfather is not in Cambridge?" - -"No," replied Ezra, "in Boston." - -There was another pause; then Nat spoke: - -"But, then, I don't think you need trouble for him." He placed a hand on -Ezra's shoulder. "Forgive me for saying it, but your grandfather will -not be likely to come to harm." - -"Not from the British, no," Ezra's voice was bitter and low. "But from -the patriot people of Boston, yes." He paused a moment and looked into -the frank, friendly face of the youth from Wyoming. "You understand how -it is with me. And there are many like me. In the war that has just -begun, there will be countless families divided like mine has been." - -"Take heart," said Nat Brewster. "One can hardly expect an old man, and -one born on British soil in the bargain, to be other than a friend to -the King. There are some who have greater cause for regret than you. -They say that the New Hampshire Colonel Stark's very brother has gone -over to the British." - -"It is not altogether my grandfather's being an enemy to the colonies -that troubles me," said Ezra. "He is a very old man and can do no great -harm. But he has made himself hated by the people. And if they are, by -any chance, starving in Boston, there will one day come an outbreak; and -it is not against the soldiery that vengeance will be directed. It will -be against such bitter-spoken partisans as Seth Prentiss." - -Nat nodded. - -"That is usually the way," he said. "Such a thing is greatly to be -feared; but in this case it will hardly go so far. I have heard that -there is a plan afoot to permit those who so desire to leave Boston. If -this is carried out, it will help matters wonderfully." - -But, though Ezra drew some small measure of hope from this suggestion, -he was still vaguely troubled. Somehow, the thought of his grandfather -kept recurring to him. He seemed filled with an indefinite fear -concerning him; it was as though the future held something unpleasant in -store. As this state of mind continued, he finally arose and bid his -friends good-night with a feeling of great depression. He had entered -his room and lighted a candle when he heard a low knock upon the door. -Opening it he saw his brother. - -George entered and closed the door behind him. - -"I have been wanting to say something to you all evening," said he, "but -could not get the opportunity." - -He drummed with his fingers upon the back of a chair, and the other saw -a troubled look in his eyes. - -"What is it?" asked Ezra. - -"It's about this man Pennington," replied George. "And also about the -one you call Abdallah." - -Ezra regarded him steadily. - -"What do you know of them?" he asked. - -George, from the time of their father's death, had made his home with -their Tory grandfather. In a measure he had shared the old man's views. -But at the Lexington fight, all this changed, and now he was the -stoutest patriot of them all. Ezra had scarcely seen his grandfather in -years; for the boy's open advocacy of the cause of liberty had deeply -incensed the old man against him. - -"I don't know a great deal about them," answered George. "I wish I did. -It might save us something. Pennington is a King's man, of course. He -and grandfather have been intimate--I might say, very intimate. I noticed -even long ago that they whispered a great deal in corners and held many -consultations in the library with the doors carefully closed." - -Ezra pursed up his mouth and frowned. - -"I see," was all he said. - -"Pennington came and went a great deal. Sometimes I would not see him -for weeks. Then, again, he'd be at the house almost constantly. Now and -then he'd bring a stranger. That is how I came to see Abdallah." - -"Ah." - -"They came late one night, in the midst of a storm. There was a great -banging of doors and lifting of voices. I had gone to bed some time -before; but the noise was so unusual that I got up again, dressed and -came down. The library door stood open, and I saw grandfather, Mr. -Pennington, Abdallah and General Gage." - -"Did you by any chance hear what was said?" - -"Not much. But I learned that grandfather had been expecting Abdallah -for months. The man had just arrived that night in a brig from San -Domingo. I also drew from what I heard that grandfather desired him to -perform some work of great value. But just what its nature was, I did -not know until to-night." - -"So grandfather is intimately concerned in the affair," said Ezra. "Do -you know, somehow I felt that some such condition existed. Ben Cooper -says he can often feel things coming; and in this case, at any rate, -it's been so with me." - -He paused a moment, then he resumed: - -"Grandfather always hated spying and spies. And the fact that he has -personally imported this man, shows how great is his hatred of the -cause." - -"It has no end," and George Prentiss shook his head. - -"I can't help the impression that he will come to danger through it -all," said Ezra. "It is a time when men do not stay their hands; and -should he risk himself, his life will pay for it." - -Again George shook his head. - -"And he is of the sort that risk themselves," he said. - -"But, tell me," said Ezra. "What sort of a person is Pennington?" - -"Not more than thirty-five; but he would strike you as being much older. -He is about the average height; and his most noticeable characteristics -are a very high and very narrow forehead, and a most disagreeable -laugh." - -After George had left him, Ezra undressed and went to bed. But not to -sleep! Before his mind came pictures of conspiracies in which his bitter -old grandfather played a conspicuous part. In his unreasoning hatred of -the colonies' desire for liberty, the lad knew the old man would go to -any length. - -"He hasn't spoken to, or looked at me for years," thought Ezra. "But -I'd have no harm befall him for all that." - -Even after he had gone to sleep the idea clung to him in his dreams. Men -with wonderfully high and astonishingly narrow foreheads laughed at him -in a disagreeable way; suave, dark-skinned persons in flowing robes -sought for the destruction of the colonies in the musty rolls of ancient -manuscript. And the dreams were also filled with formidable General -Gages, who, sword in hand, urged the others to hasten their tasks. - -Next morning Ezra was up before his friends and after breakfasting, -mounted and rode away toward the lines. - -There were not a great many people to be met with. The outbreak of war -had caused great terror, and very many of the inhabitants had left -Cambridge, fearful of what was to come. Property was for the most part -left unprotected; and as there were many vagabonds hanging upon the -skirts of the colonial army, there was more or less looting. - -That a general panic did not seize upon the people was due to the great -influence and untiring efforts of Dr. Warren. No public character of the -time had impressed itself so upon the masses. Even the only partly -disciplined troops felt the magnetism of the man, and many times, when -they were on the verge of rising against their officers, had a word from -him made them see the folly of such an action. - -It was with the intention of advising with the doctor that Ezra made -such an early start. But early as he was, the patriot had preceded him. - -"The doctor has gone to Charlestown," the serving maid replied to the -boy's inquiries. "Something was amiss there among the soldiers, and he -was sent for." - -"I will follow him there," said Ezra. - -"Will nothing do them but that they must be forever disturbing him?" -demanded the girl, in an aggrieved sort of way. "He cannot get a sound -night's rest for you all. First it's one and then it's the other who -comes rushing for him. Are you all children, that you can do nothing for -yourselves?" - -Leaving the doctor's door, Ezra mounted once more and rode toward -Charlestown. Here, after much inquiry, he found the doctor advising with -a company of riflemen of Colonel Prescott's command. - -There were some British gunboats and a heavily-armed transport anchored -in the Charles River, and toward Boston several frowning frigates swung -at their cables, black and ominous. Ezra spent some time in watching -these, and the distant city where the army of Gage was quartered; and -when Dr. Warren was disengaged, he at once approached him with the -matter that was nearest his heart. - -"I understand you perfectly," said the patriot, after Ezra had related -his story. "But I do not see any great occasion for alarm on your part. -This spy system, which you so fortunately discovered, will not long -survive the exposure. It is the nature of such things to die of too much -light." - -He paused a moment and then said: - -"As to your grandfather's connection with it, now. It is not, in all -probability, very great. He has proved himself useful in some way, -perhaps, and they have made use of him. I know him fairly well. Seth -Prentiss is too quick-tempered and far too outspoken a man to be -knowingly selected as an important part in such a plot. And regarding -any outbreak in Boston, you may put your mind at rest. Word has been -sent to the townspeople to remain quiet, and they will obey." - -Dr. Warren talked in the same soothing strain for some time; he saw that -the lad was vaguely troubled, and desired to reassure him. - -While they were so engaged, Colonel Prescott rode up. His strikingly -handsome person was set off by his neat uniform, and he sat his horse -like an Arab. - -"Ah, Prentiss," cried he, after saluting the doctor cordially, "you are -just the sort of lad I've had in mind. There's a dispatch to be carried -to Colonel Stark at Medford, and I can scarcely spare an officer." - -Ezra saluted promptly. - -"Yes, colonel," spoke he. - -It took some time to get the dispatch in proper order; and when Ezra -finally left Prescott's quarters, it was high noon. After a sharp ride -to Medford the papers were delivered to Colonel Stark. Then there was -another wait while that fine warrior prepared his answer. Darkness had -fallen when he arrived at Charlestown once more. - -[Illustration: DR. WARREN TALKED IN THE SAME STRAIN] - -The bay was rubbed down, rested and fed; its rider stretched himself -upon a bench with a biscuit and a slice of beef. The sky had a sort of a -bronze hue and the stars burned dimly, like bright rivets set in a -giant's shield. - -Ezra, when he had finished his supper, lay looking up at this and -wondering at the vastness of it. The lights of camp-fires flared here -and there; files of rough, un-uniformed soldiers passed and repassed; -bursts of laughter and snatches of song came down from groups whose duty -was done. - -And across the river, under the same stars, lay the British army; it was -perilously near, and it was powerful and deadly if properly guided. - -Ezra sat up and looked toward the danger point. Boston was dark, save -for a few winking fires; orders had been given long before for civilians -to extinguish lights of all descriptions before a given hour. The side -lights burned steadily upon the war-ships; occasionally a singsong cry -came from their decks as the watches were changed or a seaman called the -hour. - -Somehow, it seemed to the boy that this was the sort of night that -strange, wild things might well go forward. Odd enterprises might be -tried and accomplished under that bronze sky and those dimly-burning -stars. Strange people might well meet in all sorts of queer places and -mysterious deeds might well happen. - -In the midst of these reflections, Ezra came to his feet, a sudden -resolve fixed in his mind. A little distance away a group of townspeople -were gathered. He approached and said to one of them: - -"Do you know of an inn anywhere about that is known as the 'Indian's -Head'?" - -The man stared a moment, then shook his head. But one of his companions -spoke up. - -"There is none in Charlestown; but outside," and he pointed to the -north, "there is a small tavern called by that name. It lies upon a road -between Breed's and Bunker's Hills." - -"And which do you think would be the best way to reach it?" inquired -Ezra. - -"What, to-night?" the man glanced about among his companions. And all -seemed to reflect his incredulity. - -"And why not?" - -"Haven't you heard that the British talk of crossing and setting -themselves up upon those two hills?" - -"Yes, and of firing upon Charlestown?" put in another. - -"They are only wild reports," answered Ezra. "Such like get abroad in -times like these, but there is no reliance to be placed in them." - -If the facts be told, he had heard the same things himself, and from -persons of some consequence; but it would not do to encourage the -thoughts of the already frightened townspeople in such channels. - -"Well," said the man who professed to know the inn's location, "if you -don't mind making the venture to such a place, my lad, I'm sure I have -nothing more to say." - -His feelings were ruffled at having his warnings made so light of; so -without more ado he directed Ezra as to the way to go to reach the inn -desired. - -"I thank you," said Ezra. - -He went at once to the place where his horse was kept, saddled, bridled -and mounted it. - -"There may be some risk," he told himself, as he rode out of the guarded -town. "And perhaps I should have asked Ben or Nat or George to go with -me. But there is no time for that, if I am to go to-night. And like as -not it is a quiet country place, with never a spice of danger in it." - -The way took him along a narrow road bounded by stretches of grazing -land. The sheen of the sky showed him the smooth swelling rise of two -large hills ahead, the twinkling, far-off stars seemed peering down -searching fearfully for dangers among the darkness. - -The directions of the man at Charlestown had been unusually good, for -after a deal of weaving in and out and the crossing of fields, the boy -caught the twinkle of lights from a building ahead. As he came up he -found a lantern swinging above the door; and mounted upon a post in the -light of this he saw a rough painting of an Indian's head, which seemed -to serve as a sign. - -"This is the place, sure enough," he said. - -He at once got down. He had probably not been heard to approach; no one -came out to take his horse, so he tied it to a post near the door, -slipped his long pistol into the breast of his coat, and coolly entered -at the door. - -The very first thing that met his eyes were two men seated upon a settle -engaged in earnest talk; one had a large, plumed hat beside him on the -floor; he wore long soft leather boots and a heavy sword. - -"Gilbert Scarlett!" breathed Ezra. - -Instantly his eyes went to the person who sat beside the adventurer. -Something that Scarlett had said seemed to amuse the other, for just as -Ezra turned his attention to him, he uttered a high-pitched, -disagreeable laugh. - -And then, to make identification doubly sure, the head turned slightly. -And Ezra saw that the man's forehead was very narrow and very high. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -EZRA MEETS WITH A STRANGE EXPERIENCE - - -The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they paid not the -slightest heed to the newcomer. The landlord, a thick-set, -sodden-looking man with a churlish expression, however, came forward. - -"Well, young gentleman?" he inquired, and he looked searchingly at Ezra -out of his small eyes. - -"I'd like my horse looked after," said the lad. "And then I'd be -thankful for a little something for myself, if it's no great trouble." - -The man shook his head surlily. - -"If you want your horse attended to, you'll have to do it yourself," -spoke he. "I have no one here to do such work. Hostlers are afraid to -stay." - -"Very well," replied Ezra, as he seated himself. "I'll look to him -presently." - -He had selected a far corner where Scarlett, if he turned, could not -readily make him out. - -"Cooks are just as hard to keep," stated the host grumblingly. "So if -you expect much in the way of supper, you'll be disappointed." - -"Whatever you have," said Ezra, pleasantly. "A dish of cold meat, the -end of a loaf and some mead, if I'm not asking too much." - -The man grunted. - -"That's a common failing hereabouts these times," he said, preparing to -go about his duties. "They all ask too much. Every one of them does." -Then with a sudden viciousness, "But they'd better stay away with their -questions! I'll not have them! Not a bit of it!" - -With that he snorted his angry way into the kitchen, leaving his young -guest with a quiet smile upon his face. - -"It is very evident," mused Ezra, "that the spies of General Ward have -been here before me." His eyes went to Scarlett's companion, and his -thoughts continued. "That being the case, Master Pennington is a man of -some courage to risk showing himself, I should think." - -The conversation between the two was really a monologue. Scarlett talked -in a resonant voice, twirled his moustache and gestured elaborately. The -other listened, shrugged at times, at others smiled, at others again -uttered the high-pitched, disagreeable laugh. Ezra leaned back and -clasped a knee with his hands and listened with interest. - -"The man was an uncommon sort of man," said Scarlett, "small, backward -in his manner and very low spoken. When he offered me the work to do I -felt sure that it was some plagued commercial matter that a man of my -quality should have nothing to do with. But I needed money and he had it -to pay. So I undertook to carry his papers without more ado." - -"And you found the matter of more interest than you'd have supposed?" -questioned the other. - -"Decidedly," answered Scarlett. He pulled up his boot-top and stroked -his chin. "First I lost my way; then I lost my horse. And afterward, as -though these were not enough, I all but lost my life by means of a young -blade pistoling me upon the road; him I sent on with the message. -Afterward I met with some riders and a wagon heavily laden. Among the -riders was the man Abdallah whom I had been sent to see. I knew him at -once, for no other man in this region could have such an appearance." - -A look of interest came into the other's face. - -"And he directed you here?" - -"He said that I might by chance come upon some further employment," -answered Scarlett, "if I frequented this place. He was not pleased with -the way I had performed my first office; but, doubtless, he's a person -of some perception and knows a man of mettle when he sees one." - -"No doubt," said Pennington, dryly. - -He regarded the adventurer with attention and seemed endeavoring to -properly weigh him. There was a bold, free air about Gilbert Scarlett -that took the eye at once; but that he was wondrously boastful was -evident, and boastful strangers are ever looked upon with distrust. - -"A man," declaimed Scarlett, twirling at his moustache, "cannot go -through seven campaigns and not bear some stamp of his service. When I -first offered my sword to the Elector of Hanover, he told me in his -rough German way that I was but a boy. But later I proved to him that I -could do the work of my elders, even then." - -"Abdallah said nothing specific, I suppose?" inquired Pennington. - -"How specific?" - -"He gave you no token to present to any one by name?" - -"None." - -"And he did not say that he would employ you?" - -"Not in so many words." - -Pennington shook his head. - -"I do not know the man," said he. "But from what you have told me, it -would seem that he has been making game of you." - -The head of Scarlett went up, and his hand sought the heavy hilt of his -sword. - -"There have been one or two, at odd times, who have sought to do that," -spoke he, and there was a ring in his voice that boded no good to any -such. "And I'll warrant you that they never attempted it again." - -"Have you inquired of the landlord as to these persons whom you seek?" -asked Pennington. - -"I have," with a shrug. "But he is a surly, short-spoken dog. I can get -nothing out of him." - -"It pains me to be unable to give you any intelligence of them," said -Pennington. "But I am a stranger here myself." - -As he spoke these words he turned his head, perhaps to look for the -landlord. His eyes fell upon Ezra seated there so coolly, and a look of -astonishment came into his face. But instantly he showed what a cautious -man he was by lifting his hand to hide his face; then he coughed -affectedly. - -Almost simultaneously with this gesture, Ezra noticed Scarlett make a -sharp movement. It was as though the adventurer was also about to turn. -But apparently he thought better of it, and remained with his back -stoically presented. - -"He saw the change in Pennington's face," was Ezra's instant thought. - -But what had caused this change the boy could not imagine. - -"Perhaps," he thought, "it was but the sudden discovery that there is a -third person in the room--a person who might have overheard something to -the disadvantage of Abdallah and his fellows." - -There was a marked pause; the backs of both men were turned to Ezra; to -his searching gaze it was plain that they were casting about as to what -they should do or say. It was Gilbert Scarlett who broke the silence. - -"Of course," said he, "a gentleman of my fortune--or lack of it--has no -choice but to gain the wages that enable him to live. I somehow fancied -the service of this Abdallah. Perhaps its strangeness appealed to me. -But now that he has failed me, I can see nothing to do but to take -service with the colonial army." - -"From your tone," spoke Pennington, "I gather that you do not care to do -this." He laughed his disagreeable laugh and resumed, "They have the -right upon their side, you must admit that. And then they are led by -very virtuous statesmen." - -"They are right enough," said Scarlett, with a shrug. "But is their -treasury deep enough to pay a needy officer with reasonable regularity? -I fancy not. As to their statesmen, I grant you their ability, knowing -nothing of them good or bad; but it takes generals to win battles." - -As he spoke he threw one arm across the back of the settle, and in the -most careless way in the world, turned his head. When he saw Ezra he -first looked surprised, and then amused. - -"What," said he, jovially, "my young friend of the pistol! Well met!" - -He arose. The spurs upon the heels of his boots clinked upon the tiled -floor, his long sword trailed noisily at his side. Ezra, perfectly -self-possessed, arose to greet him. Scarlett clasped his hand warmly. - -"Chance," declared the adventurer, "plays us many queer pranks as we -journey through life." He looked from Ezra to Pennington, a mocking -smile upon his lips, then he continued: "For I suppose it was the very -blindest chance that brought you here." - -Every inflection of the speaker's voice and his whole attitude, however, -indicated his complete disbelief in anything of the sort. It was plain -to the boy that the soldier of fortune was convinced that he and -Pennington were there by prearrangement. But Ezra did not speak; -Pennington, his face a shade paler, sat watchfully observant. - -Scarlett continued to glance from one to the other of them with amused -toleration. It was as though he had detected them in a sort of child's -play by which they had hoped to hoodwink him. - -"Sit you down," he finally invited Ezra. "But over here," pushing out a -chair, "where we can see you more readily." - -Ezra sat down, and Scarlett waved his hand toward Pennington, the smile -still curling his moustache. - -"I do not know either of your names," he said, "but," to Ezra, "here is -a gentleman whom you are unacquainted with, of course," and he burst -into a laugh, "but whom I could have diverted vastly had I chosen to -tell him of our little misadventure upon the road, two nights ago." - -Surprise and incredulity came into the face of Pennington; but he strove -to hide his agitation from the watchful eyes of the adventurer. - -"Is it possible," he ejaculated, "that this is the lad with the -pistol--he," eagerly, "whom you sent on with the message?" - -"None other," said Scarlett, smiling, "and since you are unacquainted, I -take pleasure in making you known to each other." - -One of Pennington's hands passed over his face; it was trembling, and, -like his countenance, was pale. He spoke hastily to Ezra, trying hard to -keep the eagerness out of his voice. - -"You must have had a most extraordinary experience," remarked he. "And -did you succeed in delivering this message at the house of this -gentleman--ah," as though trying to recall the name, then giving up the -attempt, "the gentleman with the foreign name?" - -"I did," replied Ezra. "And I trust that Master Scarlett bears me no -ill-will because of the manner in which I became his messenger." - -"Not the least in life," said Scarlett. "It is a man's right to defend -himself against all comers on the road. But you conducted the mission -with which I entrusted you oddly. You set these people, whoever they -are, by the ears. From what I learned in a short talk with them, you -deceived them in sundry ways; and it ended in their house being burned -down and they," with a laugh, "becoming wanderers upon the face of the -earth." - -"I delivered the papers as I promised," said Ezra. "I told the people at -the house nothing, but they took much for granted. What resulted was -much their own fault." - -Pennington had listened with interest. - -"Were you by any chance entrusted with a message in reply to the one you -carried?" he asked with eagerness. - -"I was," returned the boy frankly. - -"And to whom were you to deliver it?" asked Scarlett. "And where?" - -"To a Mr. Pennington," replied Ezra, evenly. "And at this inn." - -"So!" Scarlett lay back in the settle, his arms folded upon his chest -and his booted legs stretched out straight before him. "And how were you -to know this gentleman?" - -"I was to inquire of the landlord." - -Impulsively Scarlett rose up. - -"I will save you the trouble," said he. "The matter, in a measure, is my -own," apologetically to Ezra, "so I trust you will pardon me." He lifted -his voice and called: "Landlord!" - -There came a grumbling, unintelligible answer from the kitchen; but the -host did not present himself. - -"I took him to be a surly, sour-mouthed villain from the first," -commented Scarlett. "And as he will not come to me, I will go to him. -And I'll warrant you he'll tell what I want to know, or I'll have him -dance you a measure that he'll not like." - -So with a hitch at his sword belt and a twirl at his moustache, the -speaker clanked into the kitchen, from which his voice came a moment -later with commanding insistence. - -And no sooner had he vanished than Pennington bent eagerly toward Ezra. - -"You know me, of course?" said he. - -As Ezra did not reply, the man continued in a low, rapid tone: - -"You saw me frequently at your grandfather's house at Boston." - -A thrill ran through Ezra. He now understood that first surprised look. -The man mistook him for his twin brother, George. But the boy shook his -head as though in doubt. - -"I have no recollection of you," he answered. - -The man regarded him searchingly. - -"Your name is Prentiss?" - -"It is." - -"You are the grandson of Seth Prentiss?" - -"I am." - -The man evidenced his satisfaction. - -"You are he whom I took you to be," he said. He studied the lad -carefully for a moment. "Upon second thought I do not wonder that you -fail to recall me," continued he. "If I remember rightly, I have always -been somewhat given to hesitancy in my manner of showing myself." Here -he laughed his disagreeable laugh. "A man in my particular profession -must not be too forward." - -"And what is your profession?" asked Ezra. - -"I am the confidential agent of--of others," replied the man. "In point -of fact I am the very man you came here to see." - -"Not Mr. Pennington!" - -"That is my name," returned the man. "And now," with a quick look toward -the kitchen, where, judging by the sounds that came from it, a very -stormy interview was taking place, "give me the message sent by -Abdallah. I have been trying to get into communication with him, but -could not do so. I had no notion of what had happened until I heard some -fragments of the story from this loud-mouthed soldier." - -The landlord's voice now came from the kitchen in loud denial. - -"I tell you, sir, I know nothing of the gentleman you ask for." - -"And I tell you that you do. Don't think to pull the wool over my eyes. -Give me full information of this Master Pennington, or I'll spit you on -this skewer and toast you over your own fire." - -"I do not pretend to understand anything that has happened," said -Pennington to Ezra, swiftly and very low. "You'll have your own good -time to explain all that. But," with a fearful glance at the kitchen -door, "the matter of the dispatch which Abdallah gave you is perhaps -urgent. And all the more so from being delayed." - -The uproar in the kitchen, if such a thing were possible, grew louder. -But Ezra paid no heed to it. - -"It is impossible for me to turn the paper over to you now," he answered -quietly. - -The man stared at him. - -"And why?" he asked. - -"Because I no longer have it." - -"What!" Pennington sprang up, his high, narrow forehead flushing. "Then -who has?" - -"I think," said the boy, "that it is in the hands of one who will make -good use of it." - -Consternation was written deeply in the face of Master Pennington; he -had raised a clenched hand, an exclamation trembled upon his lips when -the landlord rushed into the room amid a great clatter of pans and -kettles. He was pale of face and affrighted of manner; and close at his -heels, with his drawn sword in his hand, strode the adventurer, Gilbert -Scarlett. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -EZRA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO A DANGEROUS VENTURE - - -The surly landlord of the "Indian's Head" danced into the centre of his -public room, the expression of fear expanding upon his face. - -"Gentlemen," he cried, appealing to Ezra and Pennington, "I demand your -protection. I am beset by this man, who would kill me in my own house." - -"If you prefer to have it so," spoke Scarlett with a swishing whir of -his heavy blade, "I will dispatch you upon the lawn if you are possessed -of one, or, in default of that, in the public road. I am of a liberal -nature, and would as well please you as not in the place of your taking -off." - -His agile point followed the churlish landlord in his caperings. - -"Sir," cried the man, addressing himself to Pennington, "I crave you to -speak a word to this mad villain, who seems bound to spill my blood." - -Pennington arose and was about to remonstrate with the young soldier; -but the latter stopped before he had well begun. - -"Have the goodness to keep your place," requested Scarlett, with a -quick, fierce, unmistakable look. "There are some things, perhaps, that -I can be crossed in," here the look grew significant, "and made to -appear cheap. But be assured, sir, that this is not one of them." - -At once Pennington sank back upon the settle and again the landlord -resumed his capering before the swift-moving sword point. - -"Now, rascal," cried Scarlett, harshly, "will you do as I ask? Faith, -I'm playing you easily enough; in Muscovy they'd have had your life for -half this show of stubbornness." - -"I tell you I know no such gentleman," cried the landlord. "How can I -tell that which I know not?" - -He whirled away before the brisk flash of the blade; and at the same -time he continued, addressing Pennington, meaningly: - -"I beg of you, sir, for the last time, to persuade this man to let be. I -am but flesh and blood. I cannot withstand everything." - -Again Pennington seemed about to interfere; but once more the fierce -glance of Scarlett awed him. Then the latter shortened his weapon and -glowered at the innkeeper. - -"And I call upon you for the last time to tell me who this man -Pennington is!" he grated. "Quick now!" - -The landlord's eyes sought for a means of escape; but he was hard -pressed to make use of any that presented themselves. - -"I will tell," he at length cried, desperately. "The man you want is -there." - -His trembling finger indicated Pennington, who turned a shade paler, but -sat composedly enough. Scarlett's sword point fell; he turned upon -Pennington and saluted him in a formal, military fashion, a satirical -smile curling his moustache points upward. - -"Sir," said he, "I am most pleased. I will not say that I expected as -much, but I can say that I am not at all surprised." - -Ezra watched the spy curiously. He saw him swallow once or twice in an -effort to speak. But finally he managed to resume control of his tongue. - -"You have found me out, then," said he, and he smiled in a sickly -fashion. "I was interested to see just how long it would take you." - -For all his speech faltered, his eyes were steady enough to threaten the -innkeeper for betraying him. But the man returned the look defiantly. - -"I'll not be sworded to death, and you sitting by at your ease, never -lifting a hand," he declared sullenly. - -Scarlett turned quickly upon the man. - -"You have done your share to the furthering of the acquaintance of this -gentleman and myself, and I am obliged to you. So now, back to your -scullery and let us hear none of your protestations." - -The innkeeper went quickly enough; he had had a taste of the -adventurer's quality, and clearly desired no more of it. After he had -vanished into his kitchen, Scarlett sheathed his blade, struck an -attitude with his feet very wide apart and hooked his thumbs into his -sword belt. - -"So, so, good and excellent sirs," said he with a lifting of his heavy -brows. "It would seem that you have been making a laughing-stock of me." - -"Nothing was further from my intention," Pennington hastened to say. - -Disbelief was plain in Scarlett's face; he turned to Ezra saying: - -"And what answer has your intimate?" - -"None, other than that I am not his intimate. To the best of my -knowledge," proceeded Ezra, "I have never met with this gentleman before -to-night." - -Gilbert Scarlett shot him a mingled glance of astonishment and regret. - -"I was mistaken in you, then," spoke he. "I took you to be an upstanding -youth of much character and straightforwardness." - -Ezra was about to speak in answer to this, but the young soldier waved -his hand. - -"Let me have no denials. I have eyes," and he gestured angrily. "Also, I -have perception, though you both seem to doubt it." - -"Sir," spoke Pennington, in a soothing tone, "you much deceive yourself -if you fancy that we have in any way sought to mislead you." - -He leaned forward upon the settle, his legs crossed and his hands upon -his knees. - -"Now," he proceeded, "I leave it to you as a gentleman of wide -experience and much service, to pass judgment upon what I am about to -say." - -The adventurer unhooked his thumbs from his sword belt and twirled his -moustache. He said nothing in reply; but there was a sardonic look in -his face. - -"I," and Pennington tapped his chest, "am the person whom your young -friend here," with a nod toward Ezra, "was to inquire for. I acknowledge -it." - -"It's overlate for frankness," said Gilbert Scarlett, grimly. "But, go -on." - -"I am able to say in perfect good faith," went on Pennington, "that I -had no expectation of seeing him. Neither had I any notion that he knew -anything of the affairs of Abdallah. As for my failure to acknowledge a -connection with the story which you told me a while ago, you surely can -feel no resentment for that. When a man is engaged in"--he paused and -shrugged his shoulders--"well, in work of a more or less secret -character, it is not quite safe for him to speak freely with strangers." - -The adventurer unbent his brows and his face altered in expression. - -"Now," said he, "that is talk that holds much sense. It is clear to me -that you could not do other than you did." - -Then he turned to Ezra once more. - -"Chance and circumstance seem to have taken you for their very own," -said he. - -"Some things have befallen me of late days that make your saying seem -like the truth," said Ezra. "But my experience must be but a trifle, as -compared with what yours must have been, sir. I have no doubt but that -chance has figured much in your life." - -"Why," answered the adventurer, "now that you mention it, it is true -enough. What great matter is it for a lad to chance along a lonely -wagonway near to sundown, and meet with a horseman who has had an -accident befall him? And that you should chance to have the pleasure of -this gentleman's acquaintance," indicating Pennington, "is, upon second -thought, not a matter to marvel at. Why, I recall, how, when I served -the Turk at Cairo, I met with an adventure that must have seemed like a -miracle of chance. Moslems are a strange people, but they grow stranger -still in their dealings with a Christian; and when that Christian -happens to be in command of a squadron of them----" - -But he stopped upon the very verge of the adventure. Pulling up a chair, -he seated himself in it and addressing Ezra, said: - -"But let us come to this message which Abdallah gave you. As you came -here seeking Master Pennington, which I have no doubt you did, I suppose -you brought the writing with you." - -During all which followed Scarlett's entrance with the innkeeper, -Pennington's sharp glance kept shifting itself to Ezra. Now he spoke, -eagerly: - -"In that you bring us to a matter of consequence, sir. During your -absence, we held some converse upon this very matter. And our young -friend informed me that the dispatch is no longer in his possession." - -Scarlett folded his arms across his chest in an easy sort of way, and -replied, lightly: - -"I have no real knowledge of this affair, one way or the other, sir. But -from your manner, I take it that this circumstance is irritating." - -"It is more than that," spoke Pennington. "It may be fatal. General Gage -was expecting----" - -But here he checked himself after the manner of a cautious man who has -caught himself in the midst of a dangerous admission. - -Ezra, however, smiled. - -"It is somewhat late," said he, "to try and conceal the dispatch's -ultimate destination. Major Buckstone saw to my enlightenment at the -very start." - -Pennington's hands clenched. - -"You saw him then! The old idiot! He would discuss our plans with the -colonial council of war itself." - -"I have not the good fortune of this gentleman's acquaintance," spoke -Scarlett, "but I think I know the type. The bluff old officer--honest as -the sun--who knows nothing but his routine and the well ordering of his -command. But," with a careless wave of the hand, "what matters it? We -are all friends, are we not? We are all fairly well gifted with -understanding. So a trifle of plain talk will do no harm." - -Pennington pondered and nodded reluctantly. - -"In a way," said he, "you are right." - -"A frank question or two, when needed, will have no bad result," said -the adventurer. "And I think if they were applied here and now, we'd -come at something of profit, perhaps." - -Pennington's face flushed. - -"I am beholden to you, sir," said he, a trifle bitterly. Then turning to -Ezra he said: "Perhaps you will now tell us how you came to so part with -the papers entrusted to you?" - -"Is it any great wonder," said Ezra, "that I did not safeguard a message -given me by people who later sought my life?" - -He was determined to be as evasive as possible. If he hoped to come to -the true depth and breadth of this spy system, he knew that he must meet -craft with craft. - -Pennington made no reply to this, but continued to sit and watch. The -situation must have puzzled him; clearly he did not understand it. - -But Scarlett was ready enough. - -"For my part, I blame you but little," he said. "It was but a churlish -way to treat a messenger." - -There was a short pause; then the spy spoke. - -"Might I ask," he inquired, "who this mysterious person is to whom you -confided this paper?" - -Ezra shook his head and remained silent. - -"As a grandson of Seth Prentiss," continued Pennington, "I am loth to -believe you other than a friend to honesty and good government." - -"And in that," returned the boy, "you would be right." - -Scarlett here leaned forward. - -"And was the gentleman to whom you entrusted the paper," asked he, "of a -like inclination?" - -"He was." - -"Why, in that case," and the soldier of fortune laughed good-humoredly, -"I don't think it any great matter. Let us but get word to the gentleman -and he'll take it to Boston himself, perhaps." - -Pennington's eyes searched Ezra's face, and the boy replied: - -"Perhaps so; I have heard him say that he meant to make his way into -Boston before long." - -The hidden meaning of this must have left its trace in Ezra's voice, for -Pennington's gaze, if it were possible, grew keener. - -"That may, perhaps, serve," said the man. Then he continued: "It so -chances that I am left in a most peculiar position by your unexpected -connection with this affair, Master Prentiss." There was concern in his -voice as he went on. "It will be difficult for me to explain it to those -to whom I must make explanation. And it will be equally difficult for -them to understand." - -A thrill ran through Ezra. As plainly as day he read the purpose of the -man in his crafty eyes. And, so it flashed upon him, as that purpose -would help him in his own, he at once fell in with it. - -"If I could but make my own explanation," he said, "it would greatly -lighten your labor." - -The eyes of the spy snapped. - -"To do that you must needs go into Boston," he said. "Would you venture -that?" - -"I have been there before," answered the boy. "And why not again? And I -think this gentleman," nodding smilingly at Scarlett, "would also make -the venture if it could be accomplished." - -"As well as not," said the soldier of fortune, carelessly. "One place is -much like another to me." - -There was triumph in Pennington's face as he arose. - -"Excellent!" he cried. "Both of you shall cross the river to-night. I -have the means at hand. And I will present you to those," here the -high-pitched, disagreeable laugh rang out, "who will be delighted to -welcome you." - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -IN WHICH EZRA FARES INTO THE CITY OF THE ENEMY, AND HEARS THE -VOICE OF AN ACQUAINTANCE - - -It was very evident to Ezra Prentiss that the purpose of Pennington was -to entrap him. Once safe in Boston, so the spy's thoughts ran, he and -his friends could put upon the boy whatever pressure it pleased them; -there the latter would not be so indefinite in his statements as he was -at the "Indian's Head." - -"If you have a way of crossing, it must be a most secret one," said -Gilbert Scarlett, who, like the others, was preparing to depart. "Only -this morning I made the rounds, or as much of them as I was permitted to -make, and I found the shore very well guarded." - -"They make a great display of activity and alertness," said Pennington, -with disdain. "But the river is open for any one who cares to cross it." - -Here Pennington stepped into the kitchen and exchanged a few rapid words -with the innkeeper. Scarlett pursed his lips and regarded Ezra with -attention. - -"It would seem to me that under proper conditions, he would prove a very -thorough-going gentleman," remarked he, with a nod toward the door. - -"I have no doubt of it," said the boy. - -Scarlett continued to look at him; and there was speculation in his -eyes. At length he spoke again. - -"You baffle me sometimes. By your looks you should be a plain dealer, if -one is to place an atom of trust in the reading of faces. And yet I find -you writhing about like an eel upon a brick pavement." - -"What I have said," returned Ezra, "is the truth." - -"Ay, what you have said!" The other laughed and slapped his chest. "It's -what you have not said that takes me by the horns. And," with a jerk of -the thumb over his shoulder, "our acquaintance there is bothered by it -too." The speaker studied Ezra for a moment. "Has it occurred to you -that you may have fallen in with his desires very neatly in offering to -cross the river?" - -Ezra smiled and nodded. At this Gilbert Scarlett laughed and slapped him -upon the back. - -"I might have known it," said he. "You are a deep one for a lad." - -"Only a few nights ago you had a rather poor opinion of my wit," said -Ezra. - -"I remember the saying and I recall it," spoke Scarlett. "I took you for -a country lad, in sympathy with the colonists; and I thought it quite a -jest to have you carry a message which I felt sure was calculated to -help your countrymen but little. But," with a gesture, "I have changed -my mind with regard to you. I no longer know what to think. But this I -do know," with great candor, "I like you; and I'll stand your friend, if -you need a friend, at any place and at any time." - -Before the boy had an opportunity to express his thanks, Pennington -emerged from the kitchen. Buttoning up his coat, he said: - -"You'll have to leave your horses in care of the landlord, gentlemen. -The patrols and detachments that hold the roads would be sure to see us -if we went mounted." - -Gilbert Scarlett did not like this. - -"Without a horse," declared he, "I am like a fish without water to swim -in. But, if we must, we must, and that's all there is to it." - -Without, it was dark and silent. The bronze sky of the early evening had -given place to one entirely black. But the stars winked curiously down, -and their rays relieved the darkness to a great extent. - -"It will behoove us to mind our steps," said Pennington, as they made -their way along the road by which Ezra had approached the "Indian's -Head." "Daylight shows many ditches and sunken fences in this hollow, -and it would scarcely benefit our peace of mind or body to come upon one -or the other." - -"'Twas a good thought to create the stars," mused the soldier of -fortune, aloud, after they had gone some distance. "They relieve the -moon of duty when she is weary. If it were not for them and their -twinkling, the night would be as black as my hat." - -"Queer things are done on dark nights," said the spy, and he laughed in -his disagreeable way. - -Scarlett nudged Ezra in the darkness. Then he made reply: - -"I can well believe that. And the saying brings to mind a little -experience that I once had in Moscow while I served my short career with -the Czar. My regiment had but returned from the frontier, after several -onfalls at Tartar towns; and I and several of my comrades were drinking -our glasses of tea in a booth. It was a very dark night and we talked -over the times just passed, and were hoping good fortune for those to -come, when there entered a ----" - -A shrill whistle sounded and Scarlett's anecdote was nipped suddenly. - -"Be silent," said Pennington in a whisper. He drew them to the side of -the road, where all three halted and crouched, watchfully. The steady -tramp of men was heard in the darkness; then some indistinct forms began -to wave uncertainly on their vision; finally a voice was heard saying: - -"No, I was not sure. But it sounded much like some one speaking." - -"It may have come from a great distance off. Sounds travel far at night, -you know." - -"Yes; but this seemed fairly close. And it is hereabouts that we were -warned that the British might venture seeking information, so we can't -be too careful." - -The tramp of the men continued along the road. At length they were -swallowed up; and both their voices and footsteps died away. - -"A patrol," said Pennington. "And it's the first time that I've seen one -so far away from the shore. It seems that we must be extra careful -to-night." - -They remained as they were for a time, then, under the guidance of the -spy, they left the road, mounted a fence and entered the fields. From -then on it was very rough traveling; but Pennington, who had most -probably been over the ground often before, selected the least broken -ways, in spite of the darkness. After what seemed a very long time -indeed, they mounted to the top of Breed's Hill; and off before them -they now made out the lights of the British gun vessels swinging in the -stream. - -Cautiously they descended to the water's edge. Here and there, some -distance back, there was a watch-fire, about which were gathered a small -group of hardy colonists; but Pennington had studied the situation well; -for that point of the shore upon which they stood was apparently -unguarded. - -The spy waited in silence for a time; then he uttered a low, mournful -cry like that of a night-bird haunting the water's edge. There was a -brief pause; then the sound was repeated from the river. - -"It is a most excellent thing," observed Pennington, "to have an aide -who can be depended upon at all times." - -"That remark," said Scarlett, "is almost exactly similar to one that I -once heard from the old Elector of Hanover. He said----" - -"Sh-h-h!" warned Pennington. "Not so loud." - -Scarlett at once ceased speaking. Again they stood in silence; then the -faint dip of oars reached them. A little later a low voice asked -inquiringly: - -"For whom?" - -"For King George," replied Pennington promptly. Then the low-pitched -voice resumed: - -"Is that you, Mr. Pennington?" - -"Yes, with some friends." - -The spy, followed by Scarlett and Ezra, climbed into the skiff; it was -manned by four sailor-like men, who at once pushed off. - -Not a word was spoken after they had once started; carefully the sweeps -were dipped, slowly they were pulled; the skiff progressed steadily and -with scarcely a ripple of the water. - -Gradually the lights of a vessel grew nearer. There was a rattling and -clinking of metal from her low-lying deck; then a hoarse voice, -startlingly loud after all their caution, hailed them. - -"Ahoy!" cried the voice. "Belay there, and give an account of yourself." - -"Is that the 'Scorpion'?" asked Pennington. - -"It is. For whom?" - -"For King George." - -"Come alongside and let's have a look at you." - -The skiff approached the gun vessel; as its bow scraped the side a man -leaned over the rail with a ship's lantern. - -"Ay, ay," he said in a tone of recognition. "So it's you, once more, is -it, Pennington?" - -"Once more, Mr. Halsey," returned the spy. - -"Quite a boatload, I see," and the man flashed his lantern aloft. - -"Yes, some gentlemen who wish to enter the town." - -"It's the only place for honest men," grumbled the sailor. "But I must -say there is a great shortage of fresh provision there. My men will all -be down with the scurvy if they don't get a change soon." - -The seaman was still speaking when the skiff pulled out of hearing. -Three times they were halted before they reached a point on the Boston -side just above Gree's shipyard. A heavy battery was planted here that -commanded Charlestown, and they were brought under this in charge of a -yawl filled with men and in command of a young officer of marines, who -showed dapper and spick and span under the lantern light. - -When they were landed, a file of men took them in charge until -Pennington, after some whispered conversation, was passed by the officer -in charge. - -"A right soldierly way of looking at the matter," observed Scarlett, who -had been keenly watching all that occurred. - -"General Gage is a most excellent soldier," spoke Pennington. "None of -the rebel troops shall get in while he is in command, nor," and there -was a sneer in his tone, "none of his own troops shall get out." - -As they passed through Prince's Street they heard the steady tramp of -troops on their way to the southerly part of the city. When beyond the -Mill Pond, a roar of hoofs met them as squadron after squadron of -cavalry dashed by headed in the same direction. At Middle Street they -encountered a battery of field-guns also hastening southward. - -"Something is toward, to-night," said Scarlett with great interest. - -"It may be that they are on their way to the Neck," was Ezra's thought. -And a shiver ran through him as he fancied the colonists not being ready -to meet the attack. - -When they passed the gardens they came to Sun Court; and as they paused -before a stately mansion, Ezra said: - -"But why here? Surely my grandfather has nothing to do with this -business." - -Pennington laughed. - -"Don't be too sure of that. He is a man much desirous of the -government's advancement, and he does not hesitate to use whatever means -he can to serve that purpose." - -The speaker ascended the steps and gave a sharp rat-tat-tat upon the -heavy knocker; then he turned and looked down at the boy, who remained -upon the brick walk. - -"Another thing," said he. "You will find him a man not easily -satisfied." - -"I know that," replied Ezra. - -"Your explanation as to how you came to part with Abdallah's dispatch -will have to be very much more complete than the one you gave me," said -Pennington, rubbing his hands together in a satisfied way. "He will not -tolerate evasion of any sort, especially in the presence of those whom -he is entertaining to-night." - -"He has guests, then?" said the boy. - -Before Pennington could reply, the door opened. A grave servant stepped -aside in the brightly-lighted hallway, and they entered. And as the door -closed behind them, from a room to the left of a hall came a great voice -roaring: - -"I tell you, General Gage, I did all that a soldier and a gentleman -could well do. If the messenger proved a knave and a traitor, the blame -is not to be laid at my door." - -Pennington's hand fell lightly upon Ezra's shoulder, and he said -sneeringly in the boy's ear: - -"Here is good fortune. I knew of Gage, but I did not even dream of your -acquaintance Major Buckstone being here." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -TELLS HOW ILL NEWS CAME TO GENERAL GAGE - - -For a moment, after hearing the thunderous voice of Major Buckstone, -Ezra Prentiss was startled. But an instant's reflection showed him that -the major's presence could make no difference to him or his plans. - -"He knows nothing of me that is not already known," the lad told -himself. - -The grave-faced man servant who had admitted them now spoke, in a -low-voiced aside, to Ezra. - -"I am glad to see you back, sir. We've had all sorts of fears for you. -The master thought you might have been killed, even." - -Ezra smiled. - -"But you see that I am not," said he, understanding at once that he was -again mistaken for George. - -"Yes, sir." The man looked at him in a fidgety sort of way. He seemed to -dread something. "The master, sir," he recommenced, "is--is--you'll pardon -me, sir--in a bad temper to-night. Shall I announce you?" - -But here Pennington intruded himself. - -"If I may be so pushing," said he to Ezra, "I will take that upon -myself. There are some trifles that had perhaps better be gone over -before he sees you." - -Ezra caught Scarlett's warning look, but paid no attention. He knew full -well that it was the spy's intention to be forehanded with him; he -realized that the man desired to place the case before the gathering in -his grandfather's house in as evil a light as possible. - -But he was careless in the matter; he felt that it made no difference -what Pennington said. He was in Boston; he was in a fair way, perhaps, -of discovering much that would be of help to the cause of liberty. How -he was to escape, finally, was a matter for the future. The present was -to be spent in garnering facts; the future must take care of itself. - -"Very well," said Ezra, readily enough. "Do you speak to him and prepare -him." - -Pennington followed the serving man up the wide hall; some hangings were -drawn back and both disappeared. - -"More and more strange do you grow to me," said Scarlett, as he seated -himself in a cushioned chair. "I thought you wise enough to know that a -first voice in a cause is usually the winning one." - -"When one has little interest in a thing," returned Ezra, "it matters -little who wins. My purpose here is not to see who makes the best -impression on my grandfather and his friends." - -Scarlett said nothing to this, but merely shook his head and began to -look about him. - -The hall was a lofty one with a polished floor and a broad balustraded -staircase. Paintings hung upon the walls and rich Eastern hangings -screened the doorways. There was a massiveness about everything that -indicated opulence in the owner. - -"Your grandfather," said the soldier, "is evidently a person of some -consequence." - -"He is engaged in the West Indian trade," answered Ezra, "and is -accounted a very rich man." - -"I see." The soldier of fortune twisted one end of his moustache. "This -war, however, will put a check to his money-making for a time, I think." - -"It has all but ruined the trade of them all. And I wonder how much," -speculated the boy, "that has to do with the British leaning of most of -the merchants." - -"A great deal, you may depend," chuckled Gilbert Scarlett. "Touch a -trader's purse and you touch him upon a most delicate part. Not," -hastily, "that I mean to cast any discredit upon your relative. I speak -of merchants in the bulk." - -"It is not for me to defend my grandfather," said Ezra with a smile, -"even if you did select him from them all." For there came a confused -hubbub of voices, above which was one high, harsh and threatening. "As -you shall see in a moment, he is in every way competent to take care of -himself." - -Even as he spoke the hangings over the far doorway were flung aside and -a tall, grim-faced old man, with thin white hair and of gaunt, powerful -frame, stepped into the hall. With head erect and frowning brows he came -down the hall; his eyes were hard with anger. - -"So," said he, and Scarlett at once learned that he was the owner of the -harsh voice, "you have seen fit to show yourself at last, I see." - -Ezra bowed respectfully. - -"As things are, sir," said he, quietly, "it would have puzzled me to -make my way into Boston any sooner." - -A burning hatred flashed in Seth Prentiss' eyes. One hand gestured his -fury, the other was pointed at his grandson. - -"Are you mocking me?" he asked in a voice made low by the storm of -feeling that seemed to possess him. "Are you deriding us all because we -are pent up here, like rats, and never a blow struck by the King's -troops to set the matter right!" - -"As you should know, sir," said Ezra, in the same respectful tone, "I -would not----" - -But the stern old man silenced him with a gesture. - -"I know nothing as to what you would or would not do," he said. "You -have always been half-hearted in the cause of King George. From the -beginning I've noticed a bent in you toward those rascals over there," -and his furious arm-sweep took in the whole region from Dorchester to -Charlestown. "You were always talking of what they had to bear with; -seldom indeed have I heard you speak of what we suffered." - -"The patriots----" began Ezra once more, but again he was interrupted. - -"Patriots! Fiddlesticks, sir! Rebels is the name for them! Rebels to a -good King, and skulkers who destroy the prosperity of their countrymen. -My ships rot in their docks; my trade is going from me bit by bit, after -my years of struggle to build it up." - -"It is the fortune of war, sir," said Gilbert Scarlett, soothingly. - -"War!" The gray brows drew themselves lower and the grim old face turned -upon the speaker. "Do you call this war? It is not! It is an infamy that -will recoil upon them, sir!" - -"Say what you please," retorted the adventurer coolly, "war it is, and a -very pretty one, indeed, all things considered. For mechanics and -husbandmen, these rebels of yours set to it right cleverly." - -What the answer of Seth Prentiss would have been to this is not known. -For another step sounded in the hall and a stout man in the uniform of a -British general officer made his appearance. He had a round face and a -bluff manner; his voice held the note of satire as he spoke. - -"Hah!" said he, "and so we have here a student of warfare." He swept -Scarlett with a look. "And so you admire the works of the Americans?" he -asked. - -The young adventurer had arisen upon the appearance of Ezra's -grandfather; so he now struck his favorite attitude, his legs very far -apart, his thumbs in his sword belt. - -"In so far as they go," replied he, "I have the honor to say, 'Yes.' Not -that I consider their formations complete, mind you," with an air of -great assurance, "for I have seen much that could be corrected. But, -when all is said and done, they have you fairly beleaguered; without -reinforcements you cannot stir." - -As this very clearly stated the case, General Gage, for the officer was -the British governor, looked at the speaker sharply. - -[Illustration: GENERAL GAGE LOOKED AT THE SPEAKER] - -"Mr. Pennington gave us your name," said he, "but I have forgotten it. -Perhaps you would favor us, sir?" - -Scarlett bowed elaborately. - -"I am Gilbert Scarlett," said he, "and have but lately served His -Majesty of Spain. Also I have seen blows struck while in the armies of -the Turk, the Elector of Hanover, and His Grace of Wurtemburg. I could -add to these," with modesty, "the names of the Swiss and some Northern -nations, but," as he shrugged his shoulders, "what purpose would it -serve? From what I have already said you must have gathered that I know -whereof I speak." - -The British general smiled satirically. - -"You are overyoung to have served so many princes and states," said he. -"And I fear that your time with each one must have been a brief one." - -At this the dark brows of the young soldier of fortune came together; -his hand hitched his sword around in a manner that Ezra well remembered, -and was about to speak. But the lad placed a warning hand upon his arm, -and gave him a look. - -However, Gage paid no attention to the other's reception of his remarks. -Indeed, no sooner had he uttered them than he turned to the master of -the house, and said: - -"If you will be so obliging, Mr. Prentiss, we will continue our -conference. This stranger gentleman and your grandson can, no doubt, -await our convenience." - -"Sir," replied the merchant, "I beg your pardon for leaving the room so -abruptly. But I could not wait. I could not remain and think of him -being here," indicating Ezra, "under the weight of this accusation." - -"That is very natural," returned Gage, good-naturedly enough. "But let -us come at the matter in an orderly, soldierly way. When we have fully -understood what Pennington has to say, then we shall call the lad in--and -his very experienced friend also," with rather a mocking look at -Scarlett. "That will be much the best way." - -The aged merchant bowed to the suggestion of the British governor. But -his stern eyes lost none of their anger; his jaws were set as grimly as -ever. And as he preceded Gage up the hall, his manner was proud and -unrelenting. - -"It would seem," said Scarlett, who had ignored Gage's last fling with -considerable effort, "that your grandfather is a gentleman who would -judge and condemn one very quickly if he were so inclined." - -"He is a proud man and an intolerant one," replied the boy. "He loves to -rule, and, as you may have noticed, his rule is not likely to be of the -lightest." - -Both Seth Prentiss and General Gage had disappeared into the room from -which they had lately emerged; and the grave-faced serving man brought -the two visitors chairs, that they might rest while awaiting the British -commander's pleasure. - -The night was drawing on; indeed it was past midnight, and the quietness -of the house in Sun Court was unbroken as they sat in silence, each -moment expecting to be summoned. Ezra had no notion of how the matter -would terminate. But he had expectations of learning something that -would help the cause of the colonies; and so he sat patiently, alertly, -never for a moment allowing his mind to drift from its purpose. - -Without in the court a guard paced slowly and steadily up and down. The -footsteps were heavy and measured; the soldier evidently had plates of -steel set in his shoes; for when his heels struck the stones they gave -out a metallic ring. Every now and then from the direction of Middle -Street came the rush of hoofs. - -"They seem to be pushing troops steadily toward the lower end of the -town," said Scarlett, lowly, at length. "And to my mind that means -nothing less than the delivery of an attack, or the expectation of -receiving one." - -"The lower end of the town! The delivery of an attack!" - -These words startled Ezra. Like a flash the thought of a few hours -before came to the boy. Finding that his dispatch bearer had failed him, -Major Buckstone had delivered his information by word of mouth. And now, -under cover of the darkness, Gage was hurrying his most formidable -troops toward the Neck, meaning to hurl them forward and crush the -slender line of guard. - -As the moments slipped by, the lad's feelings can well be imagined. He -was forced to wait. Even had he slipped out of his grandfather's house, -he could give his commanders no warning. The river lay between them, the -passage of which, under the circumstances, was all but impossible. - -However, there was one thought that gave him courage and kept him cool. - -"Dr. Warren received the dispatch in good time," he told himself. "He -must have consulted with General Ward. The guard at the Neck has surely -been made strong enough to resist any sally." - -An hour went by and the greater part of another. Scarlett was beginning -to grumble impatiently when Pennington pushed aside the hangings of the -far doorway and beckoned them forward. - -"It is surely time," said Scarlett, as he arose and shook himself -together like a great dog. "Even the softest cushion grows hard, Master -Pennington, when a man waits overlong." - -But Pennington made no answer; there was a mocking light in his eyes, as -he held back the hangings that they might enter; and an unpleasant smile -was upon his lip. - -In the centre of the room, which was a lofty one, was a huge table. At -the head of this sat General Gage. Upon either side sat Ezra's -grandfather and Major Buckstone. - -As the latter caught sight of Ezra he arose to his feet and his heavy -voice arose with him. - -"Ah, my young gentlemen," he saluted. "Well met. I am more pleased to -see you than I can express." - -"You are very good, Major Buckstone," said Ezra calmly. He bowed to the -angry old officer. There was a smile upon his face as though the meeting -gave him real pleasure. This rendered the major furious. - -"You are impudent, sir," he roared, banging the table with his fist. -"You are insolent! But," in triumph, "there are several matters which we -have before us which will make you change your manner in a moment." - -He would have continued in this strain, had not Gage said, coldly: - -"Kindly remember, Major Buckstone, that I am to conduct this affair." - -The major grew purple; however, he saluted silently and resumed his -seat. - -The British governor-general regarded Ezra speculatively for a moment. -He seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Finally, he cleared his throat -and said: - -"We have been informed by Mr. Pennington with regard to what passed a -few nights ago. Also he has told us of his meeting with you," then -nodding at the young soldier, who stood stiffly, "and with this -gentleman, to-night." - -There was a short pause; then the commander of the British continued: - -"This dispatch--a paper of the utmost importance in furthering the King's -cause--I understand was turned over by you to a certain mysterious person -whom you have not named." - -Ezra inclined his head. - -"It is necessary," and Gage leaned his stout body forward, "that the -name and quality of this person be supplied us." - -"As to his quality," returned Ezra Prentiss, "I can vouch for that. He -is a most excellent gentleman and has the country's peace at heart." - -Gage frowned. - -"That tells us very little," he said. "The country's peace is claimed by -those rascals across the river to be the thing nearest their thoughts. -And yet you see them in arms against the King and his Parliament. You -must go further than that, Master Prentiss." - -But Ezra shook his head. - -"I am sorry," said he. "But that I cannot do." - -The displeasure upon the face of Gage increased. He was about to -continue; but suddenly his expression changed; he held up one hand and -appeared to be listening intently. Then suddenly a smile overspread his -countenance. - -"It is more than likely that the misuse which you have made of this -dispatch will do little harm," he said. "But, for all," with a keen -look, "I would like much to have this unknown gentleman's name." - -A deep rumbling sound came from off in the distance. This was what -Gage's quick ear had heard. Through one of the windows Ezra noted a red -reflection glance across the sky. - -"They have begun the sally," he thought. But he kept his expression of -his concern from appearing in his face; the gaze of Gage was fixed upon -him, and it would not do to show any interest except in the matter at -hand. - -Major Buckstone also caught the sound. He looked at his commanding -officer inquiringly. - -"You have been prompt," said he. - -"It was necessary," replied the governor, dryly. "A great deal of time -had been wasted, you know." - -The bluff major seemed stung by this and was about to reply; but Gage's -upraised hand silenced him. The general gave Ezra his attention once -more. - -"You have not answered," said he. - -"I cannot," returned the boy. - -"I would hesitate in ascribing any motive to your actions that would be -to your discredit," said General Gage; "but in the face of this answer, -what else can I do? Some time since, before that unfortunate occurrence -at Lexington, I recall that you tried to be of some service to me, -Master George. And your grandfather tells me, though reluctantly," with -a twinkle in his eyes, "that there have been numerous other things you -have done to serve the King. But he tells me that you have had queer -notions--mixed feelings--odd ways of showing your loyalty." - -"He has always had too much regard for the colonies," said Seth -Prentiss, and from the expression of his face this was nothing short of -a crime. "He has done, it is true, many things that helped our cause," -continued the old merchant. "But he has done them because he thought it -the best way to serve the colonies. The King was never in his heart." - -There was a pause. The rumble of the guns rolled across the city; the -red flashes became incessant in the sky. And as they grew in volume and -frequency, so did the good humor of General Gage increase. - -"So long as he has served the King's cause," said the commander, "it -matters but very little what his reasons were. But this affair of the -dispatch is different." - -Here Gilbert Scarlett cleared his throat. - -"If I may speak a word," said he, and he bowed elaborately, "I will say -that I see no great difference in what has already happened and what is -happening now." - -Gage looked at him inquiringly. - -"If the youth has had odd and curious ways of performing his services in -the past," said the soldier of fortune, "is it any matter for wonderment -that he should have them in the present?" - -"Why," said Gage, apparently much struck by this reasoning, "what you -say has the ring of philosophy." - -He tapped the edge of the table with his finger-tips for a moment. He -was a good-natured man when things were working smoothly; and he showed -it now. - -"Who knows," laughed he, "but what this is some sort of a pleasant -surprise he has in store for us? As he deals in mysteries, much as -Abdallah does, there is no telling." - -He turned to Ezra. - -"So," he continued, "we will allow the matter to rest for a time. -Further action can be taken when any developments come to our notice." - -"And in the meantime," inquired Major Buckstone, "what disposition is to -be made with regard to the prisoners?" - -"Oh, I would scarcely regard them in that light," replied Gage -carelessly. "We will allow them what run of the city the townspeople -have. Never fear but that they will be at hand when wanted. The ways out -of Boston are closely watched, my dear major, as Master Pennington can -well tell you. They cannot get out, should they desire to do so ever so -much." - -The major glowered at Ezra, displeased. The old merchant sat silently -grim and unbelieving. Pennington, with satire in his eyes, rubbed the -palms of his hands together softly. - -Then there came a clatter of hoofs that broke the silence of Sun Court. -They paused under the window, and the rider was heard dismounting. An -instant later the heavy knocker at the door of Seth Prentiss' house gave -its thunderous rat-tat-tat. - -"Something very urgent, it would seem," said Pennington. - -The man servant hurriedly brought into the governor's presence a much -bespattered and all but breathless young officer of dragoons. - -"Well, sir?" inquired Gage, sharply. - -"News from Boston Neck, sir," and the young officer saluted hurriedly. -"The attack was made, but the Americans were in large force and we were -repulsed. Then they attacked in turn and drove us back. The George -tavern has been burned by them and we have suffered some loss." - -"Very well!" The general's voice was now sharp and angry. "If there is -any further action, let a report be sent me at once." - -The dragoon saluted and disappeared. Gage turned to Ezra. - -"It may be that this upsetting of my plans has been caused by you," he -said. "And then again, perhaps Abdallah's information may have been -erroneous. However, I shall soon come at the real facts; and you shall -remain in Boston until I do." - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -TELLS HOW EZRA AND SCARLETT THRIVED IN BOSTON, AND HOW THEY LEFT IT -IN THE NIGHT - - -Ezra Prentiss and Gilbert Scarlett left the house of the former's -grandfather in the dark of that April morning. And as they crossed the -threshold, Gage's voice sounded in their ears. - -"Mind you what I say, and be careful to follow it out. Make your -quarters at the 'Jolly Rover' Inn, in Ship Street; and report to Major -Buckstone at headquarters between ten o'clock and noon each day." - -"And never let me hear of you or see you again," said old Seth Prentiss -to Ezra, "until you have cleared yourself of all suspicion in this -matter. As you stand now, George Prentiss, you are labeled in my mind as -a traitor, as your brother Ezra is." - -Ezra said nothing; he merely bent his head in a mute good-bye; and with -Scarlett set off through the dark court. A sergeant of grenadiers bore -them company; it was his duty to see that they went to the "Jolly Rover" -as directed, and also that they were not molested by the guards that -patrolled the streets. - -They passed from Sun Court into Fleet Street, and from thence into Ship -Street. This was on the harbor front and was badly kept and worse -lighted. At one end was what was known as the North Battery; the wharves -of merchants and dockyards of shipbuilders lined the water side of it; -while upon the other were gloomy-fronted warehouses and the offices of -shipmen of various degrees. - -Midway, at White Bread Alley, they came to the "Jolly Rover." It was -tightly closed; not a light was to be seen. - -"We are all hard put to it because of the closing of the inns," said the -sergeant of grenadiers. "There is no place to spend a comfortable hour -when off duty of a night." - -He beat loudly upon the door. For a long time there was no result save -the sharp summons of a guard who rounded the corner of Foster Lane. - -"What's this?" demanded the guard. "Have you no homes to go to that you -are abroad at such an hour? And will nothing do but that you must make -noise enough to wake the dead?" - -"Use your eyes and your lanthorn, soldier," spoke the sergeant gruffly. -"If we are abroad it is because we must be. And as for the noise, it is -made but to carry out the governor's orders." - -The guard held up his light. Then, recognizing the sergeant, he saluted. - -"Our orders call for the apprehension of all found abroad after hours," -apologized he. - -A nightcapped head, lighted up by a sputtering candle, appeared at one -of the upper windows of the inn. - -"What now?" demanded a rough voice. "Plague take you, neighbors, to go -battering at an honorable man's door." - -"Come down and draw your bolts," said the sergeant of grenadiers. - -"Not I, indeed," answered the man in the nightcap, and with a promptness -that caused both Ezra and Scarlett to laugh. "I obey the law, gentlemen; -no man in the town of Boston minds it better. And the law says that all -places of public entertainment must out with their lights and up with -their shutters at sundown." - -"If you don't want your door in splinters, you'll come down and open -it," said the sergeant. "I bring you two persons whom you are to harbor, -at command of General Gage." - -"That," replied the nightcapped one, in an altered tone, "sets a -different face upon the matter. Why did you not say so at once? I will -be down instantly." - -The candle vanished; a little later, after a great deal of clatter and -clinking of bars and chains, the door opened; the man in the nightcap -was shown to be a squat, broad-shouldered personage with gold rings in -his ears and the aspect of a seafarer. - -"Now, open your ears," spoke the British sergeant, briefly. "And give -heed to what I'm going to tell you." - -"Ay, ay," replied the host of the "Jolly Rover." - -"These two are to lodge here and pay for their own entertainment. You -are to report at headquarters at once if they are absent for more than a -half day at a time." - -The landlord regarded the newcomers with no great favor. - -"I'll see to it," he growled. - -"Mind that you do. And, when I am gone, out with the lights and on with -the bolts at once." - -So saying the British sergeant turned and stepped out into Ship Street -once more. The door closed behind him; the bars and chains went up, and -again the man with the rings in his ears looked at his guests. - -"I will not say that I am pleased to have you," he told them with great -frankness, "for the custom of such as you brings little but trouble to -an inn. I'll have soldiers about the place constantly; and, if you are -gentlemen of any consequence, spies will be as thick as flies in -August." - -"We are sorry to give you any trouble," said Ezra. "But we were directed -to come here and could not well refuse." - -The man grinned. - -"I suppose not," said he. "Well, if it be any comfort for you to know -it, you are not the only gentlemen in Boston who are in the black books -of the King's officers. The town is full of suspected men. General Gage -is a governor who acts mighty quickly in such matters, even if he -won't," here the grin grew broader, "do the same in weightier things." - -The flickering candle lit up the place but dimly; the ceiling was low, -the walls were paneled; in furnishing and equipment the room resembled -the cabin of a ship. - -Scarlett, who had been observing the landlord, here remarked: - -"You are a man who has followed the sea in your day." - -The other nodded. - -"For a full forty year," he said. "Man and boy I've spliced, knotted, -hauled and reefed in every kind of craft that's sailed from here to the -Horn, and from there to the China Seas." - -"A tarry, healthy profession," commented Scarlett. "I have known many -shipmen in my day, and they have been mostly sound fellows and honest." - -The man took off his nightcap and scratched his head. - -"As to health," said he, "I agree with you. But there have been as big -rascals walked the decks of ships as any they've ever bred ashore. I -remember when I sailed my last voyage in the 'Champion,' we had a -skipper that was as great a villain as ever robbed his employers." - -At the mention of the vessel's name, Ezra became more attentive. - -"The 'Champion'?" said he. "What owners?" - -"Prentiss & Son, Boston." - -Scarlett gave Ezra a quick look. The boy regarded the innkeeper with -interest. - -"I recall the old 'Champion' very well. Her timbers are now rotting on a -reef in the South Pacific," said he. - -"Hello," said the man with the rings in his ears. He peered at the boy -through the candle-light. "And who might you be?" - -"My name is Prentiss," answered the lad. "I am the son of James -Prentiss, one of the 'Champion's' owners." - -The man thrust out a great broad hand. - -"Young gentleman," said he, "if you'll do me the honor, I'd like to -shake your hand." - -Ezra smiled and gripped the big paw. - -"Your father," continued the other, "was the finest man in this colony. -I've sailed for many owners, but he was the best of them all. Your -grandfather now," and the ex-sailor's expression of admiration greatly -changed, "was a most excellent merchant. But he expected much and gave -but little. That little was, to be sure, regularly and promptly paid; -but that is the best I can say. - -"But James Prentiss was different. He had a heart in his body for a -sailorman. And if one went out of his way to serve him, he'd see to it -that he was properly rewarded." - -"A good quality," commented Scarlett, approvingly. "It is a proof of -appreciation and also encourages effort." - -"Quite so, comrade," replied the host. "It does that very thing; and I -can prove it to you. On the last voyage of the 'Champion,' she had for -her master a Hingham man named Pickering. I was her first mate and she -carried a mixed cargo for trading among the islands. Pickering was a man -who believed in handspikes and belaying pins in his treatment of the -crew, and he was not long out before they were all but in a state of -mutiny. - -"This proved a fortunate thing for Prentiss & Son," continued the -landlord. "We ran on the reef one moonlight night with a light wind -blowing and Pickering at the wheel. So when he proposed to abandon ship -and cargo without an effort to save either, I objected." - -"He must have been a coward as well as a bully," spoke Ezra. - -"No, he was a knave. I'd never suspected the true reason of it all if it -hadn't been for the bos'n. He'd noticed the same sail hanging in our -wake for three days, and he spoke to me of it. Then I saw the real -truth. Pickering had laid the 'Champion' on the rocks deliberately. Then -his plan was for all hands to make away; the stranger was to approach, -quietly take in our cargo, and Prentiss & Son would be the poorer for a -fortune." - -"A very complete rascal, indeed," said Scarlett. "What did you do?" - -"Clapped him in irons and warned the strange vessel off with a show of -six-pounders. Afterward I got a brig at Valparaiso, put the cargo into -her, and disposed of it to good advantage in the regular way. For that -service old Seth Prentiss paid me a first mate's wages; but his son," -turning to Ezra, "your father, was more open-handed. It was through him -that I could at last afford to give up the sea and buy out the 'Jolly -Rover.'" - -They talked in the same strain for a while longer. But a patrol, -knocking loudly at the door and bidding them extinguish the light, at -last put an end to it. - -The seaman innkeeper led his guests to their rooms. - -"I can give you no light," said he, "and I'm main sorry for it. But you -can manage to sleep without it, I'm sure." - -He had said good-night to both, when he knocked at Ezra's door and -reopened it. - -"Lad," said he in a low tone, "your father was a friend to me. And if I, -William Stacey, can do anything for you or your friend at any time, all -you have to do is to give it a name." - -"Thank you, Mr. Stacey," replied Ezra, gratefully. "I'll remember that." - -The meeting with William Stacey was a most fortunate thing for Ezra. He -and Scarlett, before many days had passed, found that they could not -take a step without a spy being at their heels. Their every action, so -it seemed, was noted by a sharp-eyed stranger. They at length mentioned -this to Stacey; he grinned and observed: - -"I didn't expect anything else, gentlemen. People like you are left at -liberty so that you'll in the end lead Gage's spies to something worth -paying attention to. But I think I can help you at times when you -especially want to escape their notice." - -And this he did very successfully. Changes of clothing and large wigs, -which were then generally worn, combed in various ways, served to throw -the spies off the scent at such times as they were worn. And the two -made the rounds of the city in all the guises that Stacey's supply of -"slops" could provide them with. As sailors, mechanics and common -loafers, they sought information as to the British distribution of -force; each battery was carefully marked in their minds, for they dared -put nothing upon paper; and each item of whispered news that was picked -up was remembered. - -They soon learned that Gage feared an uprising of the townspeople in -case the city should be attacked. He knew that the citizens had rifles -in plenty; and to prevent any possible use of them, he caused it to be -made public that in case the town arose against his troops, he'd give it -over to the torch and take to his ships. - -Then it was proposed that all those who would lodge their weapons at -Faneuil Hall might depart from the city with their families and effects. -Thousands immediately complied with this; for a time it seemed that all -Boston was on the move. The Provincial Congress made an equally liberal -move. All Tories who desired to enter the city were permitted to do so. -But finally the outgoing townspeople received a check. - -"The Tories under Ruggles," William Stacey told Ezra, "think it a bad -policy to let them go. They claim that the Whig inhabitants are -necessary to save the town from assault and conflagration. They also -threaten to lay down their arms and give the King's cause no further aid -if the people are not kept within the lines." - -The late days of April had passed and May was well advanced. From -without the news came of the progress of the American cause. Recruits -were reported to be coming strongly into their camp. Their works were -growing in extent and strength day by day. A Continental Congress had -met at Philadelphia and were considering the matter of a -commander-in-chief for the colonial army and assuming the general -direction of the war. - -One day in May, Ezra saw General Putnam march about twenty-five hundred -Americans from Cambridge to Charlestown, which was deserted by its -population. This little army crossed Bunker and Breed's Hills, came out -by Captain Henly's house, and passed into the main street near the old -ferry. This was to inspire the army with confidence; they had gotten -within gunshot of the enemy when they were ordered back, and so returned -to Cambridge. - -A spirited fight took place on the 17th near Wheeler's Point. On the -21st, two sloops and an armed schooner sailed out of Boston, being so -ordered by General Gage. They carried a detachment of troops to Grape -Island, their purpose being to seize upon a quantity of hay which was -stored there. Scarlett got the facts of this expedition and related them -to Ezra with great gusto. - -"The vessels landed the troops on the island and the hay was being -placed on board. But they were not long undisturbed. The bells began to -ring at Weymouth; the people assembled on a point of land near the -island and fired at the troops. But their rifles could not carry so far. -Then General Thomas, whom I understand is an officer of experience, came -up with three companies of your farmer soldiers. Though under fire of -the vessels, these launched a lighter and a sloop and so reached the -island. The British, like churls, never waited them, but took to their -craft and sailed back to Boston. - -"Your friends, so I have heard, burned some eighty tons of hay which -they could not take off; and also a barn was destroyed. The cattle on -the island were then taken to Weymouth." - -Some time later there were like encounters at Hog and Noddles Islands -near Chelsea. General Putnam and Dr. Warren both took part in these -affairs. The British lost about twenty killed and fifty wounded, besides -some swivels and light guns. - -The fights on the islands became so frequent that the Americans began to -venture out with small armed craft and some successes were had, which -excited the ire of the British sea-dogs in command of the heavy ships in -the bay. - -About this time the army of Gage was largely reinforced; a number of -troop ships arrived, also large quantities of stores, and a fleet of -vessels of war. Thus encouraged, the British governor on June 12th -issued his famous proclamation in which he threatened all "rebels and -traitors" and offered pardon to those who should lay down their arms. In -this latter Samuel Adams and John Hancock were excepted. It was Gage's -intention to punish them, so he said, as their actions deserved. - -"It will serve one good purpose," said Ezra in speaking of the -proclamation to his companion, Scarlett. "It will rouse the people to a -greater anger than before." - -"Gage is a very dull-witted gentleman," replied Scarlett. "He once had a -chance to add a person of experience," here he twirled his moustaches, -"to his command, but, by his insults and insinuations, lost him for -good." - -"He has those now, who will perhaps prove to be of quicker thought," -said Ezra. "Generals Clinton, Howe and Burgoyne arrived in the frigate -'Cerberus' some little time since. Their hands will be felt, I fear, -when the time comes to strike a blow at the colonial army." - -"General Gage is going to send forces to occupy Dorchester Heights and -the two hills near Charlestown," said William Stacey, upon the day after -the proclamation. "He now has ten thousand men and is beginning to take -pride in his strength." - -Reports ran riot through the city. The British troops, privates and -officers both, took on a different aspect. Their appearance grew -smarter; they stepped with a jauntier tread, their spirits were higher. -They paraded more frequently; their drums seemed to beat more briskly; -their fifes to squeal more shrilly. More artillery was put ashore; the -gunboats and armed craft of lighter draught became much more -enterprising. - -From these indications Ezra Prentiss drew that there was something of -moment about to happen. But the exact nature of it all, for he could -place no dependence upon the gossip that reached him, was not made known -to him until the morning of the fifteenth of June when he and Scarlett -went to make their daily report to Major Buckstone. - -That bluff, honest old soldier was seated frowning over some papers. - -"Hah!" said he to Ezra, as the sentry led them in, "here is a -communication just come to me regarding you, young sir. It will require -your attention at once." - -Ezra took the paper from the major's hand and scanned it. It ran as -follows: - - "Major Buckstone: - - "Sir:--When George Prentiss, my grandson, next reports to you, inform - him that his presence is required at my house in Sun Court at once. - - "Your obliged and humble servant, - "Seth Prentiss." - -"I will go immediately," said the boy. "Thank you, Major Buckstone." - -They left the headquarters and proceeded along the street in the -direction of the old merchant's mansion. - -"Something," said Gilbert Scarlett, "is in the air. Within an hour you -will be much wiser than you are now at this moment." - -"It must be of more than ordinary importance," said Ezra. "For he said -on that last night at his house, you remember, that he never wanted to -see me or hear of me again." - -"Until you had cleared yourself of mishandling Major Buckstone's -dispatch," the other reminded him. "Perhaps the chance has now come for -you to do that." - -The two parted at the point where Fish Street opened into Prince's; -Scarlett went his way toward the "Jolly Rover," while Ezra continued -along Prince's until he reached Sun Court. - -The boy's knock brought an immediate answer. The grave-faced man servant -showed his pleasure at sight of the youth. - -"Your grandfather has been expecting you, Master George," said he. "I -will tell him that you have arrived." - -To be constantly forced to move under false colors was a bitter thing -for Ezra. He was a lad who was frankness itself and one who detested -methods that smacked of trickery. But to have all in Boston continue to -believe him to be his brother George he felt was necessary if he was to -aid the colonial cause. There was not a moment of his stay in Boston, -during this period, or a time that he answered to his brother's name, -that his honesty and shame did not urge him to proclaim himself. But he -stubbornly held this impulse in check. - -"If it were a matter of my own," he frequently told himself, "I could -act as I saw fit. But this matter is not my own." - -His grandfather greeted him in his library, a stately room filled with -morning sunshine, and furnished after the stiff fashion of that day. -Seated at a window with a tall volume upon his knees, was a -striking-looking officer, attired in the brilliant uniform of a British -general. - -"I would not have thought you interested in such things as this, Mr. -Prentiss," this gentleman was saying, not noticing the boy's entrance. -"It denotes rare judgment and taste in the binding. And the book itself -is very rare," with much admiration. "I know of only one other in -existence." - -"The gathering of such was a folly of my son's," said the old man -sternly. - -"Folly!" The soldier laughed amusedly. "Well, that's all to one's taste, -I suppose. But for my part, the more follies of this sort," nodding -toward a great heap of other books which he apparently had already -inspected, "a man possesses, the more apt I would be to like him." - -"And he was not alone in his folly," said the old merchant. "He left two -sons, both of whom have inherited more or less of his manner of -thought." He gestured grimly toward Ezra as he added: "This is one of -them." - -The general looked over his shoulder at the boy; then he arose, brushing -traces of dust, left by the books, from his immaculate uniform. He was a -polished man of the world, plainly a scholar and unquestionably a -gentleman. - -"Ah, yes," said he. He took a step toward Ezra and held out his hand. "I -ask your pardon," he continued, "and am greatly pleased to see you." - -"This is General Burgoyne," said old Mr. Prentiss to Ezra. "He happens -to be here, having heard of the library, and will no doubt join with me -in what I am about to say to you." - -The officer smiled pleasantly at Ezra. - -"I have heard of your case from Major Buckstone," said he. He was about -to proceed, but the merchant interrupted him. - -"And no doubt," said Seth Prentiss, "you think the transaction a -rascally and traitorous one." - -"I never make up my mind to things," answered Burgoyne, "until I have -sounded them for myself." - -He reseated himself and took up the book which had before engaged his -attention. There was the same pleasant smile upon his face; he -delicately turned the leaves and continued: - -"I give your grandson far too much credit for clear understanding than -to believe him in any way connected with this absurd condition which," -with a laugh, "the colonists call a siege. That ten thousand peasants -can coop up an equal number of the King's trained troops is too -monstrous for any sane mind to believe. But Gage is a good-natured -gentleman who believes in mild measures. Since Clinton and Howe have -arrived, things will be vastly different. Let us get among the rebels -and we'll soon find elbow-room." - -With that he gave his attention to the precious volume which he held on -his knee. The merchant turned to his grandson. - -"I told you when I last saw you, that I was done with you until you had -redeemed yourself. I had not thought to help you in any way, but it -appears that blood is thicker than water, and I want to give you a -chance of proving to me and His Majesty's governor and officers that you -are not what you have appeared to be." - -Ezra inclined his head, but was silent. - -"Within a few days there will be a happening that----" - -The handsome head of General Burgoyne was lifted from the book like a -flash. There was a ring of reproof in his voice, as he cut the old man -short. - -"It would be well to specify nothing," said he. - -"And I desire to hear nothing of the King's business from you, sir," -said Ezra, hastily. - -Much as the young patriot desired to serve the cause of liberty, he -could not bear to do so at the expense of his grandfather. He felt that -it would be shameful to take advantage of the old man's unguarded -eagerness. - -A flush stained the old merchant's hard face. He bowed to Burgoyne. - -"I ask your pardon," said he. "In my anxiety to give my grandson this -chance to reëstablish himself, I had forgotten more important things." - -"I understand perfectly," said the general, once more smiling. "The -thing was natural enough." He turned toward Ezra, his well-kept hands -caressing the book. "It will be sufficient for you to know that there -will soon be an opportunity for all loyal subjects of King George to -show that they are such." He paused a moment, then went on: "It would be -well for you to take advantage of this at once. There has been talk of -curtailing your liberty to some extent." - -A thrill of dismay ran through the boy. - -"That means imprisonment," he thought. "If I don't join with the -British, I'll be clapped in irons." - -But he concealed his feelings. His face was unruffled as he made reply. - -"I thank you, General Burgoyne, for the hint. You may rely upon me to -act for the best." - -The officer shot Ezra a penetrating glance. But he said nothing, and -with a little shrug, he turned to his book. - -"And now," said the merchant, "that is all. I feel that I have done my -duty toward you. It remains for you to do the rest. Harrison," as the -servant answered his pull at the bell-cord, "show this young gentleman -out." - -Once in the street, Ezra made all haste to the "Jolly Rover." - -"Something must be done at once," he muttered. "I'll have to contrive to -leave Boston within twenty-four hours, or I'm done for." - -The first persons he saw at the inn were Scarlett and the landlord in -close converse in a far corner of the long room. Scarlett beckoned him -at once, and the boy approached them. - -"Sit down," said the soldier of fortune, "and as there are two of our -shadows keeping us under observation, I would suggest that you do not -allow anything that we might say to make you change countenance." - -"You have news then?" questioned Ezra. - -"Most urgent news for you at least," said Gilbert Scarlett. - -He pulled up his soft leather boots and twirled one point of his -moustache. - -"At first," said he, "like the others here I was not at all sure as to -which side you favored in this struggle. But since becoming more -intimate with you, I have discovered at least enough," laughing, "to -make up my mind." - -"A son of James Prentiss could not be for anything else than liberty," -said the ex-first mate of the "Champion," stoutly. - -"Thank you, Mr. Stacey," said Ezra, quietly. - -"Well," said the adventurer, "let's to our news. It has transpired," he -proceeded to Ezra, "that General Gage will at last make a move. A large -body of troops will cross the river with entrenching tools within the -next three nights." - -"But you don't know exactly when or where?" - -"No," replied the innkeeper as the other hesitated. "I had the news from -a source that can't be wrong; but it went no farther than to say that -the movement would be carried out within three nights." - -Ezra sat for a moment regarding his friends. - -"There are two reasons, then," he said at length, "why I should leave -Boston at once." - -The others said nothing, but waited for what was to come. - -"I must warn General Ward," continued the boy. "That is the first and -most important. The second is that I must keep myself out of a dungeon." - -"Your visit to your grandfather, then, has not been without result," -hazarded the soldier of fortune shrewdly. - -"No," said Ezra. "On the contrary, what I heard there was sharp and -definite enough." Then he turned to the innkeeper. "Mr. Stacey, I will -trouble you to-night for one of your suits of slops and any other thing -that may be useful in hiding my identity. If you can also direct me to a -place where a boat is to be had, I shall be much in your debt." - -"No son of your father's can speak of being in my debt," said the old -sailor. He pondered a moment while the others watched him. Then he -proceeded: "A disguise is simple enough. But a boat is a different -matter. However, I think I can do it." Then he laid a hand upon Ezra's -arm. "You are running a great risk in making such a venture." - -"I would be running one equally great if I did not take it," replied the -boy. - -"The waters all about the city are fairly choked with armed craft," said -Scarlett. "How can we pass them and get fairly away?" - -"We?" said Ezra. - -"Why, to be sure, we." The speaker gestured his entire acceptance of the -situation. "Do you forget that I promised to stand your friend if you -needed one?" - -"I would shake your hand, comrade," spoke Ezra, much touched, "if it -were not for our being watched." - -"Don't give me too much credit," laughed Scarlett, his moustaches -pointing upward. "You forget that if you stand a chance of going to a -dungeon, I would not be far behind you; for I am not much beyond their -suspicions." - -"You are right," said Ezra, "and that makes it easier for me to accept -your offer." He bent his head toward them and his voice lowered. "It -will be a desperate risk, no doubt. But, somehow, I feel that if there -is a chance to make the crossing, we will do it." - -"Spoken like a lad of mettle," commented the landlord of the "Jolly -Rover." "That is the sort of spirit that carries a man well on his way -in anything he undertakes." - -The remainder of the day they spent together in one of the upper -chambers, where they would be well out of the way of all prying eyes and -listening ears. - -"There is a brig tied up at Burrough's wharf, just opposite Battery -Alley," said the innkeeper. "Her skipper is still aboard of her and he -is an old shipmate of mine. I can get a dory from him if the case be -made plain to his understanding. Then we can put into it some -fishing-tackle, floats, trawls and such like as was used by the -fishermen who once drew their living from the harbor." - -"An excellent idea," applauded Scarlett. "It reminds me of a little -experience I had once in the Bosphorus while I was in the service of the -Moslem. And if this ends as fortunately as that, we shall do very well, -indeed." - -As it was found necessary to get some idea of the anchorage of the heavy -vessels and the patrolling guard of the smaller, the ex-seaman got out a -long glass and they ascended to the garret, where from one of the dusty -windows they could sweep the bay. - -Ships of the line and frigates were there in plenty. Heavy troop ships, -and others which had lately arrived with cargoes of supplies, lay -sluggishly tugging at their chains. - -"There is nothing to be feared from the seaward," said Stacey. "So there -is little or no activity. The smaller vessels are further up in the -rivers. So your best plan, as I see it, is to take a small lug-sail in -the bottom of your boat, pull straight out into the harbor, and when you -think you are beyond the danger line, up with your sail and head for the -nearest safe point that you can make." - -This seemed a most excellent piece of advice, and after some discussion -it was adopted. As night drew on the two ate a hearty supper. - -"It will help both our strength and our courage," said Scarlett. "My -experience has taught me that a well cared for stomach is a most -necessary thing in an adventure." - -It was eleven o'clock when they donned some worn fisherman's clothing -and each a tarpaulin hat. Both wore their hair clubbed in seafaring -fashion; and with them they carried the trawl-lines and other equipment -that Stacey provided. - -The latter had preceded them; so they stole along, keeping in the -deepest shadows, toward Burrough's wharf. They narrowly escaped several -guards; but at last came safely to the place where the brig was tied up. -The dory was ready; and Stacey and his friend the skipper were awaiting -them. - -"There are two strong sweeps, a mast and sail in the bottom of her," the -innkeeper told them. "Keep your minds clear as to the position of the -war-ships and guard vessels; pull straight out of the harbor between -them, if you can. It is a moonless night, and so far the luck is with -you." - -The speaker shook their hands as did the brig's master. - -"I'm taking a risk in doing this," said the latter. "But, then, every -man must do what he can for the cause, and this is my share for the -time." - -There were low-voiced good-byes spoken, then Ezra and Scarlett stepped -into the dory, slipped the sweeps into place, headed out into the dark -harbor and gave way. - -More and more distant grew the few military lights on shore. Nearer and -nearer drew the belt of ship lights; and the vessels themselves began to -lift their dark bulks out of the water like huge monsters of the deep, -watchful, waiting, full of silent terrors. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -SHOWS HOW EZRA AND THE ADVENTURER WON BY THE BRITISH FLEET - - -The night was moonless and without stars; a fresh breeze was blowing -from the landward; this, together with the strong strokes of the rowers, -drove the dory forward at a good rate of speed. - -Two tall ranges of lights were visible directly ahead and the oarsmen -headed to pass in the thick murk between them. And this they would have -safely done had it not been for the unforeseen. The little craft was -driving along in fine style, when suddenly out of the darkness loomed -the towering bulk of a ship without lights. Before they could prevent -it, the dory fouled the chains; Scarlett was thrown from his seat amid a -clatter of oars. - -A sharp outcry came from the ship's deck. Feet were heard running -forward and lights began to flash. - -"Quick!" breathed Ezra, dragging the discomfited adventurer into his -seat. "To your oars before they make us out." - -Scarlett had just recovered his stroke and pushed the boat away from the -ship's bow, when a solid shot, directed by the owner of a pair of sharp -eyes, fell into the water beside them. Had they delayed another moment, -it would have dropped into the boat, stove in the bottom and sunk them. - -But they not only escaped this by their quick recovery, but also escaped -the lights that were lowered over the side. - -"It was a clever trick," spoke Scarlett, guardedly. "They kept no lights -burning, for the purpose of entrapping any one that should attempt to -steal by." - -They pulled noiselessly away, out into the harbor and into the thick of -the British ships. They heard the creaking of blocks as boats were -lowered from the vessel with which they had collided; then they heard -the splash of their oars. But they continued their strong, regular -tugging at the sweeps, and gradually left the sounds behind. One by one -they passed the ships; once, indeed, there came a doubtful hail; but -they rested upon their oars for a full ten minutes and it was not -repeated. Finally, as far as they could make out, they were free of all -obstacles and fell to the sweeps with a will. - -In a little while again, they stepped the mast and hoisted the lug-sail. -The breeze caught and filled this, and away the boat swept into the -darkness, like a night-bird skimming the surface of the sea. - -After a good hour's running they began to beat to and fro; but when the -first glimmer of dawn struck the water they found themselves between -Spectacle and Castle Islands; sighting Dorchester Point, they put for it -with the lug full of wind, for several small sail of a suspicious nature -were in plain view toward Thompson's Island. - -As the dory neared the point, the American sentinels sighted it; there -was a three-gun battery planted at no great distance, and this was -trained upon the flying little craft. Some difficulty was had in getting -ashore, and when they had scrambled to solid ground, they found a file -of men, ununiformed, but armed with long-barreled rifles and in charge -of a youthful lieutenant. - -"You will please give an account of yourselves," announced this latter -in a businesslike tone of voice. - -Scarlett sat down, drew off his boots and emptied the water from them. -Ezra, however, gave his attention to the lieutenant. - -"Sir," said he, "we are sympathizers of the colonies who have just made -our way out of Boston through the fleet." - -The young officer, who wore a new, spick and span blue uniform turned up -with red, regarded them suspiciously. - -"That," said he, with a glance out at the ominous black hulks that were -now plainly showing through a faint early morning mist, "would be a hard -thing to do." - -"It was," smiled Ezra, "and good fortune alone enabled us to accomplish -it." - -The young lieutenant, proud of his new trappings and his new office, saw -fit to regard the two with great suspicion. - -"My orders are to apprehend any one coming from the seaward," spoke he, -importantly. "So it will be my duty to hold you until the colonel -arrives to inspect this post." - -"And when will that be?" asked Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Toward noon, or perhaps somewhat later," replied the lieutenant. - -The soldier of fortune drew on his wet boots and stood up. - -"Sir," observed he, his legs wide apart and his thumbs hooked in his -belt, "you seem to have very little notion as to the value of time. We -have but a few hours to go about the business of saving the colonial -army." - -The youthful officer started at this. But there was that in the -hectoring tone of Gilbert Scarlett which he did not like. So he frowned -and said sharply: - -"If you have anything to impart my commission, issued by the Provincial -Congress, makes me a proper person to hear it." - -That the speaker was right, even though unnecessarily stubborn, Ezra saw -at once. But with the hot-headed adventurer it was a different matter. - -Without more ado, he whipped out his long sword, and addressed the -lieutenant with careless superiority. - -"Step to one side," directed he, "and have your fellows do the same, or -I'll contrive a piece of work for you that none of you will forget." - -The lieutenant spoke swiftly to his men. They threw forward their -rifles; and Ezra had just sprung between them and Scarlett when there -came a quiet, chuckling voice, saying: - -"Hot work, Master Prentiss! Hot work, upon my word!" - -All eyes went toward the point from where the voice proceeded; and all, -even to the angry Scarlett and the stubborn lieutenant, burst into a -laugh. - -Upon a large flat stone, at no great distance, sat a dwarfish figure. -The short legs were crossed Turkish fashion, and the huge head, with its -stiff crest of hair, was bent forward, the chin resting upon his palms. - -"What!" said Ezra, astonished. "Is it you, Porcupine?" - -The imp grinned, showing his strong white teeth. - -"It is no one else," answered he, arising. "I had just come down this -way to look about me before the others were awake. And," with a look at -Scarlett, "it's a good thing that I have. Your friend there seems to -want to get himself into mischief." - -Scarlett sheathed his sword with a flourish. - -"I crave the pardon of your assured smallness," said he with a sweep of -his feathered hat. "It is a trick of the temper that lasts but a moment. -I also," turning to the lieutenant, "ask pardon of you, sir." - -The young officer nodded stiffly and gestured the long rifles away. Then -he turned and gave ear to the dwarf, who claimed his attention. - -"Porcupine, you call him?" said Scarlett, his eyes traveling over the -stunted body. "And a very good name it is, indeed. Was there ever such a -stiff crest of hair upon a human before? Have you known him long?" - -"He rode with myself and some friends from Philadelphia last fall," -replied Ezra, "and proved himself of value to us all. He is faithful, -watchful, shrewd and has uncommon courage." - -"Excellent!" cried the soldier of fortune, with high admiration. "In -those you have some beautiful qualities for so small a youth." - -At the Porcupine's low-spoken words, the face of the American lieutenant -changed in expression. - -"If Master Brewster and his friends will vouch for these gentlemen," -said he, "that will be enough for me." - -"I will fetch them at once," said the dwarf. - -Ezra advanced a step or two eagerly. - -"You don't mean to say that Nat is hereabouts!" said he. - -The Porcupine grinned and replied: - -"Not only Nat, but Ben and George as well. We all rode this way -yesterday, after a journey which we had been on for Dr. Warren to the -lower counties." - -"Then make haste and tell them of this," said Ezra, delighted. "Tell -them that it is of great importance that they should come at once." - -"I'm off," said the Porcupine. And away he darted, his short legs -twinkling at a most marvelous speed. - -"It will all be arranged without difficulty in a little time now," said -Ezra to the adventurer. - -"Fortune favors us in spite of my bad temper," replied Scarlett. Then he -added, after the fashion of a philosopher: "Never allow your dependence -upon your sword to become your greatest asset. It is a mistake. The wise -man always waits until the end before he takes matters into his own -keeping. For at the last moment, Fortune may fling her rarest gifts at -his feet." - -The lieutenant now spoke. - -"In these days, gentlemen," said he, "one cannot be too careful. I am -dangerously placed here, and with but few men. I can, therefore, afford -to trust nobody." - -"Sir," said Scarlett promptly and with a wave of the hand, "say no more -about it. You are young and unaccustomed to your work; but you have done -well for all." - -The lieutenant was fully as old as the speaker; and he was regarding -Scarlett with a puzzled look, when there came a clatter of hoofs upon -the road and up clashed Ben Cooper, George Prentiss and Nat Brewster, -the latter bearing the dwarf before him in the saddle. - -With one accord they leaped to the ground and clustered about Ezra with -cries of welcome and delight. - -"Why, it's a good month since you left us," cried Ben. - -"We'd all but given you up for dead," said George, gravely. - -"But we're glad to have you back," spoke Nat Brewster, quietly. "The -cause would be the poorer for the loss of Ezra Prentiss." - -"Master Brewster," and the lieutenant addressed Nat, whose grave manner -always caused him to be selected from the group upon occasions like -this, "these gentlemen but a short time ago landed here in a boat. They -claim to have come from Boston, and this one," indicating Ezra, "claims -to be acquainted with you." - -"I can vouch for him," cried Nat, his strong hand upon Ezra's shoulder, -"and," with a quick look at Scarlett, "if this gentleman is a friend of -his, I can vouch for him also." - -"While my acquaintance with him is something less than two months' -duration," said Ezra, "I can safely say that he is a friend in -everything that the term implies." - -Nat shook Scarlett by the hand, and Ben, George and the Porcupine -followed in their turn; and as they did so, Ezra told the adventurer -their names. - -"I have heard of you all many times," said Scarlett with vast -satisfaction. "And I have listened to some of your experiences of nights -at our inn, the 'Jolly Rover.' After hearing them, and seeing you, I can -say that it all affords me much pleasure." - -"I recall Ezra telling us of you after his return from Chelmsford some -time since," said Nat. "He said that you appeared to be a gentleman of -parts." - -The adventurer assumed his favorite attitude. - -"If experience makes for quality, I am to be pardoned if I claim it," -said he. "I was younger than the youngest of you when I fought my first -field, and since then I have seen service under many flags." All the -time he spoke, and in fact before he began, his eyes went alternately -from Ezra to George and back again. Now he broke off his remarks and -addressed the latter: "Your name, sir, is----?" - -"George Prentiss," replied the boy. - -Scarlett turned to Ezra. - -"Your grandfather called you George," said he, shrewdly. - -"Because of a mistake," said Ezra, his face flushed as he called to mind -the fact that the mistake was not corrected. - -The soldier of fortune seemed to divine this feeling; he slapped Ezra -upon the back. - -"No," said he, "never be ashamed that you did not undeceive him. What -you did was for the best." Then, with another look at George, "I -scarcely blame the old gentleman for his blunder. Your brother is most -marvelously like you." - -Here George said eagerly to Ezra: - -"You have seen grandfather?" - -"Twice while in Boston. He is well." - -"But as staunch for the King as ever?" - -"Yes." - -They had left the guard and were making their way along a narrow road, -the horses, under care of the Porcupine, following. Nat now spoke. - -"That you have been in Boston," said he to Ezra, "is astonishing news. -But that you have slipped out again seems almost impossible." - -"Yet here we are," smiled Ezra. - -"But tell us about it," urged Ben Cooper, his round, good-natured face -full of expectancy. "We are all but gaping to hear it." - -So with that, as they walked along, Ezra related how on that April night -at Charlestown, he had been seized with a desire to venture toward the -"Indian's Head." Then how he met with the spy Pennington, and also, for -the second time, with Scarlett. From the experiences at the inn, he went -to the crossing of the river, the interview with his grandfather and -General Gage and the long stay at the "Jolly Rover" in Ship Street. But -when the latter part of the story was told, the eyes of Nat, George and -Ben opened widely; the Porcupine, back with the horses, executed a caper -in the road. - -"An attack!" said Nat, his face all alight. - -"At last!" cried George, with an involuntary tug at his belt. - -"We'll make them run as we did before," declared Ben Cooper. - -But, as was usual, Nat's was the practical mind. - -"It is good news," said he, "and we are all glad of it. But the next -move, I think, is to get it to the ears of General Ward." - -A chorus of assent followed this. In a few minutes they reached an -encampment of colonists; to a gray-haired captain, a veteran of the -Louisburg, Nat represented the case as far as he saw fit and asked that -two mounts be loaned them. - -"We haven't horses enough for our own use," said the captain. "But if it -is, as you say, a matter of great importance, why of course you must be -accommodated." - -Accordingly the nags were brought forward and saddled. Then all six, -with the dwarf riding with Nat, mounted and rode off at a smart canter, -heading for Cambridge and General Ward. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -SHOWS HOW EZRA RODE WITH PRESCOTT TOWARD BUNKER HILL - - -As the six dashed along the morning roads toward Roxbury, Ezra noted -much improvement in the American position; and those works that were in -view had grown stronger and much more formidable than heretofore. - -"It is right cleverly laid out," commented Gilbert Scarlett, whose keen, -dark eyes missed nothing. "I am more struck with admiration of your -farmer and mechanic soldiery the more I see of them." - -"I can see," said Nat Brewster, who rode with him, "that you have been -harkening to the stories that the British have to tell about us. They -call us impudent peasants who, in ignorance of what we are about, dare -to face the army of the King. But that is mere bluster and affectation. -Those officers among the British who have any experience in the warfare -of the colonies, know that we have leaders who are perhaps their -superiors." - -Scarlett smiled. - -"Almost," said he, "do you surpass our young friend Prentiss in -attachment to the cause." - -"It is the cause of my country," said Nat, simply. - -A look of something like sadness came into the adventurer's face. - -"It must be a fine thing, indeed, to feel like that," said he moodily. -"As I have mentioned, I have served many causes--but never that of my own -country, because I have no country." - -Nat looked at him inquiringly. - -"I was born in Lisbon, of an English mother and an Italian father," said -Scarlett, "and in my childhood, you might say the world was my cradle. -My father followed the wars and my mother followed him. And when they -died, I took up their task of wandering. This sword," and his hand -rested upon the heavy hilt, "was my father's, and I have carried it from -Muscovy to the Floridas; and it has profited me no more than the cloth -you see upon my back." - -"You have lived and fought in old countries, or among old peoples," -spoke Nat, eagerly. "But here is a new land, a new people. In the years -to come, by the righteousness of our cause and the strength of our arms, -we'll stand free and alone. Make this your country. Draw your blade for -it. And when all is done, it will not forget you." - -Scarlett's eyes sparkled; he looked at Nat with admiration. - -"That's well spoken," said he, "and you all but persuade me. But," and -he shook his head, "I have seen uprisings of people before. I have seen -them suffer under burdens imposed upon them by their masters until they -could bear it no more; then they threw it off and struck out madly, -blindly at their tormentors. But always they were beaten down. They were -untaught in war; they had no skilled leaders to show them the way to -point out the foe's weaknesses, to direct their strength. If I expect to -see this repeated now it will not surprise you, surely." - -"When you come to know us," smiled Nat, "you'll know us better." - -As they entered Cambridge they encountered Colonel Stark, with his -powerful face and fearless bearing. Ezra saluted and stopped him, and as -they conversed at some distance, Scarlett said: - -"Who is that?" - -"It is Colonel Stark, of New Hampshire. He has fought the French and -Indians all his life and is a sample of our leaders." - -"He has the front of a man who'd face terrible odds and never flinch," -commented the adventurer as he regarded Stark narrowly. "Yes, I like -your Colonel Stark; but I will require to see the others before I change -my mind." - -Ezra saluted the New Hampshire warrior, who then rode on. The boy -returned to his comrades. - -"We are again fortunate," said he. "Colonel Stark has just left General -Ward and tells me that Colonel Prescott and General Putnam were then -with him. If we make haste we might find them there still." - -The hasty clatter of hoofs awoke no surprise in the town. Cambridge had -grown accustomed to such long since. As they approached the house which -the commander had made his headquarters, they saw a few sentries leaning -upon their rifles, conversing carelessly. - -A broad window, which faced an open sweep of green, stood open; and -within, three men in blue uniforms faced with white were gathered about -a table in earnest discussion. - -The boys halted and dismounted; after a moment's discussion it was -decided that Ezra should seek admittance to the officers' presence -alone, as he could best tell of what had happened. So the others seated -themselves upon the grass in full view of the window, while the young -New Englander approached the sentries and announced himself. After some -hesitation one of them went into the house as though to seek the -commands of a superior. - -Scarlett's searching eyes watched the three about the table; every -movement, every lineament, so it seemed, came under his observation. - -"And so these are more of your leaders," said he to Nat. "Tell me now, -which of them is General Ward?" - -"The one directly facing us," replied Nat, pointing to the general in -command. "He is a safe leader, and that's saying the least of him. The -only fault that could be charged against him is that his health is bad, -which might affect his enterprise. He was once a justice of the peace; -also he served with the British commander, Abercrombie, against the -French and Indians. He was a lieutenant." - -Scarlett plainly had no exalted opinion of General Ward as an officer; -but he made no comment. - -"This other, now," he said, "this thick-set man with the full red face -and the whitening hair. Which is he?" - -"That," said Nat, "is General Putnam. He is considered to be, and I -think justly, one of the most remarkable military characters of this -time. For years he led the quiet life of a country gentleman on a -beautiful farm at Brooklyn in Connecticut. He was noted but for one -exploit; and that was the killing of a she-wolf which had become the -terror of the countryside. As no one had been able to destroy the beast, -Putnam had himself lowered into its den, and shot it to death as it -sprang at his throat. - -"When the French invaded northern New York, he took up arms and, with -the provincial army, marched to repulse them. Ten years of his life were -spent in that and Indian warfare. Once he was taken at Wood Creek by the -Indians, who determined to burn him, and were about applying the torch -at his feet when a French captain of the name of Molang arrived and -saved his life. He won the rank of colonel in the provincial army and -was with General Lyman in the West Indies, serving at the fall of -Havana. After that he went back to his estate, where he remained until -the alarm went out to the Sons of Liberty some two months ago." - -"A right experienced officer," said Scarlett, "and like the man from New -Hampshire, he has the look of one that would not be easily beaten." - -At this juncture they saw Ezra admitted to the house; a moment later -they saw him enter the room where the three officers sat. - -"Your Colonel Prescott is the other one, of course," said the -adventurer, as he regarded the stalwart, soldier-like figure of that -gallant gentleman. "For what is he remarkable?" - -"He, too, has seen honorable service in the provincial army. He was a -captain under General Winslow. At the first call for defenders he left -his estates at Pepperell and gave his service and influence to the -general good. I have the opinion," continued Nat, "that this officer -will conduct himself with distinction in whatever place his lot be -cast." - -"If we are to go by appearances, yes. However," and the soldier of -fortune twirled his moustache points, "the future will raise up leaders -for your country if the war continues." - -While they were speaking, they had been closely watching the scene -within the headquarters of the colonial commander. George, Ben and the -Porcupine were also likewise engrossed. - -They saw Ezra greeted with rather surprised reserve. This was to be -expected, as the three officers were apparently deep in some problem -that required their undivided attention. Ezra saluted, and then the -watchers saw Colonel Prescott speak to him. What he said must have been -kindly and encouraging, for a look of gratitude came into the boy's -face. - -He stood at the foot of the table. General Ward was at its head, while -the other officers sat upon either side. Then the lad began to speak, -and from the first sentence those outside noted a look of anticipation -settle upon the listeners' faces. - -[Illustration: PUTNAM STRUCK THE TABLE] - -This grew deeper and deeper; now and then General Putnam struck the -table a smart blow with his right hand, his red face growing still -redder. But toward the end of Ezra's story, he grew as grave as the -others; and when the finish came, all arose quickly. General Ward was -seen to speak, the others gestured their accord with him. Then all shook -Ezra's hand warmly, after which Putnam and Prescott, followed by the -lad, strode out of the room. - -The horses belonging to the general and colonel were at hand when they -emerged. A sentry brought them forward, and as this was being done, Ezra -beckoned Gilbert Scarlett to the door of headquarters. - -"This," said the boy, "is Mr. Scarlett, who was of such great assistance -to me." - -Both soldiers greeted the adventurer warmly. - -"Sir," said General Putnam, in his bluff, honest way, "I am glad to see -you in Cambridge at such a time. For a man so ready of hand and brain as -you have proved yourself, there are deeds to be done." - -"If you will accept a commission with our forces," said Colonel -Prescott, after examining the young man steadily, "I feel sure that Dr. -Warren and his fellow committeemen will see to it with pleasure." - -"Gentlemen," responded Scarlett with a flourish, "you are kind. I will -not forget you. And if it should come about that I should at last take a -side in this bickering that is now begun, I will give what you say -serious consideration." - -As Putnam and Prescott mounted, both Scarlett and Ezra stood at salute; -the officers replied to this and rode hastily off, after the manner of -men who had urgent matters that required their attention. - -"Well?" inquired Nat Brewster, as Ezra and the adventurer approached -once more. - -"As it happened," said Ezra, cheerily, "General Ward was just outlining -a plan to fortify one of the hills above or below the city, when I -arrived. The matter has been under consideration in the council for some -days, but some of the commanders have felt doubtful." - -"And what will now be done?" asked George, anxiously. - -"A force will be sent to throw up works on Bunker Hill." - -"But," protested Ben Cooper, "how do they know that it is Bunker Hill -that the British mean to attack?" - -"They don't. But General Putnam says that they will attack any -commanding place that our force seizes." - -Scarlett slapped his thigh. - -"A sound military judgment," declared he. "He is most undoubtedly right. -If Bunker Hill is taken possession of, Bunker Hill will be the object of -Gage's assault. Look here." - -Then in the shadow of General Ward's headquarters, the lads, together -with the Porcupine, held consultation over a rough map which the -adventurer had drawn before entering Boston. - -"There will be riding to-day," said Ezra, at length, "and the bearing of -dispatches. It would be as well that we should report to Dr. Warren for -any service that we can render." - -As Scarlett was not open to perform any such service until he had -committed himself finally to the cause, the dwarf was sent with him to -find a comfortable inn; then the four comrades rode to Dr. Warren's -house. - -The patriot doctor had just received a hasty line from Prescott, more -than likely written in the saddle, and was delighted at the arrival of -these four active, enterprising young spirits. - -"This," said he, as he sat down to plan the work which he desired them -to do, "will be a day of days. Let us hope that Providence will be kind -to us and guide us to victory." - -All day the four rode up and down the countryside. And wherever they -went all became activity. Arms were seen to, ammunition was gotten -ready, men were set to drilling outside their camps. Volunteers, at the -prospect of immediate action, flocked into the towns; mattocks, spades -and other entrenching tools were sent forward in wagon-loads to -Cambridge. - -Orders were issued in the evening for Prescott's, Frye's and Bridge's -regiments, also a party of two hundred Connecticut troops to parade in -the Cambridge camp, furnished with packs and blankets and with -provisions for twenty-four hours. Also Captain Gridley's company of -artillery of forty-nine men and two field-pieces was commanded to -parade. - -However, in all the dispatch-bearing and all the activity, not a word as -to what was going forward had leaked out. Captains assembled their -companies and saw them equipped as directed without the faintest notion -as to what was about to be attempted. - -The brigade named was to make an immediate advance upon Bunker Hill -under command of Colonel Prescott. Colonel Richard Gridley, the American -engineer, was to bear him company with the plans of the proposed works. - -Gilbert Scarlett sat his borrowed horse by the side of Ezra Prentiss and -watched Prescott's brigade mass upon Cambridge common. - -"It's true," said he, with a hitch at his sword belt and a flush upon -his face, "that I have taken no side yet in this quarrel. But I never -could resist a good fight. So I'll strike a blow for the sheer pleasure -of it, even if I have no feeling in the matter." - -"I expected that," laughed Ezra. "And when you have struck one I am sure -that the second will follow." - -Dusk was beginning to settle upon that sixteenth day of June but there -was light enough to play upon the rifle barrels and upon naked bayonets -thrust into wide leather belts. The men were earnest-faced and -determined; they bore themselves not after the style of regulated -troops, but rather after that of men who were about to face the power of -tyranny and attempt to break it once and for all. As he looked at them, -admiration came into the face of the adventurer. - -"Here," said he to Ezra, "we have fellows that have the power and the -will to fight. The King's troops will have no rabble to disperse, as -I've more than once heard they've expected." - -With the officers at their heads, the brigade stood with heads bowed, -resting upon their grounded rifles. A white-haired man, venerable and -dignified, advanced before them, his hand upraised. - -"Who is that?" whispered Ben Cooper, much impressed. - -"It is President Langdon of Harvard College," replied Ezra Prentiss. -"Hush-h-h!" as Ben was about to speak once more. - -Amid dead silence the venerable scholar began a fervent and impressive -prayer. He prayed that heaven would watch over the little army and bring -it to victory over the forces of evil, that morning should dawn upon it, -strong for the fight and that it would hold out in the face of -discouragements and dangers. - -When everything was ready it was about nine o'clock; the command was -formed into column and the advance began. Masked lights were borne in -front by Ezra Prentiss and his friends; the carts containing the -entrenching tools rumbled along in the rear. - -At Charlestown Neck the detachment was halted, and the officers and men -were informed as to the nature of the venture. Captain Nutting and his -company, together with a party of Connecticut troops, were here ordered -by Prescott to proceed to the lower end of the town as a guard. Here, -also, General Putnam dashed up, accompanied by Major Brooks, and joined -the main body. - -Once more the party was put into motion; but at the foot of Bunker Hill -it again came to a halt. Colonel Prescott called his officers about him -and they plunged into an earnest debate. The dim light of the lanterns -held by the boys lit up the earnest faces of the officers as they -talked. - -"The orders for us to occupy Bunker Hill are most explicit," said -Prescott after a time. "And yet it would seem to me----" - -He paused and his bold gaze went toward the hill nearest Boston, which -bulked upward in a dense swell through the night. - -"The nearer the enemy, the quicker we come to hard gripes with him," -declared the rough and ready Putnam. - -The other officers were for the most part silent; those who did speak -were non-committal. It was plain to be seen that they had no desire to -go contrary to General Ward's orders unless some one else assumed the -responsibility. - -"If we had a map of the section," spoke Prescott, "I think I could show -you all the weak points in our orders." - -In a moment Ezra Prentiss stood forward and saluted. Prescott signed to -him to speak. - -"Mr. Scarlett has such a map," he said. "I saw it only to-day." - -Instantly the drawing was demanded. - -[Illustration: GILBERT SCARLETT'S MAP, AS REVISED BY HIM AFTER THE BATTLE] - -Scarlett stepped within the circle, coolly took it from his pocket, and -proceeded to explain its design. The officers listened with great -attention and examined the map closely. - -"Orders to a soldier," stated Scarlett wisely, "should be as the breath -to his nostrils. But," and he elevated his brows, "plans made in the -camp are sometimes necessarily modified in the field." - -Putnam looked at Prescott and that gentleman smiled. - -"That Breed's Hill," continued Scarlett pointing to his map, "is nearest -the enemy is the point of view of a fighting commander. Two more things -are to be considered in its favor. Occupy it and you face your foe as he -comes up the slope from the water; also by so doing you deprive him of a -point where he can plant his batteries." - -Putnam threw back his head and laughed. - -"Could anything be better said?" demanded he. "The gentleman makes it -all point. There is nothing else to do that I can see," with an -inquiring look at his fellows, "but to shift from Bunker to Breed's and -make our fight there." - -Colonel Prescott and Colonel Gridley at once gave the same as their -opinions; and after a few minor objections, the remainder also gave -their consent. - -Again the troops were put in motion; and this time they were not to halt -until they had reached a spot for the possession of which they were to -fight a battle, the story of which will live while the nation holds her -place among her sisters of the earth. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -IN WHICH IS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL - - -Bunker Hill, at the time of the siege of Boston, was a familiar place, -but Breed's Hill was not so well known. - -The surface of the latter was divided into tracts used as pastures; and -these were called after their separate owners. There was Russell's -pasture, and Breed's pasture, further south, while Green's was at the -head of what is now Green Street. - -The east and west sides of the hill were very steep. At the east base -were brick kilns, clay pits and much marshland. - -At the top of Breed's Hill the men, at the command of their officers, -threw down their packs, stacked arms and stood ready. In the dim light -of the masked lanterns held by Ezra and his comrades, Colonel Gridley -marked out the lines of the works; the tool carts came up, the tools -were distributed and the men set to work. And as this began, Colonel -Prescott ordered a guard, under Captain Maxwell of his own regiment, to -patrol the shore of the lower part of the town near the old ferry. - -"We must know what the enemy is about," Ezra heard the colonel say to -Colonel Gridley. "His movements are most interesting to us to-night." - -So near were they to the sentry-belted town of Boston that they could -hear, now and then, the cry of the guard at Copp's Hill battery. Also -the sounds from the war-ships were carried to them on the quiet wind. - -"Their vessels command our position very well," said Colonel Gridley, as -they stood looking out across the starlit waters. "That is the 'Falcon,' -there off Moulton's Point. The 'Somerset' is at the ferry, and that ship -near to Craigie's Bridge is the 'Glasgow.' The 'Cerberus' and some -floating batteries are yonder where you see that tangle of lights." - -"It will be a surprise to me if our work is not suspected before -daylight," said Prescott. "However, the men are accustomed to handling -their tools, and may carry it through unnoticed." - -And that is what happened. Diligently the thousand patriots cut into the -earth. Perfect silence was maintained; and every little while the -assuring cry that "All's well" came from Maxwell's patrol down along the -water's edge. - -When dawn finally broke on that seventeenth of June, the works were -about six feet in height, and the men were still laboring away on them -with a will. The entrenchments were first discovered by the watch upon -the twenty-gun vessel "Lively." Captain Bishop, her commander, did not -wait for orders, but put a spring in her cable and at once opened fire. - -The roar of the "Lively's" guns awoke the British camp, and soon all -Boston was assembled, staring in wonderment at the fortifications which -a night had caused to arise upon Breed's Hill. - -A little later a battery of six guns at Copp's Hill took up the firing, -and soon the heavier vessels joined in. - -A cannon-shot finally killed a man laboring on the platforms behind the -breastworks. At once the faces of his comrades went pale at the sight; -but Colonel Prescott, who happened to be close at hand, stepped upon the -parapet and leisurely paced around, examining it and speaking to the -officers. Noticing his intentions, Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster, who -were with him, awaiting his commands, did likewise. And seeing these -three calmly ignoring the British fire, the raw soldiers took heart; -indeed a little later they took to greeting each shot with shouts of -derision. - -The sun came well up and the heat became oppressive. Some of the men, -unaccustomed to warfare, had neglected to bring provisions, as ordered. -Suffering for want of food and drink, they began to murmur. - -Some of the officers became alarmed. - -"We had better send word to General Ward at once, to relieve them with -other troops," said he. "In a little while they will be beyond control." - -"I will never consent to these men being relieved," said Prescott, -promptly. "They have raised the works and are the best able to defend -them. They have suffered the labor, so let them have the honor of the -fight." - -Ezra stood with Ben and George a little later upon the slope of the hill -nearest the water; he had been gazing across toward the city, and -finally said: - -"There seems to be some sort of a movement in Boston. Governor Gage has -probably thought it high time to act." - -In this he was correct. Gage, after a council of war, in which his plans -had been objected to by General Clinton, had finally issued the orders -that brought the climax of the day. Artillery was wheeled into array, -foot-soldiers and dragoons paraded in all the bravery of their uniforms -and colors. - -Ten companies of British grenadiers and light infantry and the Fifth and -Thirty-eighth regiments, with ammunition and supplies, were ordered to -the Long Wharf. The Fifty-second and Forty-third regiments, together -with the remaining companies of grenadiers and light infantry, were -ordered to the North Battery. Other troops were held in readiness to -march at a moment's notice. - -At the earnest request of his officers, Colonel Prescott dispatched -Major Brooks to Cambridge to General Ward for reinforcements. This -officer reached headquarters about ten o'clock, and after much -discussion, the regiments of Colonel Stark and Colonel Reed, both of New -Hampshire, were sent to the aid of those upon the hill. - -When, at last, the men at work upon the fortifications were exhausted by -the toil and the heat, General Putnam had a large force of men gather up -the tools, fall back with them to Bunker Hill and there begin a second -line of works. - -"We don't expect to be beaten," said that seasoned officer, "but in a -battle no one knows just what will happen; so it's best to have -something to fall back on." - -It was about twelve o'clock noon, when Ezra Prentiss' keen eyes detected -the first of the British march to the boats. - -"Here they come," he shouted to Ben Cooper, who was some little distance -away. "We'll need the rifles now." - -All of them, the Porcupine included, carried rifles strapped upon their -backs; and their pouches were stuffed with ammunition. So now they -proceeded to get them ready. Locks were examined; old charges were -withdrawn and fresh ones rammed down. With Prescott's permission they -selected stations at the end of a line of riflemen whose position -promised at least a fair share of action. - -The Porcupine, as he stood leaning upon his rifle, the barrel of which -towered above his head, excited much laughter among the men. But he -grinned good-naturedly and smoothed down his stiff crest of hair. - -"Laugh away," said he, "if it'll do you any good. I don't mind it. But -remember, it won't take inches to shoot straight. You'll find the -British dodging the bullets I send them, as nimbly as they do those of -the tallest of you." - -A laugh and the clapping of hands down the line greeted this. - -"Truly spoken," said a huge farmer-like fellow who had performed -prodigies in the entrenching, "and aptly said, too. Pointed properly, -his bullet will lift a lieutenant-general out of his saddle, and more -than that you can't say for any of us." - -As the British began preparing to embark, two more ships of war moved up -the Charles River to join the others in firing upon the American works. -The roar of the cannonade was tremendous; the yellow smoke at times -almost obscured the sun. The "Falcon" and "Lively" were sweeping the low -ground at the foot of Breed's Hill to dislodge parties that might have -been sent by Prescott to prevent a landing. And as General Howe, who was -in command of the attack, with Brigadier-General Pigot under him, -embarked, the "Glasgow" frigate and "Symmetry" transport began raking -Charlestown Neck to prevent the crossing of any further American -reinforcements. - -As the signal, the hoisting of a blue flag, was given, the British host -began to advance across the river, their artillery in the leading -barges. A breeze drove the smoke to the northward, and the lads, as they -stood in the redoubt, had a clear view of the crossing. And Ezra, as he -looked, drew in a deep breath. - -"If splendor of appearance ever wins battles, surely this detachment -will be the winner today," he said. - -"But it never does," said Gilbert Scarlett, a rifle in the hollow of his -arm. "Accurate firing, steadiness and the resolve to stick to it until -the very last shot, is what brings victory." - -The brilliant scarlet coats, the white cross belts, the gleam of the -rifle barrels and brass guns formed a most dazzling and impressive -sight. And the boats came with the regularity of machinery; the heavy -frigates and brisker gunboats covered their advance with a continuous -thunder of guns. - -The Americans did little to halt the British progress. The time for -action, as their wise commanders had decided, had not yet arrived. - -"And they are right," commented Gilbert Scarlett. "Our cannon are few -and of light weight, and to fire on the shipping would be waste of -powder." Even the troop-barges, he pointed out, were difficult to hit, -up to the moment of their landing. - -This latter occurred just one hour after the start, and Moulton's Point -was the place selected. Not a shot was fired at the British force as -they left their boats, and they immediately formed in orderly array. -There was a long halt. General Howe, after examining the American works, -seemed to think very well of them, for he at once sent back across the -river a demand for reinforcements. And while these were being sent the -British officers, with the nonchalance that experience brings, very -quietly dined. - -Prescott and Putnam and their force lay stubbornly behind the earthworks -waiting for the foe to make the first move. But beyond, at Cambridge, -all was excitement and uproar. Bells clashed and swung in the church -towers, drums beat to arms, and guns roared their warning that the -British had crossed in force. - -There was no need now for General Ward to withhold the regiments still -under his command; all along he had been afraid to send too many men to -Breed's Hill, thinking that the attack might be leveled at Cambridge. -Now he reserved but Patterson's, Gardener's and part of Bridge's -regiments to protect the town; the remainder of the Massachusetts force -and what was left of Putnam's Connecticut men were hurried forward to -the point of attack. - -Dr. Warren appeared at the earthworks at this time and was greeted with -cheers. The men were exhausted and hungry, and for a time had been -inclined to suspect the good faith of their officers. But now with such -men as Warren, Putnam, Prescott and, later, General Pomeroy, plain in -their sight, they were quiet and patient enough. - -At about two o'clock the British began a movement along the Mystic River -with the intention of flanking the Americans and surrounding the -redoubt. Putnam at once ordered two pieces of artillery, and Captain -Knowlton with the Connecticut troops, to leave the entrenchments, -descend the hill and oppose the enemy's right wing. - -While Knowlton was carrying out this command, Colonel Stark with his New -Hampshire men began the crossing of Charlestown Neck. The guns of the -"Glasgow" were trained upon them; shells screamed through the air; solid -shot ripped great seams in the earth. - -In the heart of the regiment a single drum tapped with regular beat; the -men marched to this calmly, their long rifles over their shoulders. Now -and then a shot tore through them, but they never hurried their pace. - -Stark's grim face was set like stone; it seemed as though he scarcely -cast a look at the thundering ship of war. The command continued to -swing slowly along to the tap of the drum. When part way over Captain -Dearborn spoke to the colonel apprehensively: - -"We are moving very slowly. Wouldn't it be well to sound the double -quick?" - -But the heroic Stark replied, quietly: - -"They are moving fast enough for men going into action. In a fight, one -fresh man is as good as a dozen tired ones." - -These troops, with Captain Knowlton's, took possession of a rail fence -at the foot of Bunker Hill; and they set about extending it by throwing -up a stone wall on the beach. Later Colonel Reed's force joined those of -Connecticut and New Hampshire. - -When Howe's reinforcements arrived, the British commander addressed his -army, now of about three thousand men; then he gave the order to advance -against the colonial force. At the same time a signal was given and the -frigates, the floating batteries and that upon Copp's Hill, all centred -their fire upon the fortifications. At the same time other British -batteries in Boston began to throw shells into Roxbury in an effort to -burn that town. - -The British advanced under cover of this terrific fire. The American -artillery was but feeble and soon silenced. General Howe moved with his -right wing, with which he hoped to burst through the Connecticut and New -Hampshire men at the rail fence: General Pigot came on with the left, -which aimed to storm the redoubt. At this point the attacking force -found that twelve-pound shot had been sent to load six-pounder guns. -Howe was all but frantic with rage; but he ordered that the pieces be -charged with grape and that the force continue to push on. - -The miry ground, the tall grass, the heat and their heavy equipment -burdened the British rank and file; but they regarded victory as -assured; they felt nothing but contempt, in spite of Concord Bridge, for -the "peasants" who so stubbornly faced them. - -Coolly the Americans awaited. - -"Hold your fire," commanded Prescott, "until they are within ten -rods--and then wait for the word." - -"Powder is scarce," cried General Putnam. "Don't waste a charge." - -"Aim low," directed Dr. Warren. "Then you can't miss them." - -"Wait till you see the whites of their eyes!" - -"Through the middle of their red coats!" advised a rifleman, to whom, so -it seemed, the white cross belts upon the scarlet coats offered a -splendid target. - -Pigot's command advanced nearer and nearer; the fire of the shipping -ceased altogether, for the British were so close that sharp eyes in the -American lines could pick out individuals. Nat Brewster pointed out a -body of marines. - -"There is our old friend, Major Pitcairn," said he to George Prentiss. - -Both Nat and George had had rather an intimate acquaintance with that -gallant and humane British officer, just previous to the Lexington -fight. - -"He is as smooth and unruffled as ever," laughed George, "and his men -move like clockwork." - -As the redcoats came on, a scattering fire began at some points. - -"Wait for the word," shouted Prescott. And Ezra, Scarlett and Nat -Brewster leaped upon the parapet and ran along, kicking up the leveled -pieces. "Hold your fire, men." - -The British, as they advanced, had kept up a continuous fire; and this -made it all the more difficult for the Americans to restrain themselves. -However, they had not long to wait. - -Step by step the brilliant array of British swung nearer. The sun -sparkled upon their lines of rifle barrels; their faces were hard and -scornful; the metal upon their harness shone like gold. - -With an almost mystic sense of time Prescott caught the right moment. -Sharp, clear, ringing, his voice went up: - -"Fire!" - -Along the redoubt, and the full length of the breastwork, there was a -level line of darting flame: like a shock of thunder the crash followed. - -"Again!" rang the voice of Prescott as one line of his riflemen gave -place to another. "Fire!" - -Once more the flame points sprang outward; once more the crash followed; -once more the bullets poured into the British. - -The latter received the leaden hail with all the stoicism of the -veterans that they were. Briskly they came on, sharply they answered, -their ranks melting like wax all the time. But even they could not long -face that awful rain; suddenly they wavered, furiously General Pigot -sounded a retreat, and as the foe fell back a thunderous cheer went up -from the colonials, behind the works. - -"Good firing," commented Gilbert Scarlett, as he looked to his smoking -rifle. "These countrymen of yours," he continued to Ezra, "need -disciplining--yes; but no one need teach them how to shoot." - -While this was happening, the line of Stark and Knowlton at the rail -fence was grimly facing Howe and his oncoming force. The frightful rifle -fire littered the ground with the British veterans; they broke and fled -in disorder. - -When this was seen from the redoubt, a tempest of cheers went up. Ezra -made out in the thick of the retreat the fine figure of General Howe, as -that gallant officer strove with his men, trying to get them into some -semblance of order. - -"See," said the boy, pointing, "he's bringing them into shape. I have -heard that this General Howe is a very able officer; and his men seem to -believe in him." - -"His second attack will be warmer, I think," said Nat Brewster. "He'll -know what to expect, and will no doubt make his plans accordingly." - -They watched, as did the entire American force, the reassembling of the -British. And while this was going on the battery at Copp's Hill began to -throw shells into Charlestown; also a party of marines landed upon its -easterly side from the "Somerset" to fire the town. - -Suddenly Ben Cooper cried out: - -"Look there!" - -A pall of smoke was rising above the town; then a fierce burst of flame -ascended. - -"They have fired Charlestown," said George Prentiss, his face paling. -"They think to frighten us. But it will take more than that." - -The buildings were mainly of wood and the fire swept among them, -swirling and devouring; huge, far-reaching tongues of red flame curled -outward across the streets, from structure to structure, licking them up -and leaving nothing but ashes behind. - -In the midst of this terrifying disaster, General Howe ordered his -second attack on the rail fence. This time his artillery got fairly into -service; his men, as before, fired as they advanced. - -The American officers, grown confident, cried out: - -"Reserve your fire. Let them come within three rods!" - -This command was followed. When the time once more arrived the American -rifles spat their messengers of death at the enemy. Whole ranks of the -British seemed to fall. In the midst of death General Howe cheered on -his soldiers. Two of his aides were shot down while receiving his -orders. - -In the face of swift-coming death the soldiery faltered. The British -officers were seen to strike some of them with their swords, urging them -on. But it was no use. Again they gave way, this time rushing to their -boats and leaping in as though frantic with the fear of it all. - -The flames roared and the smoke billowed over Charlestown. At the foot -of Breed's Hill, the brilliant red-coated and white cross belted men -huddled and massed in seemingly hopeless confusion. The sun glinted upon -their tall brass-fronted hats, their musket barrels threw off countless -dancing reflections. Their officers raved among them in efforts to -reform them; swords were drawn, and pistols were presented at the heads -of the more stubborn. - -Because of this panic among the British and because Howe was -communicating with the Boston shore, the third attack was delayed. The -Americans were thankful for this, and spent the time trying to bring up -the further reinforcements sent to them. It was also discovered about -this time that the ammunition was all but exhausted. - -George Prentiss and Ben Cooper, mounted upon swift horses, were sent to -bear this news to General Putnam, who had gone back to bring up the new -men. - -"Tell him to send us some powder, or we are lost," was Prescott's last -and secret word with them. - -When the two had raced furiously away, some artillery cartridges were -pointed out by Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Broken open, they would supply quite a few charges for the small arms," -he suggested. "I saw the like done at a small engagement in which I took -part in Egypt." - -This was eagerly seized upon; but the quantity secured was pitifully -small. - -"Don't waste a grain of it," cautioned Colonel Prescott. "Send every -bullet to its mark." - -But that their officers feared for the result of the day was hidden from -the men. Both Prescott and Dr. Warren walked constantly up and down the -parapet, talking cheerily with the defenders, and advising them how to -meet any fresh onset. - -"You have beaten them twice," cried General Warren, for that was the -rank he now held. "Do it once more; and it will be the last." - -While this was going on at the top of the hill, Howe was still raging at -its foot. - -"I'll conquer the rascals, or die trying," he declared repeatedly. - -A reinforcement of four hundred marines had reached him from the fleet. -Also he had a distinguished volunteer in the person of his close friend, -the very able General Clinton. The latter had twice seen Howe -discomfited; so he threw himself into a boat at Copp's Hill and crossed -to offer his services. - -But some of the British officers strongly advised against another -attack. - -"It will be little less than butchery to lead the men upon that position -again," they said. - -But Howe thought otherwise. He sternly commanded that the men be put -into a soldier-like formation; then with the crafty help of Clinton, he -began to plan the third attack. - -The British commander had, by this time, learned to respect the -colonials. - -"They told me that I had a rabble of peasants to fight," said he to -Clinton. "If it's so, then there are the makings of fine troops among -those villains on the hill." - -In the forming of his last attack Howe had no doubt the sound advice of -General Clinton; for it was better thought out and delivered with more -wisdom than the others. - -The rank and file were now commanded to lay aside their heavy knapsacks. -They had been burdened with these and other useless pieces of equipment -during the entire afternoon, and this, perhaps, had had its effect in -breaking their courage. Then they were formed into columns. - -"Rely upon the steel," Howe commanded them. "Reserve your fire until you -get within a dozen paces of them. They shall see that we, too, can fight -after that fashion." - -This attack was directed upon the redoubt above; only a sham advance was -made against the rail fence, in order that Stark and Knowlton's men be -forced to hold their position, and so not be able to come to the aid of -Prescott's. Also the British artillery was now supplied with proper -shot, and was wheeled forward to rake the breastworks. - -As the British came on, Ezra Prentiss regarded their compact columns -with an anxious eye. He had had but little experience in warfare; but -something told him that there was a task coming much more formidable -than what had gone before. - -"It looks," said he to Nat and Scarlett, "as though this would be the -test, somehow. This attack seems more deftly directed." - -Gilbert Scarlett's black eyes were sparkling with anticipation. - -"Our friend, my Lord Howe, is increasing in wisdom as the day advances," -he said. "As you say, it will be a test. If we can hold the breastworks -against that," and he pointed to the King's artillery being pushed into -its last murderous position, "we will beat them again. If not, we are at -the end of the fight, and can only hope for a safe retreat." - -On came the steady, sullen, silent columns. Some of the American -riflemen had but one charge of powder; and this was poured in with -deadly effect as the word was given. The grenadiers and light infantry -shook under the shock, but came on at the urging of their officers. In a -little while the left columns under Clinton and Pigot reached a position -under the walls of the redoubt where they were sheltered from the -scattering and feeble fire of the defenders. Then they deployed and with -a rush the first flank had gained the parapet. A leaden hail; the last -concentrated volley of the colonists swept this into eternity. - -But on came the second rank of redcoats over the works with leveled -bayonets; the Americans met them with clubbed rifles and the few -bayonets that they possessed. Stones flew through the air, hurled by -desperate hands; rifle barrel rang against sword and bayonet. -Desperately the colonists strove; but at this style of fighting they -could not hope to hold their ground against the trained troops of Lord -Howe. Step by step, Prescott saw them beaten back; their ranks were -thinning fast, and hope was past; so with mercy in his heart, the -gallant leader sounded a retreat. - -So great was the dust thrown up by the rushing feet of the contending -forces that the retreating Americans had difficulty in locating the -outlets in the redoubt. Some leaped over its top; the majority fought -their way grimly through the British, leaving a track of killed and -desperately hurt behind them. Colonel Prescott was among the last to -leave. He parried countless bayonet thrusts with his heavy sword and his -waistcoat was pierced more than once. - -As the Americans fled from the works, General Warren threw himself -desperately among them. He knew that unless the riflemen were stayed the -retreat would become a rout. And it was here that this gallant gentleman -met his heroic death. The British took possession of the redoubt with -shouts of victory; with the instinct of trained troops they formed and -poured a murderous volley into the Americans. Warren was seen to stagger -and fall before this; and the rushing mass of his countrymen passed by -and left him upon the field. - -"I guess it's all over, boys," panted Nat Brewster. "We'd best make our -way back with the others." - -But at this point, when destruction seemed hovering over the flying -Americans, Putnam succeeded in at last bringing up the reinforcements. -Between Bunker and Breed's Hills parts of the regiments of Ward, -Gardener and Gerrish poured a continuous fire upon the enemy as they -rushed forward in pursuit, and so checked them. Then the New Hampshire -and Connecticut men at the rail fence, who had defended their position -like heroes, saw that Prescott's men were in retreat. So with that they -gave back like veteran troops, compelling their foes to keep their -distance, and soon the entire American force, with their foemen held -well in hand, were bearing back over Bunker Hill. - -It was at the brow of this eminence that Putnam rode up upon a foaming -horse, his face shining like that of a son of battle. He had labored -with the strength of a score of leaders upon the works here, but they -were still unfinished. However, that never once caused his bold heart to -falter. - -"Make a stand here!" he shouted. "We can stop them yet! One shot more, -men! One shot more!" - -But the retreat was not to be stopped; the Americans had not yet been -hardened to the desperate fighting in the face of defeat that comes to -seasoned soldiery. And many of them had no more powder. And so they -passed over the hill and across Charlestown Neck amid the fire of the -British shipping and batteries. - -Then, with great parade, the British crossed the Neck and took -possession of the hill that they had, only a few months before, -staggered down in the retreat from Concord. But they dared go no -further; upon Winter and Prospect Hills, and from Cambridge a desperate, -smoke-blackened army of patriots faced them, once more supplied with -ammunition and with the resolution to stand and fight until the sun set -and rose again. - -Ezra Prentiss, weary and covered with dust, cleaned his befouled rifle -and sighed. - -"And, after all, it was a victory for the British," he said. - -But Scarlett, who sat at his side, likewise occupied, laughed grimly, -and cast a look at the orderly but depleted array of the enemy. - -"It was a victory for them--yes," said he, with the wisdom of experience. -"But another such victory would be fatal to General Gage. You have been -beaten, but you have struck him a vital blow." - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE MET -GENERAL WASHINGTON BY THE WAY - - -After the desperate struggle upon Breed's Hill the two armies lay upon -their different eminences, breathlessly regarding each other; they still -held their arms ready, for they each dreaded what the other might do; -but there was no movement to continue the battle upon either side; and -so the last hours of daylight wore on. - -Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster were with Colonel Prescott almost all the -time since the retreat had ceased. Their hearts were heavy when they -learned of Dr. Warren's death; for where would such another be found as -he? That there were other great men in the colonies, they knew well; but -none were quite so human, so entirely unselfish, so absolutely devoted -to the public good as this patriot who still lay upon the hillside, his -face turned to the sky. - -They sat upon a settle in the wide hall of the house in which Prescott -made his headquarters, and talked the sad news over in mournful -undertones. Through an open doorway they could see the colonel pacing up -and down, his face darkened with anger, his lips pressed tightly -together. - -"The result seems to set heavily upon him," said Nat, at length. "See -how his hands are clenched; and he has not even brushed the dust of the -fight from his clothes." - -Ezra looked at the colonel's lowered head and burning eyes. - -"I have no doubt," said the young New Englander, "that there is nothing -in the world that he would welcome so much as a renewal of the -engagement. He had the battle won, but for the lack of powder and the -reinforcements that were so delayed and confused." - -They continued to talk in low tones for a time; then suddenly Colonel -Prescott's tramping ceased. He had paused in the centre of the room, and -as the boys' eyes went to him once more, they found that he was looking -toward them. - -"Prentiss," said the colonel, with the manner of one who had finally -made up his mind to something, "ask them to bring me my horse." - -Ezra saluted, and went quickly out. A few moments later the clatter of -hoofs sounded upon the pavement, and Prescott, as he snatched up his -hat, gestured Nat to follow. - -Not only was Colonel Prescott's mount awaiting him, but a little behind -it stood the raw-boned black which Nat Brewster had ridden ever since -leaving Philadelphia the fall before. Beside this again was a hardy -looking, flea-bitten gray of visible quality which Ezra had bought of a -horse dealer in the camp to replace the tall bay which, for all he knew, -still stood in the barn at the "Indian's Head." - -All three mounted, and Prescott headed at once for General Ward's -headquarters. The sun had but a short time to keep its rim above the -west; indeed, in sheltered places, the shadows had grown long and were -thickening into dusk. - -The colonel was admitted at once to the general's presence; and the boys -remained in an anteroom, which was crowded with officers and persons of -consequence, all eager to hear the news of what was to be done on the -morrow. - -General Ward's room was also thronged, and business was being dispatched -hurriedly. The hangings of the doorway were drawn because of the heat of -the evening, and all that was said and done was plain to those in the -anteroom. A light breeze was blowing through the house; and some lights, -already burning in tall silver candlesticks, leaped agitatedly, throwing -quavering shadows upon the stern faces of the fighting-men gathered -about. - -With one accord, all fell back from the table at which General Ward sat, -upon the appearance of Colonel Prescott. As the commander of the force -at the summit of the hill, they at once gave him place. - -"General," and Colonel Prescott saluted grimly, "I have come to make my -report upon the engagement fought to-day in the neighborhood of -Charlestown." - -He placed a closely written paper upon the table as he spoke, and then -stood back a pace. - -General Ward took up the paper and sat running his thumb and forefinger -along its folds; but he did not open it. - -"What has happened," said he, "is of course already known to me. All who -witnessed your work to-day join in praising it; it seems the universal -opinion that no man could have done more. If you were driven from your -position----" - -Colonel Prescott's hand went up and his flashing eyes swept the room. - -"If I lost my position," said he, "it was not because my men and I were -not willing to hold it to the last. It was because of the neglect of -some whose duty it was to lend me help. Another thing," and he advanced -to the table, his hand falling upon it with force, "give me fifteen -hundred men to-night, with powder and ball and bayonets, and I will have -recovered Breed's Hill for you by sunrise to-morrow." - -A thrill ran through Ezra at these words. There was no doubting but that -the aroused man meant them and stood ready to carry them out. But -General Ward was too conservative a soldier to harken to any such daring -plan. - -"The risk would be too great," said he. "We must not waste our strength. -To-day we have lost above four hundred men. If Howe were to order an -advance we could scarcely hope to hold him in check." - -"He has lost three times as many as we," returned Prescott; "and we need -have no fear of his attacking us again, just yet." - -Then some one else broke in, and the conversation in a moment became -almost general. Plans were suggested and debated; the raising of men, -money and ammunition engrossed every one. - -When Colonel Prescott was leaving, General Ward arose, shook his hand -warmly and thanked him for his services in the name of the colonies. -Coming with him to the door of the anteroom his eyes fell upon Ezra and -Nat, and his face lighted up. - -"Here are the very lads," said he. "I had all but forgotten that I -required the service of some ready riders, and at once." - -The two boys stood forward and saluted. - -"There is a dispatch, all ready," said General Ward to Prescott, "for -the Congress at Philadelphia, giving a brief account of to-day's -engagement. If you can spare these lads, and if they are not too weary -with their work of to-day," with a smile at the two, "there are none -that I would rather send upon the mission." - -Prescott turned and looked at Ezra and Nat; their eager looks caused a -smile to appear upon his stern face. - -"They will carry the dispatch," he said, briefly. - -"I shall require it to go to-night," said the general to the lads. - -He was a thoughtful man; knowing that they had been in the thick of the -fight, he hesitated about burdening them with this long journey without -their having had a chance to rest. - -"Our horses are at the door," said Ezra, promptly. "We are ready to go -at once." - -So they remained after Colonel Prescott had departed. Soon the dispatch -of the colonial commander was placed in Ezra's hands; their instructions -were brief; then they mounted and rode swiftly away upon their journey -through the deepening dusk. - -"We should sleep at Framingham to-night," said Ezra. - -"We made the complete journey once in seven days," answered Nat. "And -this time we should not be behind that." - -A farmhouse was their first halt; and the good people were eager to do -all they could for them when they heard who they were. It was the same -through all of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Innkeepers gave them their -best attention; hostlers looked to their horses with unexampled -solicitude; the townspeople gathered about them burning to hear the news -from the lips of the lads who had been in the battle. - -They reached New York, where they attracted great attention, crowds -thronging the streets to watch their progress; then they crossed the -Hudson and began pushing their way across the level Jerseys. They had -gone a half day's ride over the sandy roads; it was a little past noon -when they came to a fine, old, tree-shaded house, with broad fields, -green with the spring's planting, beautiful orchards and a generally -prosperous look. - -"Now this," spoke Nat, good-humoredly, "is a likely sort of place for -two wayfarers to alight and beseech entertainment. The people who live -here could provide good food and in plenty, if appearances go for -anything." - -They dismounted at the open gate and tied their horses to the fence. A -small dog, hearing their footsteps upon the path, ran toward them with a -great ado of barking; this brought forward a very small boy, who stood -before them, his freckled face turned up inquiringly. - -"Do you want my father?" asked he. - -Ezra smiled down at the child. - -"Perhaps so," said he. "Is this your father's place?" - -The boy swept a small hand to all four points of the compass. - -"All of it," answered he. Then confidentially, "And he's going to get -more." - -"Good for him," laughed Nat, "and so now run off and ask him if he can -see two riders who are on their way to Philadelphia." - -The child pursed up his mouth. - -"He is engaged," spoke he, wisely. "Some gentlemen stopped a while ago. -They are having dinner, and one of them is a general." - -The young continentals looked at one another. - -"What's his name?" inquired Ezra. - -"General Wash'ton," answered the child promptly. - -Again the lads' eyes sought each other in mute question; and a thrill -ran through them both. They recalled the tall, athletic Virginian who -had sat his horse so well in Philadelphia's streets; they remembered the -calm, handsome face, so highly bred and yet so powerful; they recalled -the outspoken admiration of the citizens, the great esteem of his fellow -members of the First Congress. - -"Can it be," said Ezra, "that Washington of Virginia has been chosen -commander-in-chief by the Continental Congress!" - -"If he has," replied Nat Brewster, all excitement, "they have done -excellently for the colonies. There is no nobler man in all America; and -from all accounts, he is a born soldier." - -The small boy disappeared into the house while they were speaking; but -the small dog remained, sniffing suspiciously and occasionally growling -for them to keep their distance. And while they were smiling at the -self-importance of the little beast, there came a full-toned voice -saying: - -"I had not thought, Mr. Clark, to see so fine a farm in the Jerseys. It -is splendid. And as I come from Virginia, where the plantations approach -the extent of principalities, I may say that I am a judge." - -There were footsteps upon the wide verandah which ran about the house; -and turning in the direction of the sound, the boys saw a party of -gentlemen. Nat's eyes instantly sought out the speaker, and at a glance -he recognized the tall, strong frame and the lofty face. - -And almost at the same moment the eyes of the great Virginian caught -sight of the boy. - -"Hah!" cried he, taking a step forward, "here is some one I think I -know, Mr. Clark." - -"They are strangers to me, general," spoke the rich farmer, staring at -the boys. "Travelers perhaps, young gentlemen?" addressing them. - -"On our way to Philadelphia," said Ezra, as Nat stepped upon the -verandah and grasped the cordially extended hand of Washington. - -Nat had done Washington a splendid service just outside of Philadelphia -some ten months before, and as the Virginian seldom forgot a face, and -never a service, his hand grasp was warm and firm. - -[Illustration: NAT GRASPED THE HAND OF WASHINGTON] - -"I am glad to see you. And so," with a look at Ezra, "you are on your -way to Philadelphia?" - -"Yes, general." - -Washington smiled a little. - -"Why," said he, "my new title seems to run before me like a forest fire. -But," inquiringly, "may I ask from what direction you travel?" - -"We left Cambridge in Massachusetts some five days ago," replied Nat. - -An eager light came into the eyes of the commander-in-chief. - -"What news?" asked he. - -"A battle has been fought," said Nat. - -Instantly the lad was encircled by a ring of anxious faces. - -"And the result?" Washington's voice was entirely without excitement. - -"The British were victorious." - -A sort of groan went up from the little party of gentlemen. And it was -here that Ezra Prentiss spoke eagerly. - -"We are bearing General Ward's report of the fight to Congress. And -though the British did drive us back, we twice repulsed them. We would -have done so the third time had not our powder run out. As it stands, -they lost a thousand men and do not dare advance beyond the ground they -won." - -The gloom which settled upon the face of Washington at Nat Brewster's -words vanished at those of Ezra Prentiss. - -"The militia?" he asked, his hand upon the boy's shoulder. "How did they -hold themselves under fire?" - -"Bravely," returned Ezra. "As long as they could fire back they showed -fear of neither cannon-shot nor musketry." - -"That is all I wish to know," exclaimed the commander-in-chief. "The -cause of liberty is safe." - -The others then burst in with anxious and excited questions. Even during -the dinner which the bountiful Mr. Clark sat the boys down to in a long, -shaded room did not stop this flow of interrogations. Both were forced -to answer as best they could between mouthfuls, but they did so with -enthusiasm, for they were as full of the matter as their questioners. - -General Washington sat alone upon the verandah while the boys ate; his -eyes were fixed upon the broad, fertile fields and his expression was -rapt. Perhaps he saw the future, when he should retreat with a shattered -army across the Jerseys, the wolf-pack of the enemy close behind him. -And behind them again, the countryside in ruins! - -But when the lads came out he arose. - -"Mr. Clark," said he, "you have been kind, and I thank you. And now, if -you will have them bring out our horses, we will be on our way toward -New York." - -The farmer sent some of his people to do as asked; then the general -turned to the boys. - -"I am about to send a messenger back to Philadelphia with some -suggestions to Congress which this news of yours has called forth," said -he, "and if you are so inclined, the message of General Ward shall be -sent by him." - -The boys hesitated a moment. - -"General," said Ezra, finally, "there is nothing that would please us -better than to ride with you back to Cambridge, but----" - -Washington smiled. - -"If it would please you," said he, "then you shall do it. As your -officer, I direct you to turn over your dispatches to this gentleman," -indicating a young man who stood seemingly ready to depart. - -Promptly Ezra drew out General Ward's dispatch and handed it to the -rider. In a few moments they saw him dashing away through the dust to -the southward; and in a very few more they were heading north toward the -theatre of war at the side of General Washington. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -IN WHICH EZRA LISTENS TO A DARING PLAN, AND HOW THREE SPIES LISTEN -TO IT LIKEWISE - - -From the time that Washington reached New York, his progress toward -Cambridge was a constant ovation. In all the towns he passed through he -was received by committees of citizens. Addresses of welcome and praise -were read to him, cannon were fired in his honor, and escorts met him -and saw him on his way. - -While he was no doubt gratified by all these signs of favor and -indications of the people's confidence, the general's most earnest -desire was to reach his destination and assume the command entrusted to -him. At Springfield a committee of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress -met him; a cavalcade of mounted citizens and troops escorted him into -Cambridge on the second of July. - -It was about two o'clock in the afternoon when the commander-in-chief -entered the town. The streets were thronged with people; cheers met him -upon every hand; people filled windows, sheds and roof tops to do him -honor. The various colonial flags fluttered wildly; guns roared and the -troops saluted their leader with critical satisfaction. - -The next day General Washington assumed command of the army in due form. -He at once rode about its posts and carefully examined the position of -the enemy. Ezra, Nat and Gilbert Scarlett rode with the party that -accompanied him, he having selected the two former as his messengers and -the latter accompanying them because of his curiosity regarding the new -leader. - -"He looks," Scarlett told Ezra, "like a man of unmistakable parts. -Colonel Prescott, last night, was good enough to sketch his life and -military acts for me, and I was much struck. At Braddock's defeat he -played the part, not only of a man, but of a most excellent officer." - -Slowly Washington reconnoitered the British lines. He found Howe -strongly entrenching on Bunker Hill, advanced about half a mile from the -late battle-field, with his sentries extending fully one hundred and -fifty yards upon the Cambridge side of the Neck. Three floating -batteries lay in the Mystic River, and a twenty-gun ship was at anchor -below the ferry. On Roxbury Neck they were also strongly fortified. The -bulk of the British army lay upon Bunker Hill; only a few light horse -were at this time left in Boston. - -Not a point of all this seemed to escape the observing eye of the -Virginian; his comments and directions were listened to by Scarlett with -close attention and deepening appreciation. - -The American position had grown stronger since the Bunker Hill fight. - -Entrenchments had been thrown up on Prospect and Winter Hills. From -these the British camp was plainly in view at little more than a mile -away. There was a strong work at Sewall's Farm, which, afterward, -Washington made stronger still. At Roxbury, General Thomas had thrown up -a powerful fortification. The New Hampshire troops and a regiment of -Rhode Island men held Winter Hill. General Putnam was in command at -Prospect Hill with the greater part of his Connecticut regiments. The -troops at Cambridge were all of Massachusetts Bay; and the bulk of -Greene's Rhode Islanders held Sewall's Farm. Two other regiments of -Putnam's men and nine regiments of Massachusetts were stationed at -Roxbury. Then there were some seven hundred men scattered along the -coast to prevent descents of the enemy. - -In spite of all that had been done by earnest and competent men, it was -scarcely an army which Washington took command of that July day. It was, -rather, a gathering of armed men, for there was not much organization. - -"The men are rugged, faithful and brave," said Ezra Prentiss to his -friends that night as they sat at an inn called "The Honest Farmer" on -the outskirts of Cambridge, toward Stark and Putnam's entrenchments. -"But they are also independent and impatient of restraint." - -"They elect to follow their own officers and obey no others," said Nat -Brewster. "And if they are not pleased with what is going forward, whole -regiments feel themselves perfectly at liberty to withdraw, wait until -their views are agreed to, or return to their homes." - -"General Washington will see to all that," spoke Scarlett, with a nod of -the head. "I have been giving him some attention to-day and I have -perceived that he is not only a man who desires order, but one who has -the will to achieve his desires. From this day on things will go -differently; men will obey when an order is given them; if they do not, -they will find that an accounting is to be made, not to an officer who -is a friend and neighbor, but to one who has only the welfare of the -colonies at heart." - -Ben Cooper laughed. - -"The new general has been approved by you, then?" said he. - -Scarlett twisted the points of his moustache. - -"I am like to serve him before very long," returned he, soberly. "For, -under him, this promises to become a very pretty war, indeed." - -"The Honest Farmer" was a large place once frequented by farmers driving -into Boston with their loads of produce. As it was cleanly kept, even in -these lax and unprofitable days, it had become a favorite place of -resort for young officers and citizens who liked to drop in and discuss -the progress of events with them. - -Upon the evening in question there was quite a throng gathered in the -public room and the sound of voices filled it. Upon a bench opposite the -boys sat a portly old fellow with a full, red face and a downright -manner of speaking. A mild, thin-faced man sat beside him, and as they -talked the lads could not help but overhear. - -"It is all very well for a parcel of men such as Adams and Hancock and -their agitating like, to sit safely away in Philadelphia, and send us a -stranger to take charge of us," grumbled the portly man, in his -downright way. - -"But, surely," remonstrated the thin-faced man, "you would not call -General Washington a stranger." - -"He is a stranger to me, sir," spoke the portly one, in an injured tone. -"And he is from the South. Why could we not have had one of our own -people? Answer me that!" - -But the thin-faced man shook his head. - -"Congress should know what it is about," said he. "It must know that the -general is fitted for his work, or it would not have sent him." - -"What work?" blustered the portly man, and his voice was loud and -domineering. "What work, I ask you, sir?" - -But the thin man again shook his head and looked blank. - -"The work to be done is to drive the British out of Boston," stated the -red-faced man with the portly figure. "To drive them out of Boston so -that we can go back and resume our trades and occupations. That's what -he's sent to do. But," and he challenged the room with both voice and -eye, "how is he going to do it?" - -"Faith," laughed a gray-haired major, who stood near, "he has him -there." - -But the thin-faced man unexpectedly had an answer. - -"He will attack them," he declared valiantly. "He will attack them as -soon as possible." - -The portly man snorted his disgust. - -"Attack them," he repeated scornfully. "But plague on it, sir, what will -he attack them with? I am no military man, but I know that he can't move -on them with his bare hands. To attack successfully," and the stout palm -of the speaker struck the bench with a resounding whack, "he must have -artillery--heavy artillery." - -The thin-faced man had no reply to make to this. But the gray-haired -major spoke in his stead. - -"You may be no military man, as you say, sir," said he, "but you are -quite right, for all. To reach Gage in his den we must have guns that -will throw great weight a long distance." - -The portly man's red face glistened with triumph. - -"Sir," said he cordially, "it is a great satisfaction to speak to a man -of understanding. You have the intelligence, apparently, to grasp a -situation. And I ask you, sir, as a man of intelligence," impressively, -"where those guns are to come from?" - -It was the gray-haired major who now shook his head. - -"You have a faculty of asking difficult questions, I perceive, sir," -laughed he. "And that is one which I must allow to pass me by." - -More and more triumphant grew the gentleman with the red face. - -"We haven't them," he declared loudly. "We haven't them. And, more than -that, we cannot get them." - -"Don't be too sure of that," said a quiet voice from a bench in a -corner. "Don't be too sure of that, Mr. Trivitt. There are guns a-plenty -to be had, if they will but be sought after." - -The portly Mr. Trivitt glanced toward the corner, and scorn filled his -red face. - -"Huh!" he grunted. "Because you served in the militia, Harry Knox, and -because you went tearing about on horseback at the Bunker Hill fight, -don't think that you can teach me understanding. I was a man before you -were born, and I have the sense to see what is open to my eyes." - -Harry Knox, as Mr. Trivitt called him, was a medium-sized young man, -well built and with a strong, intelligent face. He laughed at the -other's words, and replied: - -"But it is possible, Mr. Trivitt, that all things do not come beneath -your eyes." - -To one so self-important as the portly man this was little less than an -insult. - -"It is a pity that you were forced by the war to give up the selling of -books," said he to Knox. "I have heard, though I've never read a book in -my life, that you were clever in your trade. But in the trade of a -soldier you promise to be less excellent." He arose to his feet with -great dignity. "However," he continued, "I never discuss matters of -importance with youths. It is a waste of time and breath." - -And with that the indignant Mr. Trivitt stuck his three-cornered hat -upon his head and stumped out of "The Honest Farmer" much affronted. - -Ezra caught the eye of Henry Knox and nodded to him. Young Prentiss had -inherited his father's love of books, and had many times purchased -volumes from the youthful bookseller at his shop in Boston; indeed, in -the discussions that accompanied these transactions, quite an intimacy -had sprung up between them. - -Knox arose and approached the boys cordially. He was but twenty-five -himself at this time, and had many boyish traits still. - -"I am glad to see you once more," said he to Ezra, as they shook hands. -"I noticed you and your friends, here," with a smile at the others, "as -Prescott fell back from the hill on the day of the fight; but of course -there was no time then for any exchanges, except with the enemy." - -The others were made known to him; he sat down with them and began to -talk over the coming of Washington and the things that were to be -expected of the new commander. At length, during a lull in the -conversation, Gilbert Scarlett said: - -"You did but jest with your fat friend, Mr. Trivitt, I suppose, with -regard to the heavy guns." - -But young Knox shook his head. - -"No," said he, "I spoke seriously enough. If General Washington wants -heavier and more cannon than he already has, they are to be had for the -journeying after them." - -Seeing the look of interest upon the faces of his listeners, he -continued: - -"It is a simple matter enough. We have all heard of the success of -Colonel Ethan Allan and young Arnold at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. -Both these strongholds have been captured from the British and both are -provided with heavy guns. A party, equipped with proper authority, could -bring these on to Cambridge with some little effort." - -"I am not acquainted with the country between here and the captured -strongholds," said Gilbert Scarlett, delightedly, for the idea seemed to -appeal powerfully to his imagination, "but the project is one of -exceptional quality. I congratulate you, sir." - -"Thank you," said Knox. "I am obliged to you. I have mentioned it to -others--General Ward, for example, and he fancied it impracticable." - -"I have all respect for General Ward," answered Scarlett, "but you'll -pardon me if I say that he's too conservative. You'd gain a friend to -your plan at once if you spoke to General Putnam or Stark, or one of -their kind. A man must have a spice of daring to grasp opportunities." - -After that night the boys saw a great deal of Henry Knox. Indeed, also, -he gradually came to be a man of importance in the camp. For his -services at Bunker Hill he was made a colonel; and a practical, -enterprising officer he proved to be. - -The days went on, and Washington labored with the force newly under his -command. Powder continued to be a scarce article in the camp. At no time -was there above nine rounds to a man, and with this slender supply, the -general had to maintain a constantly extending line of posts--posts -always exposed to the concentrated assaults of well-ordered veterans. -But he clung grimly to the task; little by little his ideas began to be -seen, order gradually arose out of confusion; his brigadiers grasped his -intentions readily, and so things began to shape themselves as he wanted -them. - -More than twenty thousand able men were desired to carry out -Washington's designs. There were only seventeen thousand enrolled; and -of these less than fifteen thousand were fit for service. Recruiting was -carried on throughout New England. Eloquent speakers harangued village -crowds, and their highly colored words drew the young men constantly to -the camp at Cambridge. - -The environs of Boston at this time presented an animated sight. -Fortifications were everywhere; men labored for the cause of liberty -with mattock and spade; they drilled ceaselessly; whole towns, so it -seemed, were given up to the military; white tents were pitched in -orderly lines in the fields. Only a century before the two principal -passes into Boston--Charlestown Neck and Boston Neck--had been fortified -to save the town from the Indians and so preserve American civilization. -Now the hills that commanded these same passes were peopled with the -descendants of those who had formerly defended them and they were -arrayed in the pride of war; their hands were raised against the -oppressive government that should have fostered them, but which, -instead, sought to crush them out. - -While Washington was bringing order to his army and strengthening his -position, he was also constantly seeking to confine the operations of -the enemy and cut off their supply of provisions. Attacks were carefully -guarded against; parties in whale boats were afloat each night to watch -the waters; the American pickets grew as keen as night-birds, so -accustomed were they to search the darkness. - -Sudden assaults, made by parties on both sides, marked the summer, and -the fighting on the islands continued. British transports arrived from -time to time, filled with additional troops; now and then the King's -batteries opened fire upon an American work which they fancied was being -pushed too far; on the sea, the Yankee privateers were increasing in -numbers and in power; scarcely a week passed that the city did not -receive news of some daring deed of theirs. - -Then finally the long expected party of Southern riflemen arrived. These -had enlisted at the first echo of the war and they had marched from four -to seven hundred miles in their anxiety to face their country's enemies. - -They were bronzed, hardy looking men, dressed in hunting-shirts and -coonskin caps. They carried rifles, the length of which caused the boys -to open their eyes. - -"They look like marksmen," said Ezra Prentiss. "I have heard that the -backwoodsmen in their colony are very expert with the rifle." - -As though to prove this, a party of the Southerners passed in review -before the commanders shortly after they reached the camp. While -advancing quickly, and at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards, -they fired at a target seven inches in diameter. And each bullet found -the mark! - -Washington at once ordered these riflemen stationed at the outposts. -Here they made themselves terrible to the British, and day by day this -terror increased. Whatever they fired at they hit; and soon the King's -outposts dreaded to move except under cover. Rumors of the remarkable -shooting of these men reached even so far as England; and one of them, -who was made prisoner, was taken there. The newspapers described him -with great minuteness; and the British public swarmed to see him and the -motto "Liberty or Death" which he wore upon the breast of his -hunting-shirt in common with his fellows. - -Several times Washington tried to force the hand of Gage, as in his -occupation of Ploughed Hill. But the British refused to accept the -challenge. They bombarded the position, to be sure, and kept it up for -the greater part of two weeks, but finally the firing ceased. During -this summer, also, the celebrated Liberty Tree in Boston was attacked by -the furious Tories and ruthlessly cut down. - -October had arrived and the coming frost was felt in the night air. And -as the chill grew deeper, the public room of "The Honest Farmer" grew -more and more a place of resort for citizens and officers. One night the -four boys had gathered there in company with Gilbert Scarlett. They sat -before a slow fire of green wood, which served very well to take the -discomfort out of the air, and were talking together upon topics of the -time and listening to the sayings of those about them. - -It seemed that "The Honest Farmer," besides being a very pleasant inn, -was a great place for grumblers. And just now some citizens, gathered -about an oaken table, saw fit to criticize General Washington for what -they called his inaction. - -"What can he mean?" demanded one. "If the British will not come out to -him, he should go in to them. This state of affairs, at the present -rate, will continue on forever." - -"He was sent here to drive them out. Let him show that he is competent -by at least attempting to do so," grumbled another. - -Thus they went on; each had his say in the matter and each said it -churlishly and discontentedly. - -"To be a military commander," spoke Gilbert Scarlett to the boys, his -booted legs stretched out to the fire, "is not to lie upon a bed of -roses. Here we have a party of gentlemen who will speak their minds upon -a subject upon which they have no information. They would have General -Washington charge upon a strong position without powder enough to wake -General Gage from his sleep. Apparently they possess rare enterprise, -but their discretion is small, indeed." - -While he spoke Colonel Knox entered the room; after greeting some -friends he made his way directly to where the boys were sitting. He was -dressed in the blue uniform faced with white which had grown so familiar -in those early days of the war; his face was bronzed through exposure to -the weather, and his eyes were bright and full of a newly kindled -eagerness. - -He shook hands with the lads; that he was a colonel and they but -enlisted men made no difference in that democratic time. And after he -had greeted Scarlett, who made room for him at the fire, the young -colonel sat down. - -"Have you noticed a tinge of frost in the air?" asked he, as he rubbed -his hands briskly. "It will be a hard, cold winter, I think, when it is -once upon us. It is always so when there is so early a beginning." - -"It was midsummer when we saw you here last," said Ezra. "You remember -the night that you told us about the guns at Crown Point and -Ticonderoga." - -The boy's words were followed by a curious interruption. A mug, partly -filled, shattered upon the brick paved floor near by; they turned -surprised and saw a man, apparently advanced in years, bent over a -table, his back turned to them. The hand that had held the mug hung at -his side, trembling as though with palsy; his whole attitude was as of -one stricken with some sudden shock. - -Two others sat with the man; they wore the dress of seafarers, and while -one was of commanding proportions, the other was small. The heads of -both were bent toward the old man; and the boys could see little of them -except that they were dark and wore their sailcloth hats pulled low over -their foreheads. - -After a glance the other lads gave their attention once more to Colonel -Knox. But Ezra continued to watch narrowly the actions of the three. As -the boys had come along in the dusk toward "The Honest Farmer" he had -noticed some figures that seemed to cling to their shadows. He had, -also, a dim sort of consciousness that these same figures had entered -the inn after them. And now something whispered to him that these were -the same--that the men had a purpose in being where they were--that their -selection of seats so near to his friends and himself was no accident. - -"And," he told himself in a puzzled sort of way, "they seem familiar. I -somehow feel that I have met with them before." - -He examined the strangers narrowly; in a few moments the old man -recovered and seemed to be talking guardedly to his companions; and the -boy, more than once, caught a ferret-like look from the smaller of the -two seamen that impressed him queerly. More and more he felt that these -were persons whom he had known before. - -But while he was watching the strangers, he was also listening to the -remarks of his friends as they spoke to Colonel Knox. Some little time -passed; then the colonel said, addressing them all: - -"I came here to-night in the hope of seeing you. It just happens that -there is something toward that makes me require the help of a few young -spirits who will not hesitate at a little risk." - -"We feel flattered," said Nat Brewster, with a smile, "that you should -think of us." - -Ben Cooper bent forward. - -"It has something to do with the big guns at Ticonderoga," said he. - -Colonel Knox laughed. - -"You are a clever guesser, Master Cooper," said he. - -"It was no guess," replied Ben. "I've known all along that you'd not -give up that idea of yours. I knew that if you'd get permission, you'd -be off to the captured forts at once and try to carry it out." - -Ezra, watching the three strangers, fancied them rigid with attention, -but at the same time making a show of keeping up a conversation of their -own. Once he was about calling his friends' attention to this, but the -fear that it might, after all, be but imagination upon his part, -deterred him. - -"You are right," said the young colonel. "The notion was a pet of mine -because I thought it practical and likely to succeed. But I've had great -difficulty in convincing others. When they thought of the vast -wilderness to be crossed, the lakes and streams, they scouted the plan. -It could not be done, they said; those great cannon could never be -dragged so tremendous a distance through such a country. - -"But at length I got the ear of the commander-in-chief. I flattered -myself that he thought me no fool; for he has a way of looking at one -that tells its own story. - -"'Heavy ordnance is badly needed,' he said, 'and this would be welcome, -indeed, if we could but secure it!' Then he fixed me with one of his -looks and asked: 'How would you go about getting it here?' - -"'I would start in the early fall,' I said. 'On the way I would collect -sledges. By the time I reached Ticonderoga, transacted my business and -was ready to return, the lakes would be frozen over. I could load the -guns upon the sledges and so cross the ice. And so it will be through -the wilderness. Lack of roads will not affect me; the snow will be there -and the traveling will be as smooth as it can well be.' - -"He seemed much struck with this idea and took it under consideration. -And now he has given his consent." - -"And you are going!" cried George Prentiss, eagerly. - -"As soon as I can collect the small party that is to accompany me." - -"And that's why you sought us out!" exclaimed Nat, his face glowing in -the firelight. "Good! Shall we go, lads?" turning to the others. - -A chorus arose that caused the other frequenters of "The Honest Farmer" -to turn about in mild surprise. - -"You could not have done us a greater kindness," said Ezra Prentiss to -Colonel Knox. "The work of the camp is, of course, willingly undertaken -by us all; but this is the sort of service that we most like." - -"If you are pleased to go," returned the young colonel, "why, for the -matter of that, I am equally pleased to have you. I have heard the -stories of your doings since this war began; and of the services you -rendered even before it started. They've long been abroad in the camp, -as have the words uttered in your praise by Colonel Prescott, Mr. Adams, -General Putnam and even Washington himself." - -As the lads chorused their low-voiced agreement to ride with Colonel -Knox upon this mission which promised so much, Gilbert Scarlett drew his -sword belt tighter and leaned forward toward that officer. - -"Sir," spoke he, "if you could contrive to make room for a volunteer in -your company, I should be most pleased to make this venture under your -leadership. It is true," and he waved his hand in a gesture of -depreciation, "that I am not of this country and am rather a stranger to -you all. But," here he reared his head proudly, "I have had some small -experience in onfalls, ambuscades, sieges and other forms of warfare, in -various parts of the world. So it is possible that I might be of service -to you." - -"Mr. Scarlett," said Colonel Knox, promptly, "I have heard of you. I -accept your offer and am delighted to have you." - -They talked for some little time upon the matter; then the young colonel -arose. - -"Just when I shall start," said he, "is a matter of doubt; but it will -not be until I can be sure of the ice and snow, which will act such -important parts in my plan. However, when we do start," and he said this -with quiet confidence, "we will make all speed and it will not be long -thereafter until the King's guns will be turned upon his governor. And -then Boston shall be ours!" - -The boys and Scarlett accompanied him to the door and out into the -night. Here the colonel began saying something that seemed to interest -them; and all but Ezra walked along with him toward his quarters. - -Ezra, as he gave a quick look over his shoulder in the doorway, saw the -three men at the inn table arise. He closed the door; and as his friends -walked slowly away with Colonel Knox, he stepped back into the shadow -and waited. - -It was the smaller of the two sailor-like men who opened the door of -"The Honest Farmer." His thin face went this way and that, apparently in -quest of those who had just left. As he caught the cautious questioning -way the man had of holding his head, Ezra gasped in astonishment. - -"It's Jason Collyer!" he muttered. - -Collyer's two friends appeared directly behind him. As he saw him in -motion, Ezra had no difficulty in recognizing the larger of these. - -"It's Abdallah," he told himself. "There is no mistaking that measured -step." - -"They have gone in that direction," said Collyer, pointing down the dark -street. "Shall we follow them?" - -"There is no need," spoke Abdallah, and his voice was as smooth as ever. -"We have learned all that they can tell." - -"It was luck that made you want to follow them here when you saw them on -the way," said Collyer to the old man. "I confess, sir, I thought it but -a waste of time, myself." - -The door of "The Honest Farmer" was now closed; but from a window a -broad beam of light streamed out upon the stones. The men stood upon the -margin of this and could be plainly seen as they faced away from Ezra, -their eyes trying to follow Colonel Knox and the boys. - -"Fortune," said Abdallah, "is a queer thing. Sometimes it smiles upon -us; and at others, it frowns. And all for no reason that we can see. -Take that last night at my house for example. Everything had gone well, -when suddenly that boy"--and he pointed down the dark street, "rode up -and changed everything by his shrewdness." - -Here the old man gestured angrily and was about to speak. But Abdallah -stopped him. - -"It is no time for faultfinding or resentment," said he, gently. "Rather -it is one for self-congratulation. He beat us then, but we will beat him -now. When they ride to Ticonderoga for the guns, they will have their -labor for their pains. We," and he laughed softly, "will have been there -ahead of them." - -"Don't be so sure of that," said Ezra Prentiss, quietly. - -He took a step forward as he spoke. The men whirled about with -exclamations and stood staring at him as the light from the window fell -upon his face. At the same time a steady tramp of feet was heard; the -flash of lanthorns came up and down the street. Patrols of continentals -were coming from both directions. - -"It is always best to make sure of what you say before you say it," -resumed the boy. "When we reach Ticonderoga, the guns will still be -there; but you will be here, awaiting the judgment of a drumhead court, -as spies." - -A gasp of dismay went up from the ferret-like Collyer; but Abdallah held -up a hand for silence. He addressed Ezra. - -"Spies?" said he, gently. "That would be a rough-hewn fate indeed. Think -what is meted out to such offenders." - -"It is death," said Ezra, solemnly. - -"And would you deliver us up to that?" - -"It is not for me to pass judgment," answered the lad. "I leave that for -my superiors." - -"But," and there was a curious note in Abdallah's voice that caught the -boy's attention, "you shall decide, for all! And your decision will be -in our favor." - -"You shall see in a moment," spoke Ezra Prentiss, gravely. "Here comes -the American patrol. What is to hinder my giving you up to them?" - -"This," said Abdallah. - -As he spoke he thrust the old man, who bore him company, forward -suddenly. For the first time, Ezra saw this latter plainly. - -"Grandfather," he cried chokingly. - -The old merchant lifted a hand as though about to denounce the lad; but -Abdallah drew him back with a fierce whispered word of warning. - -"If we are spies," then said Abdallah to Ezra, "so is your grandfather. -If you give us up to those men," and his eyes went toward the patrols, -who were now abreast of them, "you must also give him up. And remember," -all the gentleness out of his voice and manner, "to give him up means -death!" - -He paused a moment and then said with a low laugh: - -"Speak up; what shall it be? Shall we go or stay?" - -And Ezra, his heart frozen with fear, stared first at the patrols and -then at his grandfather. Then both hands went up and he gestured them -stupidly away. - -Instantly they turned and obeyed; within a moment the night had -swallowed them up; but still the boy stood there as one turned to stone. - -"To save my grandfather's life, I have made myself a traitor to the -cause," he whispered to himself. "But I could not help it," a sob -swelling in his throat, "I could not help it." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -TELLS OF A RIDE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS AND OF HOW TICONDEROGA'S GUNS -BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY - - -For two days Ezra Prentiss was burdened with the thought of what he had -done. His friends wondered at his pale face and dejected manner; they -questioned him, but could get nothing but evasive replies. - -But one morning as the lad arose he determined to have done with it all. - -"If I have misserved the colonies," said he, "I am not fitted to be at -liberty." - -Within an hour he was at the quarters of General Putnam; and a few -moments later found him in the presence of that bluff warrior. - -"Well," inquired Putnam, who was still at breakfast, "and what is it -now, Master Prentiss, that you should be so intent of face?" - -Ezra, in as few words as possible, told his story. Putnam went on with -his breakfast, listening and making no comment. When the tale was done -he leaned back in his chair and looked at the lad with pursed lips. - -"The situation was a pretty one," said he. "It was do your stern duty -and send your grandsire to his death; or allow him to go free and those -two rascals with him. In the same position," continued he, a twinkle in -his eye, "I should have been tempted to do as you have done, and no -doubt I should have done it." - -"But do you not see what danger I have placed this mission of Colonel -Knox in?" cried the lad. - -"I must say that I do not," said Putnam, good-humoredly, as he -recommenced upon his breakfast. "Ticonderoga and Crown Point are in the -hands of our people and are well guarded. There are not enough British -troops in Canada to make an advance upon them; and for Gage to do -anything is out of the question. - -"The only thing that could be done would be a secret expedition by this -man Abdallah and any followers that he might have. And even that would -be so difficult as to make it all but impossible. So make your mind -easy, my lad. You have done no great harm." - -Ezra went surprisedly from the presence of Putnam. But he was not -satisfied, and at once sought Colonel Knox at Washington's headquarters. -This young soldier listened to the boy's frankly told story. When it was -done, he said with a smile: - -"Perhaps this will hasten our departure a trifle, but that is all. Don't -worry about what you have done. Under the circumstances your action was -perfectly natural. None of us is a Brutus. All of us would find it hard, -I hope, to give up those nearest to us to death." - -But for all that Colonel Knox thought that the advent of the spies would -hasten his movements, the start was not made until the following month. -During the interim, Ezra suffered keenly. A dozen times the delay seemed -more than he could endure. His imagination teemed with pictures of -happenings at the two strongholds in the wilderness; in his sleep he saw -parties of British take them a score of times; he witnessed the sinking -of the heavy guns in the depths of the lake; he saw Abdallah's and Jason -Collyer's grins of derision at his frantic, dream-heavy efforts to -prevent this; and always he'd awake crying out to his friends to come to -his aid. - -More than once he reached the point, in his desperation, of saddling his -horse with the idea of setting out alone. - -"If I ride on in advance, I may be able to spoil any plan that they may -have laid," he told himself. - -But each time, second thought showed him how profitless such an effort -would be. He must wait for Colonel Knox, if he was to be of any value. -Alone he could accomplish nothing. - -His heart leaped one evening when he received word that the expedition -would start early next morning. At the time the intelligence reached him -he was standing within the Roxbury works, watching the cannonade of the -British, which had broken out from shore batteries and shipping a short -time before. The roar of the guns was in perfect harmony with the -exultation that filled the boy's breast. - -"At last," he cried to Ben Cooper, who had brought the news, "at last -I'll have a chance to do something." - -Ben, like the other boys, had heard nothing of Ezra's experience upon -the night at "The Honest Farmer"; so now he stared in wonderment at his -friend's display of feeling. But as Ezra made no explanation, the other -asked no questions; however, he now and then stole a curious look at the -flushed boy at his side. - -"Something's wrong," Ben told himself. "I've noticed that he's acted -very queerly of late. Whatever it is, it's got a deep hold on him, for I -don't remember ever seeing him look just this way before." - -At sunrise next morning a well-equipped troop of horse was drawn up -before Colonel Knox's quarters. Beside Ezra, Nat, Ben, George and -Scarlett, there were a dozen hardy young fellows whose bold faces and -stalwart frames told of a willingness to face hardship and the power to -endure it. They were all armed with rifle and pistol; axes hung at their -saddles; heavy coats and blankets for use amid the rigors of the North -country were strapped securely behind them. - -When Knox at last appeared and mounted, the troop rode to Washington's -quarters. Here both the commander-in-chief and General Putnam reviewed -them. - -After nodding his approval of both the party's appearance and equipment, -Washington said: - -"How long shall you be on the way?" - -"I calculated some two weeks for the going, general," replied the young -colonel. "But we shall be longer upon the return trip, for then we shall -have the guns." - -Putnam laughed at this confident answer. A flicker of a smile crossed -Washington's grave face; but there was a light of satisfaction in his -eyes as he said: - -"That you will have them, colonel, I feel sure." - -Following the example of the officers, the troop saluted; then at the -word, they wheeled and went at a swinging pace through the streets of -Cambridge. - -The way north was rough--sometimes even trackless. But there was with the -party a youth of the name of Bennet, who had been one of Allan's Green -Mountain Boys, and had been with that gallant leader at the taking of -the two strongholds of the North. He knew every mile of the way, was of -vast service in pointing out fords, locating towns, and picking short -ways through the forests and hills. - -Sometimes they passed the nights at isolated villages; at others they -camped in sheltered spots and rolled themselves in their blankets upon -the ground. The air grew chiller as the days went by; and as they -approached the cold lake regions it grew more so. Their heavy coats and -warmer clothing felt very comfortable by the time the first snow fell. - -"And now," said Colonel Knox one morning to Ezra, as he surveyed the -wild, snow-covered stretch before him with no little satisfaction, "is -the time to collect our sledges. Horses or oxen we shall also want; and -men to drive them would not be at all amiss." - -The troop was that day split up into parties with orders to make a sweep -of the region for sledges and teams as they advanced. They covered a -good dozen miles of country in their progress and from the first luck -was with them. Sledges were to be had with gratifying frequency, also -teams of oxen and shaggy, powerful looking horses. Young backwoodsmen -willing to venture upon the journey as drivers were also to be found. -Faint echoes of the war had reached them in their remote villages; to -see a troop of uniformed men belonging to the army of their country gave -them a thrill of expectancy and filled them with a desire to go where -the issue of the battle was drawn, where blows were being struck, and -the far-off King defied. - -Ezra Prentiss, Ben Cooper and Scarlett formed one party of sledge -hunters. The section given them to cover was rough and boulder-strewn, -with only here and there a dirt road or path. Houses were infrequent and -clearings in the thick woods rarer still. It was a country of trappers -and hunters rather than of farmers; now and then one of these hardy -fellows was seen making a tour of his traps or wading in a cold stream -with the fresh pelts of fur-bearing animals hanging from his belt. - -Once, however, they heard the distant ring of an axe; they made their -way through a thick growth of timber and came upon a log house where a -young woman and child were visible. Some little distance off a young man -was seen cutting down a tree. When they approached him and made their -errand known, he looked surprised. - -"You've been through this section before, haven't you?" he asked. - -"No," replied Ezra. - -The look of surprise upon the young man's face deepened. - -"That's queer," he said. "Tom Hadley, who lives down the creek aways, -was in Skenesboro a couple of weeks ago for provisions; and he met a man -who inquired about sledges and offered to buy up all that he could get." - -A shock ran through Ezra. - -"Did Hadley say what kind of a man he was?" he asked. - -"Yes; he was tall and well made. And Tom said he looked like some kind -of a foreigner." - -Ezra felt sure that it was Abdallah, but desired to make sure. - -"He was a rough spoken kind of a man too, I suppose," he insinuated. - -But the backwoodsman shook his head. - -"No," he replied. "It was just the other way. Tom says the man was the -smoothest talker and had the softest ways of any man he ever struck." - -"They are ahead of us," thought Ezra in a sort of panic. "They will have -secured all the sledges and horses--we will be left helpless to do -anything." - -But that night when the troop drew together at the point named for the -camp, the boy found Colonel Knox very well pleased indeed. Five drivers -had been picked up, three span of oxen and some half dozen heavy -sledges. - -When Ezra told him what he had heard, Colonel Knox said: - -"They seem very enterprising; but we have no occasion for worry, for -they seem to be meeting with little success. And even did they collect -all the sledges on the route, don't forget that we could change our -route. Another thing; there is plenty of timber; we could build our own -sledges, if put to it." - -Ezra saw the truth of this. But still he could not help a feeling of -fear, for he knew that Abdallah was a man of resource and daring; and -what a person of that sort would do next was never to be guessed. - -When they reached Shoreham, Colonel Knox had collected forty-two sledges -in all. These were at once hauled across the frozen lake to the fort and -the officer in charge made acquainted with the nature of the expedition. - -No time was lost by the energetic Knox. The very next day he set to work -selecting what cannon he thought would be required, both at Ticonderoga -and Crown Point. His band of hardy adventurers, ably assisted by the -little garrison of the forts, loaded these securely upon the sledges. In -all there were thirteen brass and twenty-six iron cannon; eight brass -and six iron mortars. Also there were twenty-three hundred pounds of -lead for bullets, and a barrel of flints. - -All was ready one night and as Colonel Knox desired to have nothing -delay him, he gave the order to move at once. - -"To-night," he said, "the ice upon the lake will bear us. To-morrow -morning it may be so that we could not venture across." - -[Illustration: NO TIME WAS LOST BY KNOX] - -The oxen were being yoked and the horses harnessed to the sledges when -Ezra approached his commander with a salute. - -"Colonel," said he, anxiously, "would it not be well to send out an -advance? The ice, even now, may not be as safe as you think." - -There was something in his tone that attracted Knox's attention. - -"What has made you think that?" asked he. - -Ezra flushed in the light of the pine torches. - -"Since the night of which I told you," said he, "I have been so anxious -that my nerves and senses often play me false. It may be so now, but a -while ago," and his eyes went out across the frozen stretch of water, -striving to pierce the darkness that overhung it, "I thought I saw a -glimmer of light out there." - -"It was probably the ice throwing back the flashing of the torches," -said Colonel Knox. "But," kindly, "if you have any doubts in the matter -it would be as well to settle them at once. Suppose you take a few men -and look about before we start with the guns." - -"Thank you, colonel," said the lad, gratefully, "I shall do so." - -He at once called together Nat, Ben Cooper, Scarlett and his brother -George. - -"See to your arms," he said, quietly. And as they examined the priming -of rifle and pistol, he continued: "We are going to cross the lake in -the most direct route. Let no one speak unless compelled to; and even -then, not above a whisper." - -All five left the circle of light and advanced across the ice. They had -pulled heavy moccasins over their boots upon approaching the lake in the -first place, in order to secure their footing upon the smooth surface; -these now deadened their footfalls as they carefully made their way -along. - -Almost two-thirds of the distance had been traversed when Ezra suddenly -paused. His outstretched hands brought the others to a halt also. - -"Hark!" said Ezra, softly. - -All stood motionless for a time. At length Nat Brewster whispered: - -"I fancied that I heard something, but I could not make out what it -was." - -Here Nat felt Ezra's hand close over his arm in a powerful grip. At once -he became silent and all stood bending forward, listening once more. - -From some distance across the ice came a faint, rasping noise. Now and -then a quicker and heavier sound reached them. It was as though blows -were being struck. - -"Do you understand?" breathed Ezra. "Some one is cutting through the -ice! It's a trap! The sledges are to cross this way." - -The sharp hissing of indrawn breaths told him that they appreciated the -situation. - -"That rasping, now, is made by a saw," said Scarlett, guardedly. "I can -see their plan, whoever they are. And a rarely pretty one it is. They -will saw, in part, a stretch of ice that we were almost sure to cross. -When we reached it, the ice would give way, and we, perhaps, but the -cannon surely, would go to the bottom of the lake." - -"Ready with your rifles," whispered Ezra. - -Softly they stole forward. Clearer and clearer grew the sounds, and -finally they were able to discern a dozen or more laboring forms in the -darkness. - -"Now," said Ezra, as he sank to one knee and threw his rifle forward, -"fire when I give the word." - -His comrades crouched beside him, their weapons leveled. And just then -there came the gentle voice of Abdallah through the dimness. - -"I think this will be a surprise, Jason Collyer. What do you say?" - -A chuckling laugh followed this, apparently from the ferret-faced young -man. And just then Ezra spoke the word, the five rifles rang out and a -chorus of shrieks rang out in the stillness. There was a huddle of -falling men, a scattering of others, then Ezra shouted: - -"The pistols!" - -Like lightning the heavy pistols were drawn; angrily they spat their -messengers into the darkness in the direction of the running feet. From -the direction of Ticonderoga came a swirl of moving lights. Then a score -of men hurried up, Colonel Knox at their head; and their flaring torches -lit up the scene. - -"You were right, then," said Knox as he took in the situation at a -glance. "And it was just such a trap as we would have walked into -blindly." - -A half hour later, the sledges, with their precious burden of guns, -crossed the lake at a point higher up; and away they trailed through the -wilderness, over the snow, while behind them, among the others, lay -Jason Collyer and Abdallah, their darkened eyes turned up toward the -starless sky. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CONCLUSION - - -The snow was deep and the sledge teams had heavy going at first. But, -after a few days, the snow began to pack, and the progress of Colonel -Knox's party became more easy. There was little or no difficulty with -the streams; these were frozen solid, for the winter had developed into -a remarkably severe one. - -However, fresh falls of snow now and then impeded their advance, and -they were content to make very few miles a day; but they pushed doggedly -on, nevertheless, for they knew that their burden was urgently needed at -Cambridge. - -It was at Fort George that Ezra and Ben Cooper left the party and rode -forward to Boston bearing the news of the expedition's success. - -The lads never forgot the look of triumph that swept into Washington's -face as he read the dispatch. Generals Putnam and Ward and Colonel -Prescott were with him at the time and he read the missive aloud to -them. It ran: - - "'December 17th. - - "'I hope in sixteen or seventeen days to present to your Excellency a - noble train of artillery, the inventory of which I have enclosed.'" - -Then he read the inventory, and the boys saw the eyes of the other -officers kindle. - -"Now that," cried Putnam, striking the table a mighty blow, "is -something like!" - -"It would seem," commented General Ward, "that fortune has thought it -worth while to smile upon us for once, at any rate." - -"With the shells and powder from the King's stores at New York and the -cargo of the ordnance brig lately captured," spoke Prescott, "we now -have a comparative plenty of ammunition. What is there now to hinder us -from moving to the reduction of Boston?" - -"Nothing but the opportunity of doing so without injury to those of our -own people who are still therein," replied the commander-in-chief. - -Great events had happened in the past few months. Not the least of these -was the recall of General Gage by the British ministry and the -appointment of Howe in his place. Washington had practically discharged -one army and recruited another in the face of the enemy. The colonies -were making a united effort toward liberty; for until this time New -England had borne alone the brunt of the uprising. - -The lads found the Porcupine at their quarters, and in a conversation -with that small but very shrewd person, they learned a great deal of -what had taken place. - -"Last month," said the dwarf, as he sat cross-legged before them upon a -wide settle, while they ate of the good food set before them, "there was -a party of British light infantry landed at Lechmere's Point. They -desired to take off some cattle; but Colonel Patterson and our riflemen -objected and there was a brisk fight in which the British were driven -off." - -"Have our men been keeping their hearts up?" asked Ezra. - -"Fairly well. But last month things were very bad indeed in this camp. -We had nothing--no food to speak of, no quarters to keep out of the -weather, no fire to warm ourselves by, no clothing but rags to hide our -nakedness." - -"Well," remarked Ben Cooper, "so long as it was kept from the knowledge -of the British, it was not at its worst." - -"But it was not kept from their knowledge," returned the Porcupine. -"General Howe knew of our situation all the time!" - -"And he did not attack!" cried Ezra, wonderingly. - -"He had been expecting reinforcements, so our spies learned," replied -the dwarf with a wise nod of the head. "And as they did not arrive, he -kept waiting. You know," and here a wide grin spread across the -speaker's face, "that he's tried our mettle once, and so he was in no -hurry to do so again without a good force behind him." - -"And the general?" asked Ben, "how did he take it all?" - -"He went about as calm as the morning," replied the Porcupine in high -admiration. "You'd never have thought but what everything was as well as -it could be. He seemed always planning and building defenses. General -Putnam was told to occupy and fortify Cobble Hill. Two half moon -batteries were thrown up between Lechmere's Point and Cambridge River. -Three places between Sewall's Point and Roxbury Neck were also -strengthened, to be manned in case of a sortie when the bay is frozen -over." - -"But that things have taken a turn, I can see plainly," said Ezra. "The -camp has a brisk look; the men look content; the officers hold their -heads high." - -"It all began with Captain Manly's capture of the 'Nancy' brig," said -the Porcupine. "Ah, there is a brave and enterprising officer; if there -are many on the sea like him, they'll give the King's admirals trouble -enough." - -"The 'Nancy' is probably the ordnance brig we heard Colonel Prescott -mention," said Ben to Ezra. - -The Porcupine nodded his head. - -"It's more than likely," said he. "All have talked of it more or less. -You see Captain Manly, who is in command of the 'Lee,' took the 'Nancy' -as she came into the bay, and carried her into Cape Ann. And she proved -to be a most wonderful treasure ship--crammed to the hatches with -military stores of every sort." - -"Excellent!" cried both listeners together. - -"So full was she, and so struck was General Washington by her value, -that he at once sent a strong guard to protect her. He felt sure that -the British would not rest until they had done something to recover a -vessel so desirable." - -"And did they?" - -"They had not the time, so prompt were the general's orders, and so -rapidly were they carried out. Teams were impressed, the minutemen about -Cape Ann were called out to give their help; and in a little while the -cargo was discharged and removed to a safe place within our lines." - -"Now that was an admirable stroke of fortune," cried Ben Cooper. "The -stores must have pleased everybody much, to change the complexion of -things so." - -"They would have pleased a king," said the Porcupine. "There were two -thousand muskets; one hundred thousand flints, thirty thousand round -shot for one, six and twelve-pounders; thirty tons of musket shot; -eleven mortar beds; and one great thirteen-inch brass mortar that weighs -not an ounce less than twenty-seven hundred pounds." - -"A most astonishing ship, indeed!" said Ezra Prentiss. - -"Then there came powder and shells from New York about the same time. -Barracks were built to house the troops during the severe weather. Other -ships were taken by Captain Manly and seamen of his quality. Among the -cargo were thousands of uniforms intended for the British soldiers, and -hundreds of barrels of salt beef and pork; woolen goods in vast -quantities; flour, hard biscuit and other things were taken. And, so -then, as we were very well off, indeed, the recruits began to take heart -and offer themselves for service: the regiments are filling up, and we -will soon be quite strong once more." - -"But the British," asked Ezra, "how do they like all their winter's wear -and provisions falling into other hands?" - -"Why," answered the dwarf with a shake of his big head, "they endure it -very ill indeed. As we advanced into comfort, so did they fall in need. -Fuel and food are very high in Boston at this time; and the citizens are -suffering much more than the soldiery. Some few vessels have gotten -safely by our privateers, but Howe has kept their stores for the use of -his troops." - -"They have made no advance, then?" said Ben. - -"Rather they have fallen back," answered the dwarf, and he grinned -delightedly. "They had begun to build barracks on Bunker Hill, but -building materials were so scarce, the winds grew so keen, and the snow -fell so constantly that Howe at length bid Clinton strike his tents and -return to Boston. Lieutenant-Colonel Agnew and seven hundred are left to -man the three redoubts that are now upon the hill." - -The middle of December found Boston all but upon the verge of -starvation. The townspeople were desperate and Lord Howe feared that -they might rise against him. He offered to allow any of those who -desired to leave the city, and like Gage, covertly threatened the torch -in case he were attacked from within. As a protection from an assault by -Washington, which he daily dreaded, there came an outbreak of smallpox -among his troops. - -"That will keep the rebels out, even if our guns fail to do so," he -said. - -British cannon were planted all about in the city's hills and open -places; its churches and unoccupied houses were torn down by the -soldiers for fuel; Faneuil Hall was a playhouse in which mocking -comedies were presented; Old South Church was used as a riding school. -Under a strict martial law the people of the city were all but -prisoners. Thousands now took advantage of Howe's permission, crossed in -boats to Point Shirly and dispersed into the country. - -On the first day of January, in that most memorable year of 1776, the -first continental flag was thrown to breeze, and as its thirteen stripes -rippled at the top of the pole, it was saluted with tremendous shouting; -and thirteen guns were fired by way of a salute. Upon the same day, the -King's speech upon the opening of Parliament was received in camp. For -the first time the Americans heard that King George contemplated the -hiring of foreign troops to help subdue them. At this, their rage was -without bounds; they hooted the King, his Parliament and his army; then -they burnt his speech and otherwise bid him defiance. - -A little later than this came the news of the American defeat at Quebec -and the death of the heroic young Montgomery, whom Washington had -selected to lead the expedition against that city. Appeals were then -sent out to various colonies to hurry some fresh regiments to Cambridge; -and Congress formally authorized Washington to attack Boston at any time -and in any manner that he thought most efficient. - -When the army was finally in sufficient strength to warrant his so -doing, Washington took the step that he long knew would bring him -victory or defeat. - -"It will bring on a general attack," he was heard to say; "we will -either be forced from our position, or the British will be compelled to -take to their ships." - -This step was the occupation of Dorchester Heights. From this elevation -Washington could reach Boston with the heavy guns from Ticonderoga, -which had in the meantime been brought in by Colonel Knox. It was March -when preparations were begun, and Ezra and his friends were in the thick -of the matter. - -Gilbert Scarlett was especially valuable in the designing of -chandeliers, fascines and such like, necessary in the erection of the -works; also with the aid of his boy friends, he worked with the spirit -of a dozen in the collection of bateaux in which to transport the men. - -When the time for movement arrived, Washington had forty-five of these -clumsy craft, each capable of seating eighty men. Two floating batteries -were held with them in the Charles River; hundreds of militia came -pouring into camp to lend what aid they could to the enterprise. - -The design was kept secret; to divert the attention of the enemy a brisk -bombardment and cannonade was begun on the night of the second of March, -from Cobble Hill, Roxbury and Lechmere's Point. Many houses were -shattered by this fire; the British returned it with spirit, but did -little damage. On the night of March fourth this was repeated, and about -seven o'clock, General Thomas with about two thousand men marched to -take possession of Dorchester Heights. The entrenching tools, under care -of a large detachment, were sent on ahead; later the main body, with -three hundred carts, loaded with fascines and twisted hay, followed. - -All night the Americans labored; the moon was brilliant, the guns -roared, the arching shells burst high in the air. And when morning -dawned, two forts were in a sufficient state of advancement to resist -small arms and grape-shot. - -If the British had been surprised to see the works raised in a night -upon Breed's Hill, they were astounded at the sight of those which now -met their gaze upon Dorchester Heights. - -"It looks like the work of twelve thousand men," declared Lord Howe to -his generals. "The rebels have done more in one night than my army has -done in a month. The genii must have aided them." - -These works commanded both the harbor and town of Boston. The British -admiral at once decided that the fleet could not ride in safety unless -the Americans were displaced. - -"We must do one of two things," he told General Howe. "The Yankees must -be driven from that post, or we must evacuate Boston." - -This enraged the governor. He had a very high notion of British honor -and military superiority. - -"They will be driven from the Heights," he declared, grimly. - -At once he went to work. Twenty-four hundred men were ordered to embark -in transports, rendezvous at Castle William and make a night attack upon -the American position. The command of this force was given to the -gallant Earl Percy, the same who had come to the retreating column under -Lieutenant-Colonel Smith as it fell back in defeat from Lexington in the -spring before. - -Washington saw this movement and sent two thousand men to reinforce -General Thomas; and with the reinforcement marched Ezra Prentiss and his -friends. Everywhere among the Americans was anxiety to meet the foe. - -"I never saw such high spirits anywhere," said Nat Brewster. - -"Every man on the Heights seems exultant," said Ezra. "They seem to -think victory is ready at their hands." - -"And a right good thought that is for men about to engage a hostile -force," observed Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Did you see the rows of barrels?" asked George Prentiss. "They are -filled with earth, and have been placed in front. Upon the enemies' -advance they will be rolled down the hillside upon them." - -While things were being made ready, General Washington appeared upon the -ground to inspect what was going forward and to cheer up the troops. - -"Remember, men, it is the fifth of March," he said. "Avenge the deaths -of your brethren shot down in Boston." - -At fort Number Two, near Cambridge, a fine body of four thousand troops -were paraded and made ready to assault the British lines. This was -arranged into two divisions; one was under General Greene, the other -under General Sullivan--and the whole under command of General Putnam. - -But the fight was not to be just yet. The wind blew up so furiously that -the British transports could not reach their destinations; and the surf -was too heavy for boats to have made a landing. - -The next day the British attack was still further delayed for the same -reason; and all the time the Americans were increasing the strength of -their works. - -"I can find it in my heart to be sorry that the attack was not made," -Washington said to his generals. "Everything was complete for the -reception of the enemy; we can hardly hope for a repetition of the same -conditions." - -Howe was forced to abandon his project and his troops returned to -Boston. His situation was now perplexing and critical. The fleet could -not ride at anchor because of the positions of the American batteries, -and the British army was unable to drive them from these positions. The -Boston Tories, in a panic of fear of what might happen, demanded the -protection which had long been guaranteed. No dispatches had been -received from London for a long time. - -"It looks," grumbled the British officers, "as though we'd been left to -get out of a bad scrape as best we can." - -"To remain in Boston," said General Howe to the Tories, "will put my -troops in great danger." - -"But if you don't remain, you will put us loyalists, and all property, -in equal danger," promptly answered Ruggles, the Tory leader. - -But Howe was now looking at the other side of the picture. The fate of -property was nothing to him when his army was in the balance. When he -had assumed command, he had written the ministry many reasons why Boston -should be held. But with the great guns upon Dorchester Heights frowning -down upon him, he saw many reasons why he should abandon it. - -Washington desired to gain possession of the city above all else; but he -wished to do so without bloodshed if it could be done. However, he went -on with his preparations. On the ninth he planted a battery on Bird's -Hill and began firing upon the British shipping. Nook's Hill was an -eminence greatly feared by Howe and his officers. All along they had -felt that if the Americans established themselves upon it, Boston would, -indeed, be at their mercy. - -Washington now directed that Nook's Hill be occupied. A strong -detachment was sent there in the night. While the guns were being -brought up, Ezra Prentiss noted a soldier impudently kindling a fire -behind the hill. He sprang toward the man, crying: - -"Hello! Put that out!" - -The man was a surly fellow and made a short reply. Ezra, without -parleying, kicked the blazing wood about and began trampling upon it. -But it was too late, the enemy saw the light, suspected what was going -forward, and began to fire. This was the beginning of a night of terror; -the American batteries answered at once from Cobble Hill, Lechmere's -Point, Roxbury and Cambridge; the British thundered and raved through -the darkness like the stubborn fighters that they were. More than eight -hundred cannon-shots were fired before morning, and the result was that -the American works upon Nook's Hill were stopped and the troops -withdrawn. - -But at the same time, this event showed General Howe that to attempt to -hold Boston any longer would be folly. His horse transports were ordered -to fall back to Castle William; all goods which would likely be of value -to the "rebels" were confiscated. Ammunition which could not be carried -was thrown into the river; guns were spiked and gun-carriages were -broken. - -While waiting for their ships to assemble, the city was practically -given up to sack by the Tories. This news reached the American lines and -Ezra and George Prentiss were greatly worried about it. - -"If the British really mean to evacuate, this will make it all the -harder for those Tories who are left behind," said George. - -"And grandfather is just determined, or stubborn, enough to be among -those," answered Ezra, anxiously. - -In both their minds was a picture of the grim old merchant, deserted, -unprotected and at the mercy of a populace whom he had long reviled. And -both fervently hoped that the outgoing of Howe would be at once followed -by the ingoing of Washington; as an unpatrolled city, even for a short -time, might mean the death of Seth Prentiss. - -On March sixteenth, as the British were still apparently undecided -whether to abandon their now assembled vessels or no, Washington took -the step that forced the issue. Once more he ordered a night occupation -of Nook's Hill. And this time, in spite of the enemy's fire, he held it. - -The effect was instantaneous. At nine o'clock the garrison left Bunker -Hill; fleets of boats loaded with soldiers and Tories put out from the -wharves of Boston. - -Instantly the American troops under Putnam were put in motion. Bunker -Hill was occupied; a compact force crossed to Boston from that end; -another advanced across the Neck under Colonel Learned. These, under the -command of Putnam, at once seized all the important posts and manned -them. Ezra, Nat, Scarlett and the others, who had all crossed with -Colonel Learned, rode in search of Putnam. When they found that stout -warrior in the midst of his work, Ezra saluted and said: - -"General, if I and my friends can be spared, we'd like to ride to Sun -Court." - -"Why?" asked Putnam. - -"My grandfather lives there; he may be in danger." - -"I understand," replied the general. "Go at once; you have my authority -to put down any kind of illegal violence." - -So away the five dashed through the streets. The smashed doors and -windows of stores mutely told their tale; the rows of razed houses whose -timbers had gone to keep the British army warm during the winter, left -great gaps and also made the town look queer and strange. Gaunt and -wan-faced people feebly cheered the boys as they raced over the stones; -bands of eager, wolfish-looking men were already prowling about in -search of what plunder the outgoing army had been forced to leave -behind. - -As they approached Sun Court, a muffled roar began to reach their ears. -It was the sound of distant voices, angry, threatening, and high-lifted. - -"Push on!" cried Ezra, his face whitening. - -Urging their mounts to the utmost, they wheeled out of Fish Street into -Prince's. Louder grew the cries; people were pouring into Sun Court from -every direction. Turning the corner the five rode over the bricked -pavement into the midst of these and to the edge of a huge, swaying, -shouting mob gathered before Seth Prentiss' door. A stout man with a -very red face and wearing the smock of a butcher stood upon the steps. - -"He's had his will with us this many a day," cried this person loudly, -"and now his British friends have left him for us to have our will with -him." - -There was a shriek from the mob, and a tossing of hats and arms. - -"Let us have him out of his house," yelled a voice above all the others. -"Let us show him that we, too, have our day." - -With one impulse the crowd swept forward; some were battering upon the -door and heavy shutters, when the boys and Scarlett came plunging -through them. - -"Hold!" cried Ezra, as he reached his grandfather's door. He wheeled his -prancing horse, as did his friends, and faced the mob. "It is the order -of General Putnam that no violence be offered to any one. In the name of -the Continental Congress we bid you to stand back!" - -The uniforms of the five were new to the men of Boston, but the name of -Putnam and the mention of the Continental Congress had their effect, and -they hesitated. - -But the red-faced butcher urged them on. - -"Will you be stopped by a parcel of boys?" he shouted. "Will you be -cheated of your revenge by a handful of young upstarts because they came -a-riding on horseback and use high words?" - -The crowd wavered. The butcher saw this and redoubled his efforts; then -Scarlett dismounted and approached him quietly. Hooking his thumbs in -his sword belt the soldier of fortune said: - -"My friend, you are a stout fellow enough, but you make overmuch noise -for even one of your girth." - -And with that he took the butcher by the scruff of the neck and shook -him like a rat. The man sputtered and coughed and fought back. But he -was but as an infant in the hands of the slender but powerful -adventurer, and as they witnessed his discomfiture, some of the crowd -began to laugh. Then a roar of mirth went up; and seeing the good nature -of the crowd, Ezra held up his hand for silence and cried: - -"Boston is now in the hands of General Washington and his army. Justice -will be done every man. It is your place to see to it that no good -American, through a spirit of revenge, falls into the usages of the -British. Go to your homes. If you have a complaint to make of any man, -make it to the proper authorities. To take the law into your own hands -is dangerous, for you cannot see the end of such a thing." - -There were a few scattered cheers to show that the people realized the -force of this reasoning. But at the same time was heard the quick tramp -of a body of Continental infantry, one of the many sent to patrol the -city; and Ezra never knew but what their arrival had more to do with the -mob's change of front than anything he had said. At any rate, they were -instantly seized with a huge admiration at this display of their -national force, and burst into loud huzzas. The officer in command of -the troop bid them disperse, as it was against the general's orders for -any crowds to collect until the city had come under control; and as both -townfolk and troop passed out of Sun Court, Nat Brewster said: - -"It was a fortunate circumstance that brought this finish about. I had -thought to have harder work of it." - -"And I," said a voice behind them. - -All turned. The door of the mansion had opened and Seth Prentiss stood -before them. He was dressed in gown and slippers; and large -silver-rimmed spectacles seemed to add to the harshness of his face. - -Regarding both Ezra and George for a moment in silence, he said: - -"I had not expected to ever bid either of you welcome to my house. But -if I were to say that I did not silently welcome you when those good -friends of mine came hammering at my door, I would not be speaking the -truth." - -He ran his eyes over them with an expression upon his face that neither -of his grandsons had ever seen there before; then he continued: - -"Neither did I ever think that you would make a better selection of -government than myself." - -"Grandfather!" both boys flung themselves from their steeds and -approached him, joy in their faces. - -"I mean it," cried the old merchant. "None has kept faith with the King -more loyally than I have done. But he has deserted me--he has deserted -his city. And now I desert him!" - -He wrung the hands of his delighted grandsons, then shook his gnarled -fist in the direction of the bay. - -"Their ships are there, crowded with armed men; they have fled, and in -so doing showed me that they are not competent to rule." Just then -another compact body of Continentals went by with throbbing drums and -squealing fife. The old man watched them to the turn of the street. -"Your General Washington is not of the fleeing kind," spoke he. "He -believes in a cause and holds to it like a true man should." - -"In that, Master Prentiss, you say rightly," said Gilbert Scarlett. "And -not only is he a true man, but a great soldier as well--a soldier -destined to gain many victories. One victory already he has gained -beside the taking of Boston Town," with a laugh. "And that is over -Gilbert Scarlett, soldier of fortune. A commission is mine, they have -told me, for the asking. Always have I loved great leaders; and you may -be sure that I will not delay longer now in asking for it." - -"Sir," responded Seth Prentiss, "you show yourself a man of sense. And -now," with a bow, "will you dismount and enter? Also you, young -gentlemen," to Nat and Ben. "From now on the friends of my grandsons -will be very welcome here." - -And so they tied their horses and entered the fine old house. As the -door shut behind him, closing out the distant huzzas and the throbbing -of the Continental drums, a sense of great peace filled Ezra's heart. - -Other Books in this Series are - - THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AND LEXINGTON - THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT TRENTON - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by -John T. 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McIntyre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41512] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41512 ***</div> <div id="header"> <h1 class="title">The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill</h1> @@ -2099,381 +2060,6 @@ THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY</p> <p>Other Books in this Series are</p> <p class='center'>THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AND LEXINGTON<br/>THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT TRENTON</p> - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by -John T. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - - -</pre> - +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41512 ***</div> </body> </html> diff --git a/41512.txt b/41512.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a93bc0f..0000000 --- a/41512.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8119 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by -John T. McIntyre - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill - -Author: John T. McIntyre - -Illustrator: Ralph L. Boyer - -Release Date: November 30, 2012 [EBook #41512] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS *** - - - - -Produced by Roger Frank and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - -THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT BUNKER HILL - -John T. McIntyre - - - - -CONTENTS - - CHAPTER I--HOW EZRA PRENTISS HEARD OF A STRANGER - - CHAPTER II--SHOWS HOW EZRA MET WITH GILBERT SCARLETT, SOLDIER OF - FORTUNE - - CHAPTER III--TELLS HOW EZRA ENTERED THE HOUSE OF ABDALLAH - - CHAPTER IV--TELLS WHAT BEFELL EZRA THEREIN - - CHAPTER V--HOW JASON COLLYER CAME TO THE "PLOW AND HARROW" - - CHAPTER VI--SHOWS HOW EZRA ADVENTURED TOWARD THE "INDIAN'S HEAD" - - CHAPTER VII--EZRA MEETS WITH A STRANGE EXPERIENCE - - CHAPTER VIII--EZRA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO A DANGEROUS VENTURE - - CHAPTER IX--IN WHICH EZRA FARES INTO THE CITY OF THE ENEMY, AND HEARS - THE VOICE OF AN ACQUAINTANCE - - CHAPTER X--TELLS HOW ILL NEWS CAME TO GENERAL GAGE - - CHAPTER XI--TELLS HOW EZRA AND SCARLETT THRIVED IN BOSTON, AND HOW - THEY LEFT IT IN THE NIGHT - - CHAPTER XII--SHOWS HOW EZRA AND THE ADVENTURER WON BY THE BRITISH - FLEET - - CHAPTER XIII--SHOWS HOW EZRA RODE WITH PRESCOTT TOWARD BUNKER HILL - - CHAPTER XIV--IN WHICH IS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL - - CHAPTER XV--SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE - MET GENERAL WASHINGTON BY THE WAY - - CHAPTER XVI--IN WHICH EZRA LISTENS TO A DARING PLAN, AND HOW THREE - SPIES LISTEN TO IT LIKEWISE - - CHAPTER XVII--TELLS OF A RIDE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS AND OF HOW - TICONDEROGA'S GUNS BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY - - CHAPTER XVIII--CONCLUSION - - - - -[Illustration: THE MAN TOOK A STEP FORWARD] - - - - -THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT BUNKER HILL - -by - -John T. McIntyre - -Author of - - "The Young Continentals at Lexington" - "The Young Continentals at Trenton" - -Illustrated by Ralph L. Boyer. - -The Penn Publishing Company - -Philadelphia - -MCMX - - - - -COPYRIGHT 1910 BY - -THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY - - - - -INTRODUCTION - -"The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill" tells of four boys who were with -the American Army in the siege of Boston. It shows how Gage and the -British Army were hemmed in by the colonial troops, tells of the -stirring events in and about the beleaguered city, and finally of the -heroic stand upon Breed's Hill by Putnam, Prescott and the little -patriot army. There is something also of the fights upon islands in the -bay, of the coming of Washington to assume command, and the hoisting of -the first American Union flag. - -The same boys figured in an earlier volume, "The Young Continentals at -Lexington." Their adventures are equally stirring here, and the blows -struck for liberty equally shrewd. This time Ezra Prentiss of the four -boys has the leading role; once suspected of being an enemy to the -colonies, he now proves that none can be more faithful than he. - -Ezra and his friends appear again in a volume called "The Young -Continentals at Trenton." It tells something of the struggles about New -York, and finally of the brilliant successes at Trenton and Princeton, -in all of which the boys play their little parts bravely and well. - - - - -CHAPTER I - -HOW EZRA PRENTISS HEARD OF A STRANGER - - -The tall bay horse and the little roan mare went at a hard gallop down -the long, gentle descent of a hill. Both were flecked with foam, for the -going was hard, despite the brisk April weather. - -"How is the mare taking it?" asked Ezra Prentiss, after a time, drawing -in the bay and patting his arched neck encouragingly. - -The roan snorted and shook her head as though trying to answer for -herself. - -"It's rather hard on her, I'm afraid," returned Ben Cooper. "But she's -good for a great deal more of it." - -Part way down the slope both boys checked their mounts completely as -though by mutual consent. Ezra sat silently in his saddle and swept the -countryside with his steady gaze. - -It was mid-afternoon and the sun was dropping fast toward the horizon in -the west. Acres and acres of brown furrowed fields lay before them upon -every side; afar off, men and horses were toiling with the plows; little -clumps of houses were to be seen here and there, and tall columns of -smoke ascended from the wide-mouthed chimneys into the clear air. - -"We are going to have plenty to do from here to Chelmsford," spoke Ezra -at length. "The houses thicken considerably and there seem to be a great -many men at work in the fields." He paused once more, and then turning -to Ben, added, "Do you think we can speak to all of them before night -sets in?" - -"If you took one road and I another, we might," said Ben. - -Ezra frowned. It was very evident that he did not particularly favor -this. - -"Since starting out from Cambridge we have separated twice," said he. -"And each time it had an almost serious result." - -"First a parcel of Tories were for putting an end to me for what they -called treason to King and Parliament," spoke Ben, good-humoredly. - -"And that rascally tinker near Acton almost decoyed me into another nest -of them," added Ezra. "In these unsettled times the road is safer for -two than one, especially after dark." - -Ben nodded. - -"Right," said he. - -"However," proceeded Ezra, "more or less danger was expected when we -started out." He touched the handle of a heavy holster pistol, and -something of Ben's good humor came into his face. "Another thing, the -Tories are running as much risk as we are." - -"Right again," declared the other boy. "That, I think, is the proper way -to look at it." - -"And then," continued Ezra, shifting his hand to a saddle pocket, almost -filled to bursting with what looked like printed sheets, "we have these -to deliver and no great time to do it in." - -There was a silence between them; they studied the country from the -hillside and seemed to be revolving the matter earnestly. The brown -fields were cut by the fairly smooth road which they were on, and a -narrow, rutted wagonway. - -"I'll take this," said Ezra, pointing toward the latter; "there seem to -be quite a number of farmhouses over there beyond that rise, if we can -judge by the smoke. You hold to the highroad and don't miss a single man -or boy." - -"Trust me for that," said Ben. "But," complainingly, "you always pick -the hardest things to do for yourself. Molly is just as fresh as that -beast of yours. And then she's lighter and can pick her way along that -broken road like a cat." - -Ezra laughed; and there was a look of appreciation in his eyes as he -slapped his friend upon the back. - -"Ben," exclaimed he, "you're the greatest fellow I ever knew! You always -think your share of the work the easiest, no matter what it is. If -General Ward had an army of fellows like you before Boston, Gage would -not be able to hold the town for a week." - -Far away, against the horizon line, a spire arose from amidst a clump of -dwellings. - -"I will meet you there as soon after dark as I can," continued Ezra, his -outstretched finger indicating the tower. "If there is an inn wait for -me there." - -After a few words more, Ezra urged the reluctant bay into the much cut -wagon road; Ben, upon the soft-stepping roan, went loping easily down -the highroad, his usually laughing face grave as became a rider with an -urgent mission to perform. - -Ezra Prentiss after a time dismounted and led his steed by the bridle. - -"Mr. Paul Revere used to say a horse well looked after always finished -earlier in the day," said he to himself with a smile. "And I guess it's -true. At any rate, old fellow," to the bay, "the going is too hard for a -rider here; so I'll try walking for a little, anyway." - -In a field he saw two men working with teams of oxen. He waited at a -fence corner until one of them had completed his furrow. - -"Good-day, neighbor," called the boy. - -"Good-day," returned the farmer. - -He wiped the sweat from his forehead and approached Ezra, glad of an -excuse for a moment's rest from his toil. - -"Riding from Boston way?" he inquired eagerly. - -"I left Cambridge a few days ago," replied Ezra. - -As he spoke the lad drew out one of the sheets from his saddle pocket -and unfolded it. It was covered with an announcement in heavy, -bold-faced type. - -"This," said the boy, "is issued by the Massachusetts Committee of -Safety, and riders have been sent out in every direction to deliver them -to the towns and people round-about." - -The farmer took the circular and began an earnest study of its appeal. -The other man, seeing that something unusual was going forward, halted -his team and also approached. Leaning over the shoulder of the first, -he, too, read the earnest lines. - -"You have heard long since what has been done," said Ezra, soberly, when -the two had finished and stood silently gazing at him. "We have struck -the first real blow against the oppressors of the colonies. But what was -done at Lexington and Concord is only a beginning." - -"A beginning!" said the first man, in surprise. - -"Do you really mean to say that Dr. Warren and those others actually -intend to go further in the matter?" exclaimed the second. - -"They must," said Ezra. The two before him had weak, wavering faces and -thin, light-colored hair; from the close resemblance they bore each -other, he judged they must be brothers. "To get any result from the -first blow, a second must be struck," he went on. "There would have been -no use in making a beginning if an ending were not also made." - -"England is a powerful nation," said the first man. "Eh, Josiah?" - -"Mighty powerful," agreed the other, "and so is the King and -Parliament." - -"If the people of the colonies remain united and if every man does his -full duty, the power of England, her King and Parliament, will be as -that," and the boy snapped his fingers. "This circular calls for the -towns to encourage the enlistment of men in the colonial army, as you -have seen. It tells you that every moment is precious. A day's delay may -mean the loss of all; it may bring slavery upon you." He was quoting the -document. - -But the two men shook their heads. Indecision and fear of the situation -were plain in their faces. - -"We've just lately taken this farm," said the one called Josiah, "and -we've counted on this season's yield to help pay for it. We can't go -into the army." - -"If every one thought of his personal affairs," said Ezra, "our tyrants -would crush us into the earth." The boy had absorbed the resonant talk -of the times, and its use had become a habit upon the present mission. -"Take, for instance, men like Mr. Hancock, Mr. Adams, Dr. Warren, and a -score of others. They risk very large fortunes in the cause; they give -every moment of their time to it. They have done so from the first." - -But there was one thing that the men were firm in--their indecision. - -"We'd like to join; we'd like to do all we can. But things won't let -us." The speaker shook his head nervously. "No, things won't let us." - -"You think that by holding back you'll save your property, your season's -crop and all that," spoke Ezra Prentiss. "But I believe you are -mistaken. Suppose most of the men and boys of the towns held back as you -seem inclined to do? What then?" - -"It might be a good thing," answered Josiah, fearfully. - -"It is sure to be a very bad thing for you and everybody else. If there -is no army to oppose him, Gage will march his regiments out of the city, -and he'll seize, burn and destroy until he has the people of -Massachusetts upon their knees." - -The fear that filled the eyes of the two brothers was almost pitiful to -see. - -"Do you think that will happen?" asked one. - -"I sincerely do," returned Ezra, who, to tell the truth, was rather -disgusted at this exhibition of selfish cowardice. - -The farmers consulted together in whispers. Then Josiah said: - -"As my brother remarked, we'd like to do all we can. But we have doubts. -It's not altogether our property that holds us back." - -"What then?" asked Ezra. - -The man looked toward his brother, who nodded what was intended to be -encouragement; but it was of a very timorous sort, indeed. - -"Things hereabouts are not altogether right," said Josiah, lowering his -voice to a whisper and leaning over the fence that Ezra might hear. -"They haven't been just what you might call right for some time." - -Ezra regarded him wonderingly. - -"Nothing has been right in all the colony for some time," said he. "So -what you say is not surprising." - -The man coughed dryly and waved his hand. - -"You don't quite understand what I mean," said he. "What you refer to is -what everybody has seen, and everybody knows. But what I refer to is -what nobody but my brother and I have seen, and what, more than likely, -nobody else has any idea of." - -"Something that has to do with the public good?" inquired Ezra. - -The man hesitated; but his brother made answer for him. - -"Yes," spoke he, "you might call it that." - -Ezra led his horse nearer to the fence and threw the rein over a post. - -"Perhaps," said he, "you wouldn't mind being a little more definite." - -Once more the men consulted in whispers. - -"He's only a boy," Ezra heard Josiah protest. - -"But he's from the head of matters at Boston," argued the other, in a -low but perfectly distinct tone. "They seem to trust him, so why not -we?" - -This seemed unanswerable reasoning; so Josiah again turned to the lad. - -"Do you know this section very well?" he asked. - -"No," replied Ezra. - -"Well, we do," said the man. "In fact, we were born and raised -hereabouts. And we know every man-jack for miles around." - -"Naturally," said the boy. - -"So," proceeded Josiah, "if a stranger comes to live here, particularly -a queer-acting stranger, we'd be likely to take notice of him. And if he -rented the next place to ours," with a jerk of the head down the -wagonway, "we'd be likely to more than particularly take notice." - -"Well?" asked Ezra, patiently. - -"Some time ago, just such a man did just that very thing," said the -farmer earnestly. "He is odd. He's not friendly. He keeps great dogs -and, save for them, seems to live alone. But now and then strangers -come. They always come after dark and are gone by daylight. Who they -are, and what they are, we never have been able to find out." - -"It does seem rather queer," admitted Ezra. "But I can scarcely see just -how it can have anything to do with the matter between the colonies and -the King's government." - -"Neither do we," confessed Josiah. "We can't see it either. But we feel -it. It's just as though we were being watched, somehow. We feel that -everything we do is taken note of by somebody we can't place. And we -think," again fearfully nodding down the wagonway, "that it's that man." - -Ezra studied the men carefully. That they were of a tight-fisted, -timorous sort, he had already made up his mind; but he had not given -them credit for so much imagination as they displayed. However, that -they were sincere was not to be denied. - -He remained for some time, questioning them curiously; at length he -mounted his horse and prepared to move on. - -"It's more than likely," said he, settling himself in the saddle, "that -this man's strange way of living has gradually brought you to thinking -other strange things of him." He gathered up his reins; the bay moved -forward a few steps; then he was brought to a halt once more, and the -boy turned, one hand resting on its flank. "Where did you say he lived?" -he asked with a careless air. - -"About three miles below there," said Josiah's brother, pointing down -the road. "You come to a wood, then to a stream of water, crossed by a -bridge, and just above it is the house, by the roadside. But don't stop. -Because if the dogs are loose, which they generally are, coming on -night, there's no telling what they'll do." - -"Thanks," replied Ezra. "I'll look out for them." He waved his hand. -"Good-bye, and give the Committee's circular another reading. There are -truths in it that can't be denied." - -Then with a glance at the fast lowering sun, he touched the bay with the -spur and turned down the narrow road. - - - - -CHAPTER II - -SHOWS HOW EZRA MET WITH GILBERT SCARLETT, SOLDIER OF FORTUNE - - -"I sincerely trust," mused Ezra Prentiss as he rode along on his way, -"that there are not many men like those in the colonies. If there are, -the cause is sure to be defeated. They are too cowardly and selfish to -do anything but clutch what they have and cry out in fear of its being -taken away from them." - -For a moment a shadow rested upon his face. Then the picture flashed -across his mind of the heroic line at Lexington, of the desperate rush -at Concord Bridge, the long, running fight into Boston town. These had -happened only a few weeks before; and a smile banished the shadow -instantly. - -"The men who did those things were neither selfish nor cowardly," he -told himself. "They are as brave as any upon the earth, and would give -all they possessed in the cause of freedom. They drove Earl Percy before -them when they were merely a gathering of half-armed farmers; and when -drilled and properly equipped, they will prove their worth to General -Gage, his army and the hostile King." - -Several times he left the road and crossed some fields at sight of -chimney-stacks or shingled roofs; and each time he talked earnestly with -the householders and left one or more of the circulars printed by the -Committee of Safety. But each time he returned to the wagon road. - -"It's not because I expect to come upon any great number of people," he -said, as the question as to why he did this presented itself to him. -"And it is not because it is an easy road to travel." He paused for a -moment and then added: "I wonder just how much this stranger, who lives -so oddly and in such a queer place, has to do with it?" - -He laughed as the tall bay took a fence and landed once more in the -much-cut road. - -"That's it," he continued. "It's curiosity. I want to see the man who -has made those two, back there, fear him so." - -He had perhaps gone a mile and a half in a straight course, when the -fences began to thin; trees lined the roadside and grew in thick clumps -upon every hand; the ground looked rough and stony; apparently no plow -had ever broken it, no axe had ever been leveled against the timber. - -Heavy boughs, showing the first green of spring, hung so low that Ezra -was forced to bend low in his saddle in order to avoid them. He was -riding in this fashion when he was suddenly startled by a voice, -apparently only a few yards away, calling to him. - -"Hullo, you, sir!" - -Ezra drew in the bay and turned in his saddle. A tall, strongly-built -young man in long leather boots, and wearing a hat with a plume in it, -was standing beside a fallen horse. - -"A moment of your time, if you please," commanded this personage, in a -voice that was not to be denied. - -"You have met with an accident, I see," remarked Ezra, with a glance at -the prostrate beast. "Is he badly hurt?" - -"I think he is all but finished," replied the young man in the long -boots. "He was recommended to me as a nag of perfect quality; but I have -found none such in this sadly deserted corner of the earth." - -The speaker wore moustaches, something seldom or never seen in those -days. They were black, with spiky points, and he twisted at them -savagely. - -"But I have found in my journeys through the world that good horses are -only grown where there are fine up-standing men to see to them," -continued the stranger. He drew up his soft leather boots and shifted -his heavy sword belt, which bore a huge brass buckle. Then he devoted -his attention to the moustaches once more. - -"You are not of the colonies, then?" inquired Ezra. - -The other drew himself up haughtily and stared at the speaker. - -"I trust, sir," spoke he in a measured voice, "that I do not convey that -impression. I am Gilbert Scarlett, late of the Spanish service and once -of those of Hanover, Wurtemberg, Portugal and the Swiss. Also two -campaigns have I served with the Turks in Egypt, and once I bore a -commission from the Czar of Muscovy." - -Ezra regarded the other with wonderment. That so young a man could have -had so wide a military experience seemed extraordinary indeed. But, in -spite of the boastful tone and exaggerated manner, there was that about -the stranger that might make a doubter pause. - -"I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Scarlett," said Ezra Prentiss, politely. -"And I must say that I am rather astonished to see a man of your parts -in so unusual a place." - -"You might well be," returned the other, slapping his boot-leg with his -riding-whip. "And truth to tell, I am a trifle astonished myself. But -matters between the Spanish and the French grew very monotonous toward -the last, below there in the Floridas and on the Gulf. They made war -very politely and saw to it that there was plenty of breathing time -between cannon-shots. So I took ship and came north. They told me that -the clouds were gathering here and that there would be much credit for a -man of my inches to gain, in one way and another." - -"If you look for fighting," said Ezra, soberly, "I fancy you'll get your -fill of it before many days." - -The other laughed and leaned gracefully against a tree. He had thick -black brows, and he bent them at the young New Englander jeeringly. - -"Fighting!" mocked he. "Where is it to come from? Gage has an army of -veterans and dare not come out. This other man----" - -"General Ward?" suggested Ezra, as the other hesitated. - -"Yes--thanks. General Ward has gathered a rabble of peasants which would -tear off like sheep at the first sound of a heavy gun." - -"You are wrong," cried Ezra warmly. "I saw them under fire. They acted -the part of men." - -"I've heard of that fight," said the young man. "Pshaw! Such a thing is -not a test. Wait until they are forced to sleep out under the stars, to -mount guard in the wet, to obey popinjay officers, to keep hungry -bellies for days on end, to be sick without physic, to be cold without -clothing, to be beaten and asked to fight again. That will show the -color of their courage, sir. Your General Ward may be satisfied with -less; but nothing short of all I've mentioned would answer the needs of -an old campaigner." - -To hear him with his youthful face, and sprouting moustaches, calling -himself by such a name, caused Ezra to smile. Instantly the face of -Gilbert Scarlett changed. - -"But it seems that I am wasting good time speaking with you," said he, -coldly. "I find that men of experience are not understood by colonials." -His hard, black eyes ran over the lines of the tall bay horse which Ezra -bestrode, and he proceeded, "That is a fair-looking charger. Anyhow, -it's the best to be had at this time, I suppose. So do me the favor to -get down." - -Ezra looked at the speaker in some surprise. - -"Perhaps you will explain," said he. - -"The situation is so plain," proclaimed Gilbert Scarlett, "that I can -scarcely see the need of an explanation. But, since you ask for one, -here it is. My horse can go no farther. Yours can. So, as I have urgent -affairs to transact, I propose that we make an exchange." - -"It would seem that your military schooling has taught you to expect the -better of a bargain, if nothing else," said Ezra quietly. - -The other laughed. - -"It would have been of very little value if it hadn't," said he. He once -more hitched at his sword belt, and this time the movement held the -elements of a threat. "But," he went on, "that is neither here nor -there. We will come to the exchange at once, if you please." - -"I am glad that you mentioned that last," smiled Ezra. "Suppose I don't -please?" - -The points of the spiky moustache went up and the heavy black brows came -down. - -"In that event," said Gilbert Scarlett, "I shall be forced to alter your -mind." - -A little earlier, Ezra had had before him a youthful, careless face, had -listened to boastful, empty speech and had smiled. But in an instant all -was altered. The face was now hard and lined; the careless mouth was -tight shut and cruel looking, the voice was sharp and peremptory. - -"Once more--and for the last time, mark you--I invite you to get down." - -"I think your contempt for colonials has led you astray," said Ezra, -still with a smile. "We do not give up our belongings so easily in this -part of the world." - -The man took a step forward, his breath seeming to hiss between his -teeth; then his sword flashed out of its scabbard. But at the same -instant Ezra's long holster pistol came into play. The afternoon light -gleamed dully upon the steel barrel, as he supported it in the hollow of -his left arm. - -"Before you display any of your deftness with the sword blade," spoke -the young New Englander, coolly, "listen to a few words of disinterested -advice. I say disinterested, because it makes no difference to me how -you take it. But it would, perhaps, be a great deal better for you if -you reconsidered this matter. A gentleman of your confessed military -experience can no doubt play the sword with accuracy. But don't forget -that a bullet travels faster--and don't compel me to start this one on -its travels." - -The young stranger listened to this quietly-spoken warning with varying -expressions of face. At first it seemed that he would defy the pistol; -indeed he drew back his arm for a blow. Then he paused, baffled; at last -a comical look came upon his face, his point touched the ground and he -stepped back with a ringing laugh. - -"For your advice I offer many thanks." He took off his hat as he spoke -and its plume swept the earth. "And I will take it," driving his blade -back in its sheath. "I have made a grave military blunder. In what you -call my contempt for colonials I overlooked the possibility of your -being armed. I admit defeat and pray you mercy." - -The situation was so quaint a one that Ezra also laughed. But he did not -take his eyes from the other, neither did his pistol go back to its -place in the holster. - -"The situation remains as it was when I came up," said the boy. "Here -you stand beside your fallen horse and off I go on my way to -Chelmsford." - -He touched the bay with the spur; but it had only taken a few steps when -Gilbert Scarlett once more lifted his voice. Ezra drew rein and the man -advanced. - -"You are going toward Chelmsford?" inquired he. - -"Yes," returned Ezra. - -"By this road?" - -"If I can." - -"It always shows good quality in a soldier to be generous to a defeated -foe," smiled the young man. He paused a moment and studied Ezra -carefully; and as he did so the latter noted an odd light dancing in his -eyes. "As I have said," Scarlett resumed, "I have urgent affairs that -under other circumstances would require me to press on. And as I can't -do this, I would ask you to grant me a favor." - -"What is it?" asked Ezra. - -"At Cambridge I was entrusted with a mission of more or less -importance," spoke Scarlett easily. "And as the gentleman who so -entrusted me was most genial and generous, though to speak the truth I -did not know him from Adam's elder brother, I would like to see the -matter carried through as contracted." - -He drew from his belt a packet of papers sealed with black wax. - -"I was required to take this way and ride until I came to a certain -bridge," said Scarlett. "Not far from this I was to come upon a house -where I was to stop and ask for a man by the name of Abdallah. When I -saw him I was to hand over these," and the speaker held up the packet. - -At sight of the packet and Scarlett's announcement that he had been -bidden to come that way, Ezra's attention became fixed. The two farmers -had spoken of unknown riders who came and went to their mysterious -neighbor's. But when the other mentioned the bridge and the house not -far from it, the boy's eyes snapped with expectation. However, when he -spoke his voice was unconcerned enough. - -"And now, I suppose, you want me to undertake to finish what you have -begun?" said he. - -"If you will be so kind," replied Scarlett, with a little bow. "It will -not take you out of your way, since you are going by this road, and it -will greatly relieve my mind." - -Ezra bent forward and took the papers in his left hand. Thrusting them -into the breast of his coat, he said with a laugh: - -"It would show a sad lack of charity on my part to leave you in a -disturbed state of mind. A disabled horse and a long road are calamities -enough for any man." - -"I thank you," said Scarlett. He tugged at his moustache with one hand; -the thumb of the other was stuck in his sword belt, his legs were very -wide apart, and the plumed hat was set well back upon his head. "You are -a ready youth and a generous one. Perhaps your wit is not all that it -will be in the years to come. Nevertheless, I say that you are a ready -youth. And further, I will add that you have the makings in you of a -most excellent soldier." - -Once more the long plume swept the ground as Ezra, with a wave of the -hand, rode away; and the last the boy saw of him he was stripping the -saddle from the fallen horse and apparently railing against his ill luck -in a most hearty fashion. - - - - -CHAPTER III - -TELLS HOW EZRA ENTERED THE HOUSE OF ABDALLAH - - -"Rather an odd character, I should think," mused the young New Englander -as he rode along. "A soldier of fortune from his own account; and from -my own observations, one ready enough to provide himself with anything -that he lacked. But he seemed rather a good sort, for all," with a -laugh, "even if he did draw his blade on me and afterward cast -reflections upon my wit. I'm sure if I saw more of him I'd come to like -him." - -The pace was slow on account of the bad condition of the road; and -gradually the sun slipped downward in the west. At length, in a gloomy, -sunken place, Ezra came upon a forbidding-looking stream flowing into a -shattered dam. - -A treacherous-looking bridge of unstripped timber crossed it; and a -little to the left was an abandoned mill with staring, empty windows; -its broken roof was covered with green moss, a wheel hanging rotten and -silent at its side. - -"And some little way along I am to find a house by the roadside, am I?" -said the lad as he looked about upon this sullen picture. "Well, it -takes different tastes to make a world, of course; but I'd never have -thought that any one would select a spot like this for a -dwelling-place." - -Gingerly the bay picked its way across the bridge; the aged timbers -swayed and groaned; through the open seams between the planks, the dark -water could be seen flowing sluggishly along. - -Just beyond the bridge the road took an abrupt bend; and as Ezra rounded -this he found himself in sight of the house. - -He had only time to note that it was two stories in height and that -heavy shutters guarded all the windows, when there came a most -tremendous barking of dogs. Lion-like, three enormous mastiffs leaped -the low fence that ran about the house and rushed at horse and rider. - -The bay reared, his nostrils widening and his eyes shining with fright. -Ezra tightened the rein, spoke soothingly to him and at the same time -reached for his holster pistol. With wide jaws the great beasts bounded -forward; then came a sharp whistle and instantly they paused, growling, -indeed, and with savage eyes, but advancing no farther. - -From around one corner of the house came a man of commanding stature and -remarkable appearance. He was attired in a long, loose, robe-like -garment such as Ezra had seen in pictures of Eastern peoples. His head -was entirely bald, though the face was smooth, unlined and gave few -signs of age. His complexion was swarthy and his eyes singularly large, -dark and gentle-looking. - -"I ask your pardon, young sir," said this strange-looking personage -smoothly. "My poor beasts are a trifle unruly at times. But," -reassuringly, "believe me, there is no harm in them." - -Ezra looked down into the bloodshot eyes and formidable jaws of the -brutes. He said nothing in answer to the man's statement; but he held to -his own opinion, nevertheless. - -The man advanced to the fence, and Ezra noted that he wore no shoes. His -feet were bound in sandals; also he was belted with a thick cord into -which was stuck an ancient-looking, leather-covered book. - -But the stranger's most striking and noticeable feature was his soft -gentleness of manner. Ezra felt this the moment his eyes rested upon the -swarthy face; it were as though nothing could excite its owner to anger -or intolerance. And yet, for all that, as the boy gazed at the -strangely-clad one, that distinct feeling of repulsion came upon him -which we feel in the presence of those whom we naturally distrust. - -Here the man spoke to the dogs which still stood near at hand, growling -and casting savage looks at Ezra. - -"Blood," said he, gently, "go in, brave dog. Death, away with you. -Bones, be gone." - -The voice was soft, even purring; but the grisly names of the brutes -caused Ezra to shudder. - -Obediently the animals turned and leaped into the enclosure once more. -And as they passed their master, Ezra noted that they crouched and -fawned. - -"Only beaten dogs do that," thought the boy. Then, as he surveyed the -man carefully, "I wonder just how much of this gentleness is real and -how much assumed?" - -As the mastiffs vanished behind the house, the man turned to Ezra once -more. - -"The road is seldom frequented," said he, apologetically; "and so, poor -beasts, they are not accustomed to travelers." The soft, dark eyes -examined Ezra with much attention; then the speaker went on, "I -sincerely trust that you have taken neither harm nor offense." - -"Not in the least," replied Ezra readily. "My horse was a bit startled; -but that is all." - -Instantly the dark eyes went to the horse; its weary condition seemed to -excite the stranger's sympathy. - -"You have ridden far?" said he, gently. - -"From Cambridge," replied Ezra. "But it has taken several days." - -"And you are going----?" Here the other paused with undoubted expectancy. - -"Toward Chelmsford," replied Ezra. - -The man seemed baffled; he passed one hand over his shining bald head as -though in meditation. But the singular dark eyes never left the boy's -face. - -"This is rather an unusual way to select," he said at last. "Rough and -indirect." - -"Perhaps so," said Ezra. "But I had some small matters of business -hereabouts." - -An eager look came into the man's face; he held up one hand with an -inquiring gesture. - -"You were to ask for some one?" said he. - -"Yes. For a gentleman of the name of Abdallah." - -"I am he," said the other humbly. "Abdallah--son of Hamid--a poor scholar, -and a friend to all the world." - -Ezra took out the packet from the breast of his coat; riding close to -the fence he gave it into Abdallah's hands. - -"I thank you," said the man. "I had been expecting you for some days." - -His fingers pattered nervously upon the papers; it was plain to see that -he was all eagerness to tear them open that he might come at their -contents. - -But he restrained himself; with calm eyes he looked at Ezra and said: - -"Perhaps it was part of your instructions that you bear back any answer -to these that might be necessary." - -Ezra hesitated for a moment. His first impulse was to make a plain -statement of the facts, to tell him how he met Scarlett by the wayside, -relate how the papers had been handed over to him, and why. But second -thought prompted him to take advantage of the other's mistake. What the -lad had heard of Abdallah had interested him exceedingly. If there were -anything unusual in his transactions, or anything against the public -good, here was a most excellent opportunity of throwing a light upon the -matter. - -So, like a flash, he made up his mind. - -"I was given no instructions by the gentleman who entrusted me with this -errand," said he, "save only that I was to hand the packet to you." - -Abdallah nodded his head. - -"It is well to be careful. I have always approved of such a method," -spoke he. - -The great dark eyes were fixed upon Ezra's face; for all their -gentleness, the boy fancied that he caught an element of speculation in -them. But before he had time to note more, the man proceeded: - -"I am a reader of faces and you have a faithful look. You are of the -type that would be apt to do anything that he engaged to do." He tapped -the papers upon the palm of one hand for a moment, as though -considering; then proceeded: "Will you carry the answer to the person -who gave these?" And the eyes narrowed. - -"He was an utter stranger to me," said Ezra. "I would not know where to -look for him." - -The man laughed softly and seemed satisfied. - -"In matters like this," said he, "it is not always wise to give names or -addresses. It might prove inconvenient. However, it does not matter. I -will so advise you as to the answer that you cannot well go astray." - -With that Ezra dismounted without more ado. Tying his horse to the -gate-post, he followed the man through a low, wide doorway into the -house. - -The boy was open-eyed for something unusual. What he had heard of -Abdallah, and, indeed, the man's personal appearance, led him to be so; -and he was not disappointed. - -Without, the house was clumsy and ill-shaped, the product perhaps of an -uncouth workman of past generations. It was also neglected, unpainted -and weather-stained. The enclosure about it was yellow with the weeds of -a summer before. - -But within all was different. The shutters did not admit a ray of light; -candles, set in queer twisted sconces of copper, burned behind -rose-colored shades of glass. Large mirrors glittered upon the walls; -the doorways were hung with rich draperies; a soft Turkey carpet and -rich rugs were upon the floor. Several broad couches covered with -crimson leather stood about. - -And books were everywhere--upon shelves, upon tables and chairs; faded -scrolls covered with strange Oriental characters were scattered about; -queer manuscripts, musty and tattered, lay open to view where some one -had been lately consulting them. - -On a broad, brick hearth stood a small furnace with a leather bellows -attached. Beside this were queer instruments and vessels of metal and -glass at whose uses the boy could only guess. - -"Be seated, I beg of you," spoke Abdallah, with grave courtesy. "It is -but a poor place to ask a guest; but to what there is, you are welcome -indeed." - -Ezra sat down upon one of the couches. It was soft and extremely -comforting to one who had been in the saddle since early morning. And as -he sat, his eyes went about the apartment wonderingly. - -The man noted this and smiled. Ezra hastened to say: - -"I ask your pardon. But there is not, I will venture to say, such -another place as this in all Massachusetts." - -Abdallah inclined his stately head gravely. - -"No doubt you are right," said he. "In this Western world the lore of -the East is all but unknown." He sighed and shook his head. "All is so -new. The men, the customs, the very country. They have no leisure for -employment of a deeper sort." - -Ezra looked at the speaker curiously. - -"I have heard but little of the unusual sciences of the East," said he, -"and have read very little more. I have no doubt but that they are -wonderful and interesting; and I am pleased to meet with a gentleman so -learned in them." - -Abdallah made a gesture of protest. - -"You give me too much credit," said he, gravely. "I am but a poor -scholar. 'Tis true that some of the mysteries of life have been made -known to me. But that is all. I am a struggling student as yet, and -cannot hope to be more until years of labor have been gone through." - -Glass vessels containing liquids stood upon a shelf. They were long -necked and yet with squat, round bodies; their contents were of amber, -purple, jade and other rich colors and they twinkled and flashed in the -subdued light of the candles. - -"You practice the art of healing, sir, I perceive," suggested Ezra, -looking at these. - -But Abdallah shook his head. - -"I am fairly well versed in the business of a leech," he replied. "But I -give but little time to it." - -[Illustration: Illustration: "YOU PRACTICE THE ART OF HEALING, SIR"] - -Here Ezra caught an odd, muffled, lingering sound. It was low and -indistinct. Thinking it was something outside--a bird, a small animal or -such--he paid no attention to it. But at the same time he noticed a -peculiar expression upon the face of Abdallah, and he also saw the look -which the man flashed at him. - -"To be a surgeon, or even an apothecary in such a lonely place, would -profit mankind or myself very little," proceeded the man in his usual -tone of grave gentleness. - -He smiled at the boy, who nodded a reply. Again the odd sound was -repeated. It was murmurous and lingering, rising and falling in a -measured sort of way. - -"It is within the house," Ezra told himself. "And it is the voice of -some one in conversation." - -But he felt the dark eyes of the Oriental fixed upon him and his face -never changed. The sound, apparently, was one that Abdallah would prefer -to have unheard; so Ezra's face held nothing but polite interest in the -other's remarks. - -"I suppose you are quite right," said the boy. "And so," with the -suspicions of the farmers well in mind, "you devote your time solely to -the study of your philosophy?" - -"Entirely so," replied Abdallah, suavely. "It is a great science, and to -get even the rudiments of it, one must spare neither one's self nor -time." - -Again came the murmurous sound. Whoever the talkers were, they seemed to -be deep in some discussion. As Ezra watched he saw the habitually gentle -look leave the eyes of the Oriental; the pleasant mouth tightened and -grew hard, the long-fingered brown hands clenched. - -"I will ask your pardon," said Abdallah in his smooth voice. That he was -filled with a bitter anger was plain; but he held himself wonderfully in -control. He bent his head in a salaam of much dignity; then drawing -aside some hangings that concealed a doorway, he disappeared. - -Ezra settled back more comfortably into his easy seat. - -"Master Abdallah evidently does not lead the lonely life that my friends -of a short time ago supposed," said he. "If these are not regular -inmates of his house, they are persons over whom he professes some -control; at least his manner said as much." - -There was a huge clock in the room that ticked with steady, solemn -regularity. Now and then a candle sputtered or leaped behind its -rose-colored shade. But these were the only sounds that Ezra heard. - -"Whoever it was, he has silenced them," smiled the boy. "Behind that -soft manner, our friend has a temper of his own. I saw that from the -first." - -But another moment proved that Abdallah's was not the only temper in the -house. Suddenly the silence was split by a heavy voice, thundering: - -"What do you mean, sir? What do you mean by addressing me in that -manner?" - -A quick, excited murmur followed. Then the heavy voice was heard once -more. - -"I know we are in his house. I am perfectly aware of it. But that does -not deprive me of the right to protect myself from impudence." - -Abdallah's voice was then heard; but it was pitched so low that Ezra -could not catch the words. After a moment the heavy voice came again. - -"Of course, sir, that puts a different face upon the matter. But you -should have warned us to moderate our tones. Remember, I am Major -Buckstone of His Majesty's Artillery, and I permit no man to hector me." - -"Hush-h-h-h!" came another voice. And then there was a silence. - -"It seems that Major Buckstone is a person quite ready and competent to -regulate his own affairs," smiled the boy. Then his brows puckered -thoughtfully as he continued: "And the fact that he is of His Majesty's -Artillery makes him a gentleman of whom I should take more than ordinary -notice." - -On the whole, as he thought the situation over, all the persons -concerned were of great interest to him and to the cause of the -colonies. Here was a stranger, an Oriental, who received mysterious -communications from equally mysterious horsemen. And here, also, were -British officers making his house a place of resort and carrying on -conversations which would not allow of being overheard. - -"Decidedly," said Ezra, "it has an interesting look. And I am quite -pleased that I chanced to come this way and overtake Master Scarlett as -I did." - -His thoughts had run this far when once again the mighty voice of Major -Buckstone was heard. - -"But, sir," it cried, "I disagree with you. I utterly disagree with you. -You may have your own ways of doing these things. If so, you are -perfectly welcome to them. But I am a soldier, sir; an officer in His -Majesty's Artillery, and I am accustomed to do things in my own way." - -A soft protest followed, but the thunderous major cut it short. - -"If this gentleman has been trusted thus far, he can be trusted -further," he declared. "Why should we remain concealed in the houses of -our friends? It is preposterous!" - -A sharp moving about of furniture followed as though some one had pushed -back a heavy chair; then footsteps were heard, the hangings parted and a -burly, red-faced man entered the room. - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -TELLS WHAT BEFELL EZRA THEREIN - - -Directly behind the red-faced man came Abdallah, and a small, -weazened-looking youth, with the face of a ferret and the covert manners -of a fox. - -That Abdallah was not pleased with the situation was very evident. There -was an angry light burning in the dark eyes; and though his manner was -as suave as ever, his voice, as he spoke, had gained distinctly in -sharpness. - -"This," said he, addressing Ezra, who had arisen, "is a gentleman who -insisted upon making your acquaintance." - -Major Buckstone laughed loudly, and held out his hand to the boy. - -"And that is the plain truth," spoke he, with great heartiness of -manner. "I am a bluff soldier, young sir, and I am always delighted to -see those who do their work out in the open." - -As he said this, his eyes went quickly to Abdallah and the ferret-faced -young man. It was the latter who made answer. - -"In a time like this, Major Buckstone," said he, "there is work of all -sorts to be done for His Majesty, the King. You have your place--we have -ours." - -"And you will pardon me for saying it, I'm sure," said Abdallah, also -addressing the major, "but your place is decidedly not here." - -The words were softly spoken; but, for all, there was behind them the -bitter resentment of a man not accustomed to being crossed. - -Major Buckstone drew himself up, and saluted formally. - -"Sir," he made reply, "you have complimented me highly. You are quite -right. This is not my place. In plain words, a man of my quality should -never have been detailed upon such duty." - -The ferret-faced youth, his eyes full of alarm, furtively tugged at the -speaker's sleeve; then he whispered some words of caution. But the burly -soldier shook him off impatiently. - -"I understand you very well, Jason Collyer," said he with ponderous -disdain. "But as I have told you many times in this last twenty-four -hours, I will pay no heed to you. I have my own way of conducting my own -business, and that I will persist in." - -Abdallah made a sign to the ferret-faced youth, and the latter fell back -from the plainspoken major. Then the two drew together at a far corner -of the room and consulted in whispers. The major turned to Ezra once -more. - -"You have ridden from Cambridge, I understand," said he. - -"I have," replied the lad, briefly. - -"It has been a week since I passed through the rebel lines," said the -officer. "I was in disguise," in a tone of great disgust. "Much rather -would I have been in full uniform, and at the head of two regiments of -hardy fellows." Then in another tone, "But what news?" - -"The papers, I should think," and Ezra nodded toward Abdallah, "would -tell you everything." - -"Everything of this nature," and the burly speaker gestured about him in -great contempt. "But I want to have as little to do with spying and -ferreting as possible. What I want to know is: what has General Gage -done to break the preposterous condition at Boston, that the rebels call -a siege?" - -"Nothing, sir," replied the boy. - -The great, red face grew grim, and the heavy round head wagged from side -to side. - -"British prestige will suffer for this," said the major, solemnly. "It -will suffer the world over." Then with a tightening of his jaws, "Come, -then, tell me what the rebels have done. I'll warrant they have been -active enough." - -Ezra smiled. - -"You are right in that," said he. "Never were men more busy before. Not -a day goes by but that something is done. Earthworks are thrown up, -companies are enlisted, stores are gathered, noted men of the colonial -wars are offering their swords and their experience." - -This last caused Major Buckstone to grow grimmer than ever. - -"And tough fighters, those same rascals are," said he. "I've fought -shoulder to shoulder with them, and I know their mettle." - -Then little by little he drew from the boy all the details of what -had passed, to the colonists' credit, since the day that the -column under Lord Percy had been driven pell-mell into Boston. But the -boy shrewdly neglected to mention anything that would show the real -and pitiful weakness of the colonial force. He did not tell how the -slackly-disciplined farmers grew tired of the dull routine of the -siege and left for their homes in droves. He did not tell how General -Ward had written to the Provincial Congress declaring that if this was -not somehow stopped he would soon be left all alone. Nor did he say -that for sheer want of men, Boston Neck was at times almost -unguarded--Boston Neck, the most important avenue of all out of the -beleaguered city. - -Major Buckstone listened to the rosy story of the colonists' prowess; -his thick iron-gray brows were drawn together in a frown. - -"I understand that they have Putnam from Connecticut with them, and that -tall fellow John Stark, of New Hampshire, too. Well, they are both nasty -fighters; I've seen them in the thick of it many a time. The only way to -beat such fellows is to prevent them from making a fair beginning." - -Here Abdallah came forward. His dark eyes had grown calm once more; and -there was a gentle smile upon his lips. - -"In that, Major Buckstone, you are perfectly right," said he. "Once -these men get a fair start in the conducting of a war it will be most -difficult to put them down. And to prevent them is our mission." - -The major growled out an angry exclamation. But Abdallah proceeded -smoothly. - -"When the military force has shown itself to be incompetent," said he, -"such as we step in." He paid no attention to the glowering look that -the major directed upon him for this criticism of the army. "Our work is -of such a nature----" - -The ferret-faced youth thrust out a thin, large-knuckled hand and tugged -at Abdallah's robe. - -"Our work and its nature is well known to us all," remarked he, with a -sharp look at Ezra. "So there is nothing to be gained by talking over -it, that I can see." - -Abdallah smiled. - -"Right," said he, "though it is somewhat late in the evening for us to -think of becoming secretive. Major Buckstone has seen fit to----" - -"We have been all over that, also," said the major, brusquely. "As I -have said before, this lad has been entrusted with other and perhaps -cleaner business of the King than this. And I can see no harm in -speaking openly before him." - -"You are in command," said Abdallah, smilingly. "And I defer to you in -everything." - -"If you had been bred to the artillery, you would have done that in the -first place," replied Major Buckstone, dryly. "And, now, since that -rather important point is settled, let us get to our affairs." - -The seal upon the packet of papers brought by Ezra was now broken and -the three bent over them intently. Ezra once more seated himself, -watching them keenly, for he was struck by the great difference in their -appearance. - -Major Buckstone was huge of limb and body; his great red face shone with -perspiration; despite his rather uncouth farmer's dress, he looked every -inch a British officer of the old school. - -Abdallah's commanding height would have marked him almost anywhere as a -person of unusual parts; and his queer robe-like garment, his bald dome -and his singular dark eyes only accentuated this. - -And the furtive-mannered Jason Collyer came in for his fair share of the -boy's attention. There was a peculiar something in the sharp face and -the light eyes that caused Ezra to class him as dangerous. - -"Even, perhaps, more dangerous than Abdallah himself," thought the boy. -"He is of the kind that never trusts any one and would halt at nothing -to gain its ends." - -It did not take many minutes for these strangely-contrasted coworkers to -master the contents of the documents. Then Major Buckstone drew an -ink-pot toward him at a table and took up a broad-nibbed quill pen. - -"A line will suffice," said he to the others. "General Gage will grasp -the situation instantly. A single dash upon Boston Neck of a dark night -will do the work. If I were only there with my artillery, I would soon -have it as wide open as----" - -"Hsh-h!" warned Jason Collyer again. And once more he threw a sharp, -distrustful look at Ezra. - -With a snort of contempt the bluff soldier dipped the broad-nibbed pen -deep into the ink-pot; then he dashed off some heavy lines of writing, -folded the paper and affixed a seal. - -"There," said he, rising, "that will answer." He handed the message to -Ezra and continued, "Is your horse fresh enough to mount at once?" - -Ezra knew that the beast was not; but then he had seen and heard all -that was necessary and had no desire to linger in the house of Abdallah. - -"He will do until I reach my first stop," said he. - -"Good," spoke the major as he watched the lad button the message tightly -up in his breast pocket. "Make all haste." - -"You may depend upon me to do so," returned Ezra evenly. "But first you -must tell me where I am to go?" - -Amazement was written large upon the soldier's broad, red face at this. -His eyes went to Abdallah; and the latter smiled easily. - -"It is our way of conducting things," said he. "We never allow our right -hands to know what our left hands are doing." Then turning to Ezra, he -went on, "Return by way of Charlestown. Just outside of that village, -near an elevation called Bunker Hill, there is a small place of resort -known as the 'Indian's Head.'" - -"I can find it," said Ezra. - -"Excellent!" Abdallah smiled pleasantly. "At the 'Indian's Head' you -will ask for Mr. Pennington. And when he is pointed out to you--by the -landlord, mind you--deliver the message to him." - -"Very well," said Ezra. - -"You understand perfectly?" inquired Jason Collyer. - -"Perfectly," replied Ezra, briefly. Then turning to the others he -continued, "If that is all you have to say to me, I will be off at -once." - -"That is all," said Major Buckstone; and Abdallah smiled and inclined -his hairless head. - -They held candles for him as he went out, for night had come on. - -"Ride carefully," warned Major Buckstone. "It will be a dark night." - -"I am used to it," said the boy, as he unfastened the tall bay and -climbed into the saddle. "And then, this nag of mine has eyes like an -owl." - -And so, with a shake of the rein and a wave of the hand to the three, -the young patriot was off along the dark road, going by the way he had -come. - - - - -CHAPTER V - -HOW JASON COLLYER CAME TO THE "PLOW AND HARROW" - - -Once he had gotten the candle-light well out of his eyes, Ezra found -that the darkness was not quite as thick as he had supposed. - -"All of which suits my purpose very well," he told himself, well -pleased. - -He had no idea of proceeding any great distance in the direction in -which he was heading. He had promised to meet Ben Cooper at the place -where the church tower reared itself above the tree-tops toward -Chelmsford; and this he determined to do. - -"If I fail to keep my promise, Ben will begin to imagine all sorts of -things," mused Ezra. "And, also, I'll need to talk over this matter with -him before I do anything." - -He rode along until his horse's hoofs sounded hollowly upon the timbers -of the bridge. - -"The sound will no doubt reach the house," he muttered, "and perhaps -they will be listening for it." - -In the middle of the bridge he wheeled his steed and slowly recrossed; -then dismounting he led the animal into the woods and struck out upon a -course parallel with the road. The way was much darker here because of -the overhang of the trees; he was compelled to proceed with the utmost -care in order to avoid accidents. - -"I said you had eyes like an owl, old fellow," said he to the bay. "Now -prove that I did not overpraise you; for a misstep means, perhaps, a -broken leg." - -And the horse, as though in answer, stepped gingerly along, his mane -brushing Ezra's shoulder, and his nose pointed toward the ground. In a -short time they arrived opposite the house of Abdallah; the mastiffs -must either have got scent of, or heard them. At any rate they broke -into a tremendous barking. - -Now Ezra spoke to the bay and it stopped. His hand sought the long -pistol in the holster and his eyes were fixed upon the dark, silent -house across the road. - -Then the door opened and a flare of light shot out upon the neglected -garden. Abdallah appeared in the doorway, and behind him was Jason -Collyer with a shaded candle in his hand. - -The Oriental spoke sharply to the clamoring brutes and they instantly -subsided. Some words passed between the two men, and then both went in; -and the door was closed and all was darkness and stillness once more. - -Ezra waited a while; then, as the dogs appeared to be silenced for good, -he spoke to the horse and once more started on. Almost immediately the -dogs recommenced their barking and once more the boy brought the bay to -a halt. With his hand upon the pistol he watched the house, expecting -the door to open. But this time it did not, and the mastiffs made the -night echo with their uproar. - -"It would seem that they are now tied up," said Ezra after a little. "It -is a lucky thing for me that Abdallah was so minded. Otherwise I would -have had them at my throat before this." - -Again he spoke to the horse and they proceeded upon their way through -the trees. The mastiffs grew all but frantic in their ravings; but still -no sign came from the house. - -"I suppose the owners of such beasts grow accustomed to their noise in -time," thought the lad. "And in that I am fortunate, too; for if -Abdallah and his friends had taken it into their heads to make a search, -they must have surely found me." - -About a hundred yards beyond the house he ventured into the road. As -this was soft and he walked the horse, no sound of hoofs was heard. It -was a good half mile farther on that he got into the saddle, and -gathered up the reins with a breath of satisfaction. - -"Now for the hamlet with the church tower," he said, and he touched the -bay with the spur and went loping down the dark wagonway. - -There were stars in the sky, but no moon; a faint sheen filtered through -to the earth, and as the road was of a light-colored soil, the boy could -trace it faintly as it stretched on ahead of him. From among the trees -that still continued to line the way, there came the mysterious shadows -and sounds of the night; but Ezra Prentiss was not a lad to give such -things much heed, but went plodding steadily on, his eyes bent keenly -ahead, his whole attention given to making his destination in as short a -time as possible. - -A number of times he fancied that he caught dull, indefinite sounds in -his rear; indeed, he once drew in his horse and listened. But as nothing -more followed, he credited the noises to the whispering voice of the -night, and so rode on. - -At length he came to a place where the timber had been cleared away; -fences were erected and the ground broken by the plow. Off to the left -was a small group of houses, and above them, strongly marked against the -background of stars, was the church tower that he had pointed out to -Ben. - -"Plowed ground is slow traveling," he said to himself as he slipped from -the saddle, "but as I don't know the roads hereabouts, it's the best I -can do." - -But as luck would have it, he found a place in the fence where the rails -could be slipped. - -"A gate," said the boy, well pleased. "Well, that can mean only one -thing; there's a path hereabouts, somewhere." - -He mounted once more and gave the horse its head. In a moment it had -picked out the path, invisible to Ezra, and went plodding along with -lowered head. This led across some half dozen fields; at each fence Ezra -was forced to get down and lower the bars. At length he found himself in -the midst of what seemed a level green. There were scattered houses all -about, their windows cheerfully lighted; the doors of some of them stood -open, for the night was not unpleasant. - -"And there is my old acquaintance, the church," said Ezra, as he noted a -large lantern swinging over a doorway. "And judging from the people -passing in, there is a service going forward." - -He led his horse across the green and finally encountered a man bearing -a lantern. - -"I ask your pardon, sir," said the boy, "but is there any place of -public entertainment in this village?" - -"There is," replied the man with the light. "Directly before you--where -you see the door standing open--is the 'Plow and Harrow.'" - -"I thank you," said Ezra. - -He made his way to the place indicated. It was a two-storied, -clean-looking place with a sanded floor, polished oaken tables and a -stout, white-aproned landlord. - -A thin man, with a straw in his mouth, took the horse, and Ezra entered -the inn. At once his eye fell upon Ben Cooper, seated at a table, with a -rasher of bacon and a dish of eggs before him. - -"Hello," said Ben, pausing in his attack on the provisions. "You've got -here at last, have you? I'd almost given up hope of you for the night, -and so ordered my supper." - -"And very good it looks," said Ezra, regarding hungrily the bacon, the -eggs, the huge white loaf and the great square of golden butter. - -The stout landlord approached, wiping his hands upon his apron. He -smiled in a pleased fashion at Ezra's words. - -"Can I bring you some, young gentleman?" asked he, good-humoredly. "The -bacon is most excellent. It has just the faintest tang of the smoke in -it, and that adds vastly to its flavor. The eggs are fresh laid; the -bread is our own baking, and the butter of this countryside is the best -in all the colony, perhaps." - -"How could I say no, after that?" laughed Ezra. "As you put it, it is -really fascinating. But first I'll have some water, a towel and soap." - -In a little while, freshened up with these latter articles, he was -seated opposite Ben, with the wholesome food before him and doing it the -justice that its excellent qualities deserved. - -"I don't know how you found it," said Ben, as their meal proceeded, "but -the people along the road I took are heart and soul with the colony. -Almost everywhere, I heard of men settling their affairs that they might -be off to the army." - -"That's good news," said Ezra. "Settling their affairs, eh? Very likely, -then, what I heard General Ward say about a week ago is pretty close to -the truth. Speaking of the many desertions, he said that very likely -they were caused by the men having been called away from home at a -moment's notice to repulse the Lexington column. No one had time to make -preparations; some left their families without even a good-bye, others -were known to have mounted their plow horses, leaving the plows in the -field." - -"The circulars, which I read and distributed, seemed to touch the right -spot," said Ben Cooper. "The people seemed to realize that if they let -the army under Gage get the better of them now, their liberties would be -gone forever. All are patriots in this section." - -Ezra made no answer to this, but went on with his supper. There was an -expression upon his face, however, that caught Ben's attention; the -latter gazed curiously at his friend for a moment and then asked: - -"What is it? Come now, don't deny that you've got news of some sort. -When you take on that look, I'm sure that something has happened." - -Ezra smiled. - -"This time," said he, "you are right. Something has happened." He leaned -across the table and lowered his voice. "You say that all in this -section are patriots. But I have found a nest of British spies right in -the heart of it." - -Ben stared at him. - -"There are Tories everywhere," said he, at length. - -"I am not speaking of Tories," said Ezra, "but of what looks like a -regularly organized system of British espionage." - -Then he related his experiences to Ben, who sat in round-eyed wonder, -drinking in the story. When he had finished there was a long silence; -then Ben said: - -"It seems to be a sort of place of call for them, with an officer of the -British service in command?" - -Ezra nodded. - -"But," continued Ben, "it all seems very queer to me. Why is such a -strange person as you describe this Abdallah to be concerned in it? And -why is a place, so out of the way as that one, selected as a -headquarters?" - -"To be out of the way, must be an advantage in a matter of their kind," -smiled Ezra. - -"No doubt. But that is not just what I mean. This adventurer, Gilbert -Scarlett, for example, brings a packet of papers from Cambridge. They -are read upon your delivering them; and you are sent with an answer to a -gentleman at a place near Charlestown. Why is that? It would have been -much simpler and less inconvenient to have sent the message to the -'Indian's Head' in the first place." - -Again Ezra nodded. - -"I get your point," he said. "And I have been thinking over the same -thing ever since I left Abdallah's house." - -Ben glanced quickly at his friend; there was that in his tone that -attracted his attention. - -"And you have made up your mind to something, I know," said he. - -"Not altogether. But I have figured out some possibilities. This spy -system, while under the supervision of a British officer, has been -organized by Abdallah. He was imported by Gage for just this purpose. It -is possible that it is his profession. Experience has probably taught -him to isolate himself. But his spies, who are perhaps unknown to each -other, are scattered all about. When they have anything to report, they -send a rider who can be trusted; and he in turn carries the answer, if -one is called for, to a person who stands close to Gage and his -counselors." - -Ben rapped the oaken table smartly with his knuckles by way of applause. - -"Good!" cried he. "That is just the way of it!" He looked at his friend -in high admiration for a moment. "And it is very fortunate that you -stumbled across it. Yes," thoughtfully, as he renewed his inroads on the -bacon, "Abdallah is the chief spy, as you think. His little tilts with -Major Buckstone show that plainly enough." - -They discussed the matter for a long time, over the remnants of their -meal. The fact that the British had discovered the practically unguarded -condition of Boston Neck worried the boys not a little. One swift rush -of the trained regiments of the King might undo all the good that had -been accomplished. They spoke in low voices, for the landlord, and now -and then some other of the inn people, were constantly about; at length -some patrons entered and took seats at no great distance. - -Safe in a hamlet where practically all were united in hatred of the laws -of Parliament, the boys gave little heed to those who came or went. The -newcomers ordered elaborately of the fare of the "Plow and Harrow"; the -host, in high good humor, bustled about giving them his best attention. - -"Your horses, gentlemen," said he, "should be rubbed down and unsaddled. -It will do them much good." - -"Leave them as they are," said one of the strangers; "we may require -them at----" - -The thin hand of one of his fellows tugged at his sleeve. - -"Sh-h-h!" whispered the owner of the hand, warningly. - -The first speaker laughed. - -"But you are right," admitted he, with great candor. "It is a well -established fault of mine that I talk too much." - -It so chanced that Ben Cooper sat facing the strangers. He caught the -landlord's words and the answer that followed. He also heard the warning -"Sh-h-h!" and saw the tug at the speaker's sleeve. - -Lowering his voice, he described the scene to Ezra. - -"Why," said the latter, "there is something familiar about that." - -"Just what I thought," agreed Ben. "The warning reminds me a great deal -of what you have just told me of your acquaintance Jason Collyer." - -"I wonder," said Ezra, "could it, by any chance, be he?" - -"If it is, he has followed you," replied Ben. - -As Ezra was opposite his friend, his back was to the newcomers; but some -little distance away there was a broad framed mirror, and by sitting in -a certain way he discovered that he could get a very good view of them, -indeed. - -There were four in the party and all were attired in the soiled dress of -farm laborers. However, three of them bore themselves in a swaggering -manner much out of keeping with their apparent station. And all of them -wore pistols belted at their waists. The fourth man, and much the -smaller, sat in a shadow and for a time Ezra could not make him out. -However, he finally turned his head to reply to a remark of one of his -companions and his countenance was fairly reflected in the glass. There -was no mistaking the furtive eyes and ferret features. It was Jason -Collyer. - -When the lad made this discovery known to Ben, the latter became greatly -excited. - -"He's followed you. You thought he suspected you all along, and you were -right." - -"And who, I wonder, are these others that he has brought with him?" said -Ezra, regarding the reflections in the glass with much interest. "They -look like tall, active fellows, and of a stamp that would not hesitate -at a trifle like a man's life." - -"Would they dare, do you think, attack us here?" - -"Why not? Jason Collyer has learned that I did not ride in the direction -of Charlestown. He probably suspected my presence among the trees -opposite Abdallah's house when they came out and then made a quiet -investigation later. That is why no one answered the second cry of the -mastiffs. When he learned positively that I was not what I seemed, he -gathered this small, but very competent-looking force and made after me. -In his eyes I am a dangerous person; and in days like these, dangerous -persons are not treated very gently, as you know." - -"True enough," replied Ben, his round face seeming to grow rounder as he -examined the strangers. "But, still, there is so much danger of a hue -and cry being started in a place like this." - -"They have not overlooked that," Ezra told him quietly. "The fact that -they desired the landlord to leave their horses ready for mounting -proves that." - -"Well, what do you think we'd better do?" asked Ben, a combative -expression coming into his face. - -"Nothing as yet. We must first see what they intend doing, and act -accordingly." - -They had no great while to wait, for one of the men arose and came -toward their table. He leaned familiarly upon it, gazing into each of -their faces in turn. He was a hard-featured man with a great thatch of -reddish hair; and a wide, mocking sort of grin displayed a set of -strong, yellow teeth. - -"I give you good-evening," said he, the grin growing wider. - -"Good-evening to you," replied Ezra, with great coolness. - -The man examined them once more. Then he continued: - -"You are strangers hereabouts, I take it." - -Ezra leaned back and regarded the speaker in turn. - -"And, sir," said he, "I'd take the same of you." - -The mocking grin lost a little of its tone; and a flush came into the -coarse, heavy-featured face. - -"Hah!" said the man. "You are very apt in your answers, I see." - -"It's a habit that's like to grow upon one after a little experience -with the world," answered Ezra, evenly. - -"You are very young to have had much experience of any sort," spoke the -man. He pushed back the platters and cups in a most offensive way and -seated himself upon a corner of the table. - -"Age does not always bring experience, any more than it brings manners," -returned Ezra, pointedly. - -The grin disappeared entirely; two points of anger showed in the man's -eyes. - -"You grow more and more apt in your sayings," spoke he. Then in a -jeering way: "I have no doubt but that you think yourself a smart and -proper youth, indeed." - -"And you may also have no doubt, sir," replied the boy, "that there are -many things that pass through your mind that give me very little -concern." - -A subdued burst of laughter came from the man's comrades; his face -darkened and he rose up from the table, his hands clenched. What he -would have done Ezra never knew; just then the lad caught the reflection -of Jason Collyer in the mirror; he was beckoning the man away. And, with -a shrug of the shoulders and a snap of his strong jaws, he obeyed. - -"They aim to fasten a quarrel upon us," breathed Ben. "Have you your -pistol?" - -"No," replied Ezra. "It is in my holster." - -"And mine," said Ben. "I had no idea that we'd ever need them here." - -Ben was ready enough when left to himself but when accompanied by Ezra, -usually left the planning of any important step to him. And now, as he -looked at him, expecting some ready ruse that would enable them to evade -danger, he was not disappointed. Ezra's face was confident and -unruffled. Indeed, there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes, as he said: - -"I want you to make some sort of an excuse to go outside. It must be a -good one or they will prevent your going. When you get there, slip off -the bridles of two of their horses and loosen their saddle girths. Do -you understand?" - -"Perfectly," answered Ben. - -The four men were whispering together and casting undisguisedly hostile -glances at the boys. The landlord and some of the inn's people who -lingered about noticed this, and began to exhibit concern. - -Ben Cooper arose with much self-possession. - -"Landlord," said he, "what is our bill? Your inn is a fairly good one, -but much too uncomfortable for persons who desire to be unmolested." - -The stout host mentioned the sum, and Ben put a hand in his pocket. A -look of dismay came into his face, and turning quickly to Ezra he said: - -"I'll have to see to my saddle-bags. I'm growing very careless of late." - -He hastily crossed to the door, and went out. The hard-faced man rose -and went to a window overlooking the space before the inn; he stood -there with his back turned to those in the room, his whole attitude -indicative of watchfulness. - -"That won't do," said Ezra to himself. "If my plan is to come to -anything he must not stand there." - -He was casting about in his mind for a means of drawing the man's -attention from Ben, when Jason Collyer spoke to the host. - -"Landlord, I take it that you are not troubled a great deal with Tories -in these parts." - -"No, gentlemen," replied the stout man fervently, "I am thankful to say -that we are not. Those who were of that way of thinking went their way -into Boston; you see, it was made unpleasant for them hereabouts. If -they loved Gage and his army so well, we thought it better that they -should be there where they could see them every day." - -"And quite right," spoke Jason Collyer. Ezra noticed that he no longer -took the trouble to keep in the background. At first he had done so, but -now, apparently, his plans had changed. "Quite right," repeated Jason -Collyer. "Such folks are most dangerous, and scarcely of the kind that -honest folk care to mingle with." - -From indications, the subject of Tories was one that had great interest -for the stout host of the "Plow and Harrow." He puffed out his cheeks -and smoothed the white apron carefully. - -"Preserve me from any such!" said he. "They come sneaking into one's -house, prying and asking questions. And all the time they have it in -their hearts to send one to the gallows. They should be dealt with -hardly!" - -"They are a poisonous tribe," said Jason Collyer. He darted a covert -look at Ezra as he said this, and the boy noted a smile of satisfaction -upon his thin lips. Like an inspiration, the other's intention flashed -upon the boy. - -"He's sounded the landlord upon this subject with one thought in his -mind," Ezra told himself. "He'll tell him that Ben and I are Tories; and -so these friends of his will be left to work their wills with us." - -Ezra was not a lad to sit and ponder while something to his injury was -going forward. With the solution of the other's plan, came a counterplot -with which he hoped to balk it. - -"If you will pardon me, sir," spoke he, leaning forward, his elbows upon -the table, "I would like to agree with you in what you have said. The -greatest enemies of the colonies are those who should naturally be at -one with us--the Tories." - -"Truly spoken, young gentleman," beamed the landlord, "and very well -spoken too." - -Jason Collyer was about to say something, but Ezra calmly waved him -down, riveting the host's attention with a look. - -"And, as you say, sir," with a little bow, "they intrude themselves into -one's very house with the basest of intentions against one's peace. And -they come when least expected, also in many guises." - -He looked coolly toward the man who still stood watching from the -window, and proceeded, slightly lifting his voice: - -"It is all but impossible to detect them in time. One seldom suspects -them. For example," and he gestured toward the man at the window, "that -gentleman over there, for all we know, may be a Tory." - -Ezra knew perfectly well that the next few moments must precipitate a -struggle. In order that Ben might have an opportunity to do his work, -the watcher at the window must relax his attention. - -The raised voice and the boy's bold insinuation had the effect which he -intended. Instantly the man turned from the window, a snarl upon his -lips; he approached Ezra menacingly. - -"So, my lad, I hear from you again," spoke he, gratingly. "Perhaps if -you knew me better, you would not be so ready with your tongue." - -Ezra regarded him quietly. That his ruse had succeeded greatly delighted -the young patriot; but he concealed his pleasure under a mask of -indifference. - -"As you suggest," replied he, "if I knew you better, I might hesitate in -speaking to you." He was looking the man coolly in the eye; it would -take a practiced hand like Ben Cooper's but a moment to strip off a -brace of bridles, and he did not now care what action the red-haired man -might take. So he proceeded with even greater nonchalance than before: - -"And it is also possible that, in the same case, I might go to even -greater lengths than I have." - -For an instant the man glared at the boy as though dazed by his -boldness. Then he leaped toward him in a fury. - -But Ezra was prepared for the attack. Like a flash he was upon his feet; -the heavy oaken table fell, with a crash of crockery, before the man; -unable to stay himself, he went sprawling over it. Ezra's quick eye had -noted the concerted action of the man's friends at the moment of the -attack. All had leaped up, their hands fingering the locks of their -pistols. - -But the boy gave them no time to think after the fall of the table. With -a series of soft-footed bounds he reached the window. Placing his hands -upon the sill, he vaulted out into the night, and ran toward a group of -horses, at no great distance from the door. - -"This way," cried Ben Cooper. In another moment the boys were in the -saddle and tearing madly away from the "Plow and Harrow." - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -SHOWS HOW EZRA ADVENTURED TOWARD THE "INDIAN'S HEAD" - - -As Ezra Prentiss and Ben Cooper dashed away from the "Plow and Harrow," -Jason Collyer and his comrades flung themselves with loud cries out of -the door. A moment later these cries were redoubled. - -"They've found their chargers without bridles," said Ben. "And perhaps -more than one of them has got a fall from a twisting saddle. I'm sorry -for the landlord; but I'll contrive to pay him later." - -They drew rein and sat their horses, looking back toward the inn. The -stout landlord was plain in the doorway, and visibly much distressed; -hostlers and others appeared with lights; riderless horses were prancing -and snorting about with angry men pursuing them. - -"How did you come to get out our own nags?" asked Ezra, who had -recognized the familiar gait of his tall bay horse at once. - -"When that fellow came to the window, I thought I'd not have the chance -to do what you suggested," answered Ben. "So I went to the barn, and by -good luck found that our mounts had not been unsaddled. When I led them -out, taking care to keep in the shadow, I noted the man gone from the -window. So I out with my knife and cut the bridles of my friends, gave -each girth a slash, and there they were, as neat as you please." - -"I think we'd better make the best of our way to Chelmsford," suggested -Ezra, after a time spent in watching the dim confusion before the inn. -"And it would be better, also, that we keep our pistols ready to hand, -for Master Jason Collyer seems a person of some parts." - -The road was good and within an hour they had reached Chelmsford, where -they had the good fortune to fall in with others upon the same errand as -themselves. - -"That means," said Ben, as they stretched themselves contentedly between -the cool sheets at a cool, clean little inn, a short time after, "that -this riding about is over and done. Our section has been covered with -the circulars, and we can return to Cambridge." - -"And I'm glad of it," yawned Ezra. "There promise to be certain matters -of interest before Boston at no distant time, and I, for one, want to -see the whole thing." - -Next morning Ezra gathered the riders of the Committee of Safety -together, and, with their number added to by a half dozen young farmers, -they made a descent upon the house of Abdallah. - -But they were too late. The place was in ashes; not a sign or trace of -any one was to be found. - -"I suppose Jason Collyer lost no time in making his report after the -affair at the 'Plow and Harrow,'" said Ezra to Ben, after they had left -the others and were making their steady way toward Bedford. "And now, I -suppose, an alarm will be sent out, and this Mr. Pennington, whoever he -may be, will take care not to present himself at the 'Indian's Head' to -receive messages of any sort." - -From Bedford they took the road to Lexington, and late in the afternoon -entered the town of Cambridge. At once they sought out Dr. Warren, as -the leading spirit of the Committee of Safety, and made him acquainted -with all that had occurred. - -The great patriot knit his brows. - -"It has a bad look," said he. "The fact that our strength is known and -perhaps our every move, is not calculated to give us much satisfaction. -But I will see Colonel Prescott in the matter, also Generals Ward and -Putnam. And in the meantime," placing a hand upon the boys' shoulders, -his kind, grave face alight, "let me tell you that you have both done -well. If all who professed the cause did half so well, we would have -very little to fear from any source." - -Upon the beginning of the enlistment, which commenced after the -Lexington fight, both Ezra and Ben had promptly put their names to the -roll of Prescott's regiment, as did Ezra's twin brother, George, and -Ben's stalwart, ready-handed cousin from the Wyoming wilderness, Nat -Brewster. But they had all four been detailed upon special duty for the -Committee of Safety, and so lodged at a house at no great distance from -Dr. Warren's. - -The candles were lighted when Ben and Ezra reached their lodging. George -and Nat sat at a table playing at draughts. Both leaped up at the sight -of the newcomers. - -"Something told us that you would get back this evening," cried George, -as they shook hands all around. - -"And we asked Mrs. Parslow, as a special favor, to delay supper," spoke -Nat Brewster. - -"That was thoughtful enough, eh, Ben?" laughed Ezra. "And to show how we -appreciate it," to Nat, "we'll try to do it full justice." - -While Mrs. Parslow, a good-humored, elderly woman, was bringing in the -smoking dishes, the four lads related their experiences. George and Nat -had ridden together upon the same mission as the other two, but had gone -in the direction of Milton and Braintree. - -"And the people listened to the Committee's warnings with their hearts -in their eyes," said Nat Brewster. "Let there be only action, and -General Ward will not want for men." - -"But Massachusetts cannot be expected to do it all," said Ben. "The -other colonies must bear their share of the burden." - -"They will, never fear," said Ezra. "Only this afternoon I heard of a -company of riflemen being recruited as far south as Virginia. Then there -are the Connecticut men and those from New Hampshire. And don't forget -that these last bring leaders with them. The British themselves -acknowledge the ability of Putnam, Stark and Greene." - -Ezra and George sat side by side and Mrs. Parslow looked bewilderedly at -them. - -"One of you likes griddle-cakes with honey," she said, "but for the life -of me I can't tell which of you it is." - -"It's George," spoke Ben Cooper, with a grin. - -"And which is George?" asked the good woman, looking from one to the -other. - -"Here he is," responded George, reaching for the much-prized -griddle-cakes. "I'll never fail to acknowledge myself for these, Mrs. -Parslow; and I've never seen any one that made them like you." - -Mrs. Parslow looked vastly gratified. - -"I'm sure I'm glad to please you," she said. "But how your mother ever -told you two apart, I'll never be able to say." - -The Prentiss brothers had been a puzzle and a delight to her ever since -the four came to lodge with her. Nat Brewster, with his grave, competent -ways and manly face of character, she had taken to at once; and the -chubby face of Ben Cooper, his merry eye and ready laugh, had always -pleased her. But the twins were a perpetual bewilderment and mystery to -her, as indeed they might be to many with greater observation and -sharper eyes than she. - -After supper George and Ben got out the draughts, while Ezra and Nat -drew their chairs together and discussed the features of the situation -as each saw it. - -"I heard a long talk between Dr. Warren and Colonel Prescott, only -to-day," said Nat. "I had come to make report of our work and the two -were deeply engaged with each other. It would seem that each has a great -respect for General Ward, but no large idea of his military ability." - -"It requires, I should say, a man of much power to grasp things and -bring them into a state of order," said Ezra. "The Congress at -Philadelphia is, I believe, to name a commander-in-chief for the -colonial army; and let us hope that their choice will be one that will -bring the best results for the cause." - -"He will have no great soldier to fight in Gage," spoke Nat, "if the -opinions of the experienced Englishman, Charles Lee, and our own General -Putnam, have any weight. I have heard it said that Lee has repeatedly -declared that Gage is woefully incompetent; and that his every move has -been a blunder since the first gun was fired." - -"At any rate," said Ezra, "he has permitted General Ward to compass him -about. He is as tightly boxed up as a tame badger." - -"If it were not that the sea is open to him, we'd starve him out in a -very little while. However, King George will see to it that his servants -do not go hungry." - -"But it will be salt beef and hardtack that will keep them from it. The -colonial lines and earthworks so hedge them in that they'll never get a -scrap of fresh meat or measure of vegetables." - -"But what of our own people who are closed up in the town along with the -enemy?" questioned Nat, gravely. "If the British are in want of -palatable things, can we be sure that the townspeople have sufficient -food of any sort?" - -"You're right," said Ezra, thoughtfully. He leaned his head upon his -hands and stared at the floor. Nat watched him for some time and then -said: - -"Your grandfather is not in Cambridge?" - -"No," replied Ezra, "in Boston." - -There was another pause; then Nat spoke: - -"But, then, I don't think you need trouble for him." He placed a hand on -Ezra's shoulder. "Forgive me for saying it, but your grandfather will -not be likely to come to harm." - -"Not from the British, no," Ezra's voice was bitter and low. "But from -the patriot people of Boston, yes." He paused a moment and looked into -the frank, friendly face of the youth from Wyoming. "You understand how -it is with me. And there are many like me. In the war that has just -begun, there will be countless families divided like mine has been." - -"Take heart," said Nat Brewster. "One can hardly expect an old man, and -one born on British soil in the bargain, to be other than a friend to -the King. There are some who have greater cause for regret than you. -They say that the New Hampshire Colonel Stark's very brother has gone -over to the British." - -"It is not altogether my grandfather's being an enemy to the colonies -that troubles me," said Ezra. "He is a very old man and can do no great -harm. But he has made himself hated by the people. And if they are, by -any chance, starving in Boston, there will one day come an outbreak; and -it is not against the soldiery that vengeance will be directed. It will -be against such bitter-spoken partisans as Seth Prentiss." - -Nat nodded. - -"That is usually the way," he said. "Such a thing is greatly to be -feared; but in this case it will hardly go so far. I have heard that -there is a plan afoot to permit those who so desire to leave Boston. If -this is carried out, it will help matters wonderfully." - -But, though Ezra drew some small measure of hope from this suggestion, -he was still vaguely troubled. Somehow, the thought of his grandfather -kept recurring to him. He seemed filled with an indefinite fear -concerning him; it was as though the future held something unpleasant in -store. As this state of mind continued, he finally arose and bid his -friends good-night with a feeling of great depression. He had entered -his room and lighted a candle when he heard a low knock upon the door. -Opening it he saw his brother. - -George entered and closed the door behind him. - -"I have been wanting to say something to you all evening," said he, "but -could not get the opportunity." - -He drummed with his fingers upon the back of a chair, and the other saw -a troubled look in his eyes. - -"What is it?" asked Ezra. - -"It's about this man Pennington," replied George. "And also about the -one you call Abdallah." - -Ezra regarded him steadily. - -"What do you know of them?" he asked. - -George, from the time of their father's death, had made his home with -their Tory grandfather. In a measure he had shared the old man's views. -But at the Lexington fight, all this changed, and now he was the -stoutest patriot of them all. Ezra had scarcely seen his grandfather in -years; for the boy's open advocacy of the cause of liberty had deeply -incensed the old man against him. - -"I don't know a great deal about them," answered George. "I wish I did. -It might save us something. Pennington is a King's man, of course. He -and grandfather have been intimate--I might say, very intimate. I noticed -even long ago that they whispered a great deal in corners and held many -consultations in the library with the doors carefully closed." - -Ezra pursed up his mouth and frowned. - -"I see," was all he said. - -"Pennington came and went a great deal. Sometimes I would not see him -for weeks. Then, again, he'd be at the house almost constantly. Now and -then he'd bring a stranger. That is how I came to see Abdallah." - -"Ah." - -"They came late one night, in the midst of a storm. There was a great -banging of doors and lifting of voices. I had gone to bed some time -before; but the noise was so unusual that I got up again, dressed and -came down. The library door stood open, and I saw grandfather, Mr. -Pennington, Abdallah and General Gage." - -"Did you by any chance hear what was said?" - -"Not much. But I learned that grandfather had been expecting Abdallah -for months. The man had just arrived that night in a brig from San -Domingo. I also drew from what I heard that grandfather desired him to -perform some work of great value. But just what its nature was, I did -not know until to-night." - -"So grandfather is intimately concerned in the affair," said Ezra. "Do -you know, somehow I felt that some such condition existed. Ben Cooper -says he can often feel things coming; and in this case, at any rate, -it's been so with me." - -He paused a moment, then he resumed: - -"Grandfather always hated spying and spies. And the fact that he has -personally imported this man, shows how great is his hatred of the -cause." - -"It has no end," and George Prentiss shook his head. - -"I can't help the impression that he will come to danger through it -all," said Ezra. "It is a time when men do not stay their hands; and -should he risk himself, his life will pay for it." - -Again George shook his head. - -"And he is of the sort that risk themselves," he said. - -"But, tell me," said Ezra. "What sort of a person is Pennington?" - -"Not more than thirty-five; but he would strike you as being much older. -He is about the average height; and his most noticeable characteristics -are a very high and very narrow forehead, and a most disagreeable -laugh." - -After George had left him, Ezra undressed and went to bed. But not to -sleep! Before his mind came pictures of conspiracies in which his bitter -old grandfather played a conspicuous part. In his unreasoning hatred of -the colonies' desire for liberty, the lad knew the old man would go to -any length. - -"He hasn't spoken to, or looked at me for years," thought Ezra. "But -I'd have no harm befall him for all that." - -Even after he had gone to sleep the idea clung to him in his dreams. Men -with wonderfully high and astonishingly narrow foreheads laughed at him -in a disagreeable way; suave, dark-skinned persons in flowing robes -sought for the destruction of the colonies in the musty rolls of ancient -manuscript. And the dreams were also filled with formidable General -Gages, who, sword in hand, urged the others to hasten their tasks. - -Next morning Ezra was up before his friends and after breakfasting, -mounted and rode away toward the lines. - -There were not a great many people to be met with. The outbreak of war -had caused great terror, and very many of the inhabitants had left -Cambridge, fearful of what was to come. Property was for the most part -left unprotected; and as there were many vagabonds hanging upon the -skirts of the colonial army, there was more or less looting. - -That a general panic did not seize upon the people was due to the great -influence and untiring efforts of Dr. Warren. No public character of the -time had impressed itself so upon the masses. Even the only partly -disciplined troops felt the magnetism of the man, and many times, when -they were on the verge of rising against their officers, had a word from -him made them see the folly of such an action. - -It was with the intention of advising with the doctor that Ezra made -such an early start. But early as he was, the patriot had preceded him. - -"The doctor has gone to Charlestown," the serving maid replied to the -boy's inquiries. "Something was amiss there among the soldiers, and he -was sent for." - -"I will follow him there," said Ezra. - -"Will nothing do them but that they must be forever disturbing him?" -demanded the girl, in an aggrieved sort of way. "He cannot get a sound -night's rest for you all. First it's one and then it's the other who -comes rushing for him. Are you all children, that you can do nothing for -yourselves?" - -Leaving the doctor's door, Ezra mounted once more and rode toward -Charlestown. Here, after much inquiry, he found the doctor advising with -a company of riflemen of Colonel Prescott's command. - -There were some British gunboats and a heavily-armed transport anchored -in the Charles River, and toward Boston several frowning frigates swung -at their cables, black and ominous. Ezra spent some time in watching -these, and the distant city where the army of Gage was quartered; and -when Dr. Warren was disengaged, he at once approached him with the -matter that was nearest his heart. - -"I understand you perfectly," said the patriot, after Ezra had related -his story. "But I do not see any great occasion for alarm on your part. -This spy system, which you so fortunately discovered, will not long -survive the exposure. It is the nature of such things to die of too much -light." - -He paused a moment and then said: - -"As to your grandfather's connection with it, now. It is not, in all -probability, very great. He has proved himself useful in some way, -perhaps, and they have made use of him. I know him fairly well. Seth -Prentiss is too quick-tempered and far too outspoken a man to be -knowingly selected as an important part in such a plot. And regarding -any outbreak in Boston, you may put your mind at rest. Word has been -sent to the townspeople to remain quiet, and they will obey." - -Dr. Warren talked in the same soothing strain for some time; he saw that -the lad was vaguely troubled, and desired to reassure him. - -While they were so engaged, Colonel Prescott rode up. His strikingly -handsome person was set off by his neat uniform, and he sat his horse -like an Arab. - -"Ah, Prentiss," cried he, after saluting the doctor cordially, "you are -just the sort of lad I've had in mind. There's a dispatch to be carried -to Colonel Stark at Medford, and I can scarcely spare an officer." - -Ezra saluted promptly. - -"Yes, colonel," spoke he. - -It took some time to get the dispatch in proper order; and when Ezra -finally left Prescott's quarters, it was high noon. After a sharp ride -to Medford the papers were delivered to Colonel Stark. Then there was -another wait while that fine warrior prepared his answer. Darkness had -fallen when he arrived at Charlestown once more. - -[Illustration: DR. WARREN TALKED IN THE SAME STRAIN] - -The bay was rubbed down, rested and fed; its rider stretched himself -upon a bench with a biscuit and a slice of beef. The sky had a sort of a -bronze hue and the stars burned dimly, like bright rivets set in a -giant's shield. - -Ezra, when he had finished his supper, lay looking up at this and -wondering at the vastness of it. The lights of camp-fires flared here -and there; files of rough, un-uniformed soldiers passed and repassed; -bursts of laughter and snatches of song came down from groups whose duty -was done. - -And across the river, under the same stars, lay the British army; it was -perilously near, and it was powerful and deadly if properly guided. - -Ezra sat up and looked toward the danger point. Boston was dark, save -for a few winking fires; orders had been given long before for civilians -to extinguish lights of all descriptions before a given hour. The side -lights burned steadily upon the war-ships; occasionally a singsong cry -came from their decks as the watches were changed or a seaman called the -hour. - -Somehow, it seemed to the boy that this was the sort of night that -strange, wild things might well go forward. Odd enterprises might be -tried and accomplished under that bronze sky and those dimly-burning -stars. Strange people might well meet in all sorts of queer places and -mysterious deeds might well happen. - -In the midst of these reflections, Ezra came to his feet, a sudden -resolve fixed in his mind. A little distance away a group of townspeople -were gathered. He approached and said to one of them: - -"Do you know of an inn anywhere about that is known as the 'Indian's -Head'?" - -The man stared a moment, then shook his head. But one of his companions -spoke up. - -"There is none in Charlestown; but outside," and he pointed to the -north, "there is a small tavern called by that name. It lies upon a road -between Breed's and Bunker's Hills." - -"And which do you think would be the best way to reach it?" inquired -Ezra. - -"What, to-night?" the man glanced about among his companions. And all -seemed to reflect his incredulity. - -"And why not?" - -"Haven't you heard that the British talk of crossing and setting -themselves up upon those two hills?" - -"Yes, and of firing upon Charlestown?" put in another. - -"They are only wild reports," answered Ezra. "Such like get abroad in -times like these, but there is no reliance to be placed in them." - -If the facts be told, he had heard the same things himself, and from -persons of some consequence; but it would not do to encourage the -thoughts of the already frightened townspeople in such channels. - -"Well," said the man who professed to know the inn's location, "if you -don't mind making the venture to such a place, my lad, I'm sure I have -nothing more to say." - -His feelings were ruffled at having his warnings made so light of; so -without more ado he directed Ezra as to the way to go to reach the inn -desired. - -"I thank you," said Ezra. - -He went at once to the place where his horse was kept, saddled, bridled -and mounted it. - -"There may be some risk," he told himself, as he rode out of the guarded -town. "And perhaps I should have asked Ben or Nat or George to go with -me. But there is no time for that, if I am to go to-night. And like as -not it is a quiet country place, with never a spice of danger in it." - -The way took him along a narrow road bounded by stretches of grazing -land. The sheen of the sky showed him the smooth swelling rise of two -large hills ahead, the twinkling, far-off stars seemed peering down -searching fearfully for dangers among the darkness. - -The directions of the man at Charlestown had been unusually good, for -after a deal of weaving in and out and the crossing of fields, the boy -caught the twinkle of lights from a building ahead. As he came up he -found a lantern swinging above the door; and mounted upon a post in the -light of this he saw a rough painting of an Indian's head, which seemed -to serve as a sign. - -"This is the place, sure enough," he said. - -He at once got down. He had probably not been heard to approach; no one -came out to take his horse, so he tied it to a post near the door, -slipped his long pistol into the breast of his coat, and coolly entered -at the door. - -The very first thing that met his eyes were two men seated upon a settle -engaged in earnest talk; one had a large, plumed hat beside him on the -floor; he wore long soft leather boots and a heavy sword. - -"Gilbert Scarlett!" breathed Ezra. - -Instantly his eyes went to the person who sat beside the adventurer. -Something that Scarlett had said seemed to amuse the other, for just as -Ezra turned his attention to him, he uttered a high-pitched, -disagreeable laugh. - -And then, to make identification doubly sure, the head turned slightly. -And Ezra saw that the man's forehead was very narrow and very high. - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -EZRA MEETS WITH A STRANGE EXPERIENCE - - -The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they paid not the -slightest heed to the newcomer. The landlord, a thick-set, -sodden-looking man with a churlish expression, however, came forward. - -"Well, young gentleman?" he inquired, and he looked searchingly at Ezra -out of his small eyes. - -"I'd like my horse looked after," said the lad. "And then I'd be -thankful for a little something for myself, if it's no great trouble." - -The man shook his head surlily. - -"If you want your horse attended to, you'll have to do it yourself," -spoke he. "I have no one here to do such work. Hostlers are afraid to -stay." - -"Very well," replied Ezra, as he seated himself. "I'll look to him -presently." - -He had selected a far corner where Scarlett, if he turned, could not -readily make him out. - -"Cooks are just as hard to keep," stated the host grumblingly. "So if -you expect much in the way of supper, you'll be disappointed." - -"Whatever you have," said Ezra, pleasantly. "A dish of cold meat, the -end of a loaf and some mead, if I'm not asking too much." - -The man grunted. - -"That's a common failing hereabouts these times," he said, preparing to -go about his duties. "They all ask too much. Every one of them does." -Then with a sudden viciousness, "But they'd better stay away with their -questions! I'll not have them! Not a bit of it!" - -With that he snorted his angry way into the kitchen, leaving his young -guest with a quiet smile upon his face. - -"It is very evident," mused Ezra, "that the spies of General Ward have -been here before me." His eyes went to Scarlett's companion, and his -thoughts continued. "That being the case, Master Pennington is a man of -some courage to risk showing himself, I should think." - -The conversation between the two was really a monologue. Scarlett talked -in a resonant voice, twirled his moustache and gestured elaborately. The -other listened, shrugged at times, at others smiled, at others again -uttered the high-pitched, disagreeable laugh. Ezra leaned back and -clasped a knee with his hands and listened with interest. - -"The man was an uncommon sort of man," said Scarlett, "small, backward -in his manner and very low spoken. When he offered me the work to do I -felt sure that it was some plagued commercial matter that a man of my -quality should have nothing to do with. But I needed money and he had it -to pay. So I undertook to carry his papers without more ado." - -"And you found the matter of more interest than you'd have supposed?" -questioned the other. - -"Decidedly," answered Scarlett. He pulled up his boot-top and stroked -his chin. "First I lost my way; then I lost my horse. And afterward, as -though these were not enough, I all but lost my life by means of a young -blade pistoling me upon the road; him I sent on with the message. -Afterward I met with some riders and a wagon heavily laden. Among the -riders was the man Abdallah whom I had been sent to see. I knew him at -once, for no other man in this region could have such an appearance." - -A look of interest came into the other's face. - -"And he directed you here?" - -"He said that I might by chance come upon some further employment," -answered Scarlett, "if I frequented this place. He was not pleased with -the way I had performed my first office; but, doubtless, he's a person -of some perception and knows a man of mettle when he sees one." - -"No doubt," said Pennington, dryly. - -He regarded the adventurer with attention and seemed endeavoring to -properly weigh him. There was a bold, free air about Gilbert Scarlett -that took the eye at once; but that he was wondrously boastful was -evident, and boastful strangers are ever looked upon with distrust. - -"A man," declaimed Scarlett, twirling at his moustache, "cannot go -through seven campaigns and not bear some stamp of his service. When I -first offered my sword to the Elector of Hanover, he told me in his -rough German way that I was but a boy. But later I proved to him that I -could do the work of my elders, even then." - -"Abdallah said nothing specific, I suppose?" inquired Pennington. - -"How specific?" - -"He gave you no token to present to any one by name?" - -"None." - -"And he did not say that he would employ you?" - -"Not in so many words." - -Pennington shook his head. - -"I do not know the man," said he. "But from what you have told me, it -would seem that he has been making game of you." - -The head of Scarlett went up, and his hand sought the heavy hilt of his -sword. - -"There have been one or two, at odd times, who have sought to do that," -spoke he, and there was a ring in his voice that boded no good to any -such. "And I'll warrant you that they never attempted it again." - -"Have you inquired of the landlord as to these persons whom you seek?" -asked Pennington. - -"I have," with a shrug. "But he is a surly, short-spoken dog. I can get -nothing out of him." - -"It pains me to be unable to give you any intelligence of them," said -Pennington. "But I am a stranger here myself." - -As he spoke these words he turned his head, perhaps to look for the -landlord. His eyes fell upon Ezra seated there so coolly, and a look of -astonishment came into his face. But instantly he showed what a cautious -man he was by lifting his hand to hide his face; then he coughed -affectedly. - -Almost simultaneously with this gesture, Ezra noticed Scarlett make a -sharp movement. It was as though the adventurer was also about to turn. -But apparently he thought better of it, and remained with his back -stoically presented. - -"He saw the change in Pennington's face," was Ezra's instant thought. - -But what had caused this change the boy could not imagine. - -"Perhaps," he thought, "it was but the sudden discovery that there is a -third person in the room--a person who might have overheard something to -the disadvantage of Abdallah and his fellows." - -There was a marked pause; the backs of both men were turned to Ezra; to -his searching gaze it was plain that they were casting about as to what -they should do or say. It was Gilbert Scarlett who broke the silence. - -"Of course," said he, "a gentleman of my fortune--or lack of it--has no -choice but to gain the wages that enable him to live. I somehow fancied -the service of this Abdallah. Perhaps its strangeness appealed to me. -But now that he has failed me, I can see nothing to do but to take -service with the colonial army." - -"From your tone," spoke Pennington, "I gather that you do not care to do -this." He laughed his disagreeable laugh and resumed, "They have the -right upon their side, you must admit that. And then they are led by -very virtuous statesmen." - -"They are right enough," said Scarlett, with a shrug. "But is their -treasury deep enough to pay a needy officer with reasonable regularity? -I fancy not. As to their statesmen, I grant you their ability, knowing -nothing of them good or bad; but it takes generals to win battles." - -As he spoke he threw one arm across the back of the settle, and in the -most careless way in the world, turned his head. When he saw Ezra he -first looked surprised, and then amused. - -"What," said he, jovially, "my young friend of the pistol! Well met!" - -He arose. The spurs upon the heels of his boots clinked upon the tiled -floor, his long sword trailed noisily at his side. Ezra, perfectly -self-possessed, arose to greet him. Scarlett clasped his hand warmly. - -"Chance," declared the adventurer, "plays us many queer pranks as we -journey through life." He looked from Ezra to Pennington, a mocking -smile upon his lips, then he continued: "For I suppose it was the very -blindest chance that brought you here." - -Every inflection of the speaker's voice and his whole attitude, however, -indicated his complete disbelief in anything of the sort. It was plain -to the boy that the soldier of fortune was convinced that he and -Pennington were there by prearrangement. But Ezra did not speak; -Pennington, his face a shade paler, sat watchfully observant. - -Scarlett continued to glance from one to the other of them with amused -toleration. It was as though he had detected them in a sort of child's -play by which they had hoped to hoodwink him. - -"Sit you down," he finally invited Ezra. "But over here," pushing out a -chair, "where we can see you more readily." - -Ezra sat down, and Scarlett waved his hand toward Pennington, the smile -still curling his moustache. - -"I do not know either of your names," he said, "but," to Ezra, "here is -a gentleman whom you are unacquainted with, of course," and he burst -into a laugh, "but whom I could have diverted vastly had I chosen to -tell him of our little misadventure upon the road, two nights ago." - -Surprise and incredulity came into the face of Pennington; but he strove -to hide his agitation from the watchful eyes of the adventurer. - -"Is it possible," he ejaculated, "that this is the lad with the -pistol--he," eagerly, "whom you sent on with the message?" - -"None other," said Scarlett, smiling, "and since you are unacquainted, I -take pleasure in making you known to each other." - -One of Pennington's hands passed over his face; it was trembling, and, -like his countenance, was pale. He spoke hastily to Ezra, trying hard to -keep the eagerness out of his voice. - -"You must have had a most extraordinary experience," remarked he. "And -did you succeed in delivering this message at the house of this -gentleman--ah," as though trying to recall the name, then giving up the -attempt, "the gentleman with the foreign name?" - -"I did," replied Ezra. "And I trust that Master Scarlett bears me no -ill-will because of the manner in which I became his messenger." - -"Not the least in life," said Scarlett. "It is a man's right to defend -himself against all comers on the road. But you conducted the mission -with which I entrusted you oddly. You set these people, whoever they -are, by the ears. From what I learned in a short talk with them, you -deceived them in sundry ways; and it ended in their house being burned -down and they," with a laugh, "becoming wanderers upon the face of the -earth." - -"I delivered the papers as I promised," said Ezra. "I told the people at -the house nothing, but they took much for granted. What resulted was -much their own fault." - -Pennington had listened with interest. - -"Were you by any chance entrusted with a message in reply to the one you -carried?" he asked with eagerness. - -"I was," returned the boy frankly. - -"And to whom were you to deliver it?" asked Scarlett. "And where?" - -"To a Mr. Pennington," replied Ezra, evenly. "And at this inn." - -"So!" Scarlett lay back in the settle, his arms folded upon his chest -and his booted legs stretched out straight before him. "And how were you -to know this gentleman?" - -"I was to inquire of the landlord." - -Impulsively Scarlett rose up. - -"I will save you the trouble," said he. "The matter, in a measure, is my -own," apologetically to Ezra, "so I trust you will pardon me." He lifted -his voice and called: "Landlord!" - -There came a grumbling, unintelligible answer from the kitchen; but the -host did not present himself. - -"I took him to be a surly, sour-mouthed villain from the first," -commented Scarlett. "And as he will not come to me, I will go to him. -And I'll warrant you he'll tell what I want to know, or I'll have him -dance you a measure that he'll not like." - -So with a hitch at his sword belt and a twirl at his moustache, the -speaker clanked into the kitchen, from which his voice came a moment -later with commanding insistence. - -And no sooner had he vanished than Pennington bent eagerly toward Ezra. - -"You know me, of course?" said he. - -As Ezra did not reply, the man continued in a low, rapid tone: - -"You saw me frequently at your grandfather's house at Boston." - -A thrill ran through Ezra. He now understood that first surprised look. -The man mistook him for his twin brother, George. But the boy shook his -head as though in doubt. - -"I have no recollection of you," he answered. - -The man regarded him searchingly. - -"Your name is Prentiss?" - -"It is." - -"You are the grandson of Seth Prentiss?" - -"I am." - -The man evidenced his satisfaction. - -"You are he whom I took you to be," he said. He studied the lad -carefully for a moment. "Upon second thought I do not wonder that you -fail to recall me," continued he. "If I remember rightly, I have always -been somewhat given to hesitancy in my manner of showing myself." Here -he laughed his disagreeable laugh. "A man in my particular profession -must not be too forward." - -"And what is your profession?" asked Ezra. - -"I am the confidential agent of--of others," replied the man. "In point -of fact I am the very man you came here to see." - -"Not Mr. Pennington!" - -"That is my name," returned the man. "And now," with a quick look toward -the kitchen, where, judging by the sounds that came from it, a very -stormy interview was taking place, "give me the message sent by -Abdallah. I have been trying to get into communication with him, but -could not do so. I had no notion of what had happened until I heard some -fragments of the story from this loud-mouthed soldier." - -The landlord's voice now came from the kitchen in loud denial. - -"I tell you, sir, I know nothing of the gentleman you ask for." - -"And I tell you that you do. Don't think to pull the wool over my eyes. -Give me full information of this Master Pennington, or I'll spit you on -this skewer and toast you over your own fire." - -"I do not pretend to understand anything that has happened," said -Pennington to Ezra, swiftly and very low. "You'll have your own good -time to explain all that. But," with a fearful glance at the kitchen -door, "the matter of the dispatch which Abdallah gave you is perhaps -urgent. And all the more so from being delayed." - -The uproar in the kitchen, if such a thing were possible, grew louder. -But Ezra paid no heed to it. - -"It is impossible for me to turn the paper over to you now," he answered -quietly. - -The man stared at him. - -"And why?" he asked. - -"Because I no longer have it." - -"What!" Pennington sprang up, his high, narrow forehead flushing. "Then -who has?" - -"I think," said the boy, "that it is in the hands of one who will make -good use of it." - -Consternation was written deeply in the face of Master Pennington; he -had raised a clenched hand, an exclamation trembled upon his lips when -the landlord rushed into the room amid a great clatter of pans and -kettles. He was pale of face and affrighted of manner; and close at his -heels, with his drawn sword in his hand, strode the adventurer, Gilbert -Scarlett. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -EZRA MAKES UP HIS MIND TO A DANGEROUS VENTURE - - -The surly landlord of the "Indian's Head" danced into the centre of his -public room, the expression of fear expanding upon his face. - -"Gentlemen," he cried, appealing to Ezra and Pennington, "I demand your -protection. I am beset by this man, who would kill me in my own house." - -"If you prefer to have it so," spoke Scarlett with a swishing whir of -his heavy blade, "I will dispatch you upon the lawn if you are possessed -of one, or, in default of that, in the public road. I am of a liberal -nature, and would as well please you as not in the place of your taking -off." - -His agile point followed the churlish landlord in his caperings. - -"Sir," cried the man, addressing himself to Pennington, "I crave you to -speak a word to this mad villain, who seems bound to spill my blood." - -Pennington arose and was about to remonstrate with the young soldier; -but the latter stopped before he had well begun. - -"Have the goodness to keep your place," requested Scarlett, with a -quick, fierce, unmistakable look. "There are some things, perhaps, that -I can be crossed in," here the look grew significant, "and made to -appear cheap. But be assured, sir, that this is not one of them." - -At once Pennington sank back upon the settle and again the landlord -resumed his capering before the swift-moving sword point. - -"Now, rascal," cried Scarlett, harshly, "will you do as I ask? Faith, -I'm playing you easily enough; in Muscovy they'd have had your life for -half this show of stubbornness." - -"I tell you I know no such gentleman," cried the landlord. "How can I -tell that which I know not?" - -He whirled away before the brisk flash of the blade; and at the same -time he continued, addressing Pennington, meaningly: - -"I beg of you, sir, for the last time, to persuade this man to let be. I -am but flesh and blood. I cannot withstand everything." - -Again Pennington seemed about to interfere; but once more the fierce -glance of Scarlett awed him. Then the latter shortened his weapon and -glowered at the innkeeper. - -"And I call upon you for the last time to tell me who this man -Pennington is!" he grated. "Quick now!" - -The landlord's eyes sought for a means of escape; but he was hard -pressed to make use of any that presented themselves. - -"I will tell," he at length cried, desperately. "The man you want is -there." - -His trembling finger indicated Pennington, who turned a shade paler, but -sat composedly enough. Scarlett's sword point fell; he turned upon -Pennington and saluted him in a formal, military fashion, a satirical -smile curling his moustache points upward. - -"Sir," said he, "I am most pleased. I will not say that I expected as -much, but I can say that I am not at all surprised." - -Ezra watched the spy curiously. He saw him swallow once or twice in an -effort to speak. But finally he managed to resume control of his tongue. - -"You have found me out, then," said he, and he smiled in a sickly -fashion. "I was interested to see just how long it would take you." - -For all his speech faltered, his eyes were steady enough to threaten the -innkeeper for betraying him. But the man returned the look defiantly. - -"I'll not be sworded to death, and you sitting by at your ease, never -lifting a hand," he declared sullenly. - -Scarlett turned quickly upon the man. - -"You have done your share to the furthering of the acquaintance of this -gentleman and myself, and I am obliged to you. So now, back to your -scullery and let us hear none of your protestations." - -The innkeeper went quickly enough; he had had a taste of the -adventurer's quality, and clearly desired no more of it. After he had -vanished into his kitchen, Scarlett sheathed his blade, struck an -attitude with his feet very wide apart and hooked his thumbs into his -sword belt. - -"So, so, good and excellent sirs," said he with a lifting of his heavy -brows. "It would seem that you have been making a laughing-stock of me." - -"Nothing was further from my intention," Pennington hastened to say. - -Disbelief was plain in Scarlett's face; he turned to Ezra saying: - -"And what answer has your intimate?" - -"None, other than that I am not his intimate. To the best of my -knowledge," proceeded Ezra, "I have never met with this gentleman before -to-night." - -Gilbert Scarlett shot him a mingled glance of astonishment and regret. - -"I was mistaken in you, then," spoke he. "I took you to be an upstanding -youth of much character and straightforwardness." - -Ezra was about to speak in answer to this, but the young soldier waved -his hand. - -"Let me have no denials. I have eyes," and he gestured angrily. "Also, I -have perception, though you both seem to doubt it." - -"Sir," spoke Pennington, in a soothing tone, "you much deceive yourself -if you fancy that we have in any way sought to mislead you." - -He leaned forward upon the settle, his legs crossed and his hands upon -his knees. - -"Now," he proceeded, "I leave it to you as a gentleman of wide -experience and much service, to pass judgment upon what I am about to -say." - -The adventurer unhooked his thumbs from his sword belt and twirled his -moustache. He said nothing in reply; but there was a sardonic look in -his face. - -"I," and Pennington tapped his chest, "am the person whom your young -friend here," with a nod toward Ezra, "was to inquire for. I acknowledge -it." - -"It's overlate for frankness," said Gilbert Scarlett, grimly. "But, go -on." - -"I am able to say in perfect good faith," went on Pennington, "that I -had no expectation of seeing him. Neither had I any notion that he knew -anything of the affairs of Abdallah. As for my failure to acknowledge a -connection with the story which you told me a while ago, you surely can -feel no resentment for that. When a man is engaged in"--he paused and -shrugged his shoulders--"well, in work of a more or less secret -character, it is not quite safe for him to speak freely with strangers." - -The adventurer unbent his brows and his face altered in expression. - -"Now," said he, "that is talk that holds much sense. It is clear to me -that you could not do other than you did." - -Then he turned to Ezra once more. - -"Chance and circumstance seem to have taken you for their very own," -said he. - -"Some things have befallen me of late days that make your saying seem -like the truth," said Ezra. "But my experience must be but a trifle, as -compared with what yours must have been, sir. I have no doubt but that -chance has figured much in your life." - -"Why," answered the adventurer, "now that you mention it, it is true -enough. What great matter is it for a lad to chance along a lonely -wagonway near to sundown, and meet with a horseman who has had an -accident befall him? And that you should chance to have the pleasure of -this gentleman's acquaintance," indicating Pennington, "is, upon second -thought, not a matter to marvel at. Why, I recall, how, when I served -the Turk at Cairo, I met with an adventure that must have seemed like a -miracle of chance. Moslems are a strange people, but they grow stranger -still in their dealings with a Christian; and when that Christian -happens to be in command of a squadron of them----" - -But he stopped upon the very verge of the adventure. Pulling up a chair, -he seated himself in it and addressing Ezra, said: - -"But let us come to this message which Abdallah gave you. As you came -here seeking Master Pennington, which I have no doubt you did, I suppose -you brought the writing with you." - -During all which followed Scarlett's entrance with the innkeeper, -Pennington's sharp glance kept shifting itself to Ezra. Now he spoke, -eagerly: - -"In that you bring us to a matter of consequence, sir. During your -absence, we held some converse upon this very matter. And our young -friend informed me that the dispatch is no longer in his possession." - -Scarlett folded his arms across his chest in an easy sort of way, and -replied, lightly: - -"I have no real knowledge of this affair, one way or the other, sir. But -from your manner, I take it that this circumstance is irritating." - -"It is more than that," spoke Pennington. "It may be fatal. General Gage -was expecting----" - -But here he checked himself after the manner of a cautious man who has -caught himself in the midst of a dangerous admission. - -Ezra, however, smiled. - -"It is somewhat late," said he, "to try and conceal the dispatch's -ultimate destination. Major Buckstone saw to my enlightenment at the -very start." - -Pennington's hands clenched. - -"You saw him then! The old idiot! He would discuss our plans with the -colonial council of war itself." - -"I have not the good fortune of this gentleman's acquaintance," spoke -Scarlett, "but I think I know the type. The bluff old officer--honest as -the sun--who knows nothing but his routine and the well ordering of his -command. But," with a careless wave of the hand, "what matters it? We -are all friends, are we not? We are all fairly well gifted with -understanding. So a trifle of plain talk will do no harm." - -Pennington pondered and nodded reluctantly. - -"In a way," said he, "you are right." - -"A frank question or two, when needed, will have no bad result," said -the adventurer. "And I think if they were applied here and now, we'd -come at something of profit, perhaps." - -Pennington's face flushed. - -"I am beholden to you, sir," said he, a trifle bitterly. Then turning to -Ezra he said: "Perhaps you will now tell us how you came to so part with -the papers entrusted to you?" - -"Is it any great wonder," said Ezra, "that I did not safeguard a message -given me by people who later sought my life?" - -He was determined to be as evasive as possible. If he hoped to come to -the true depth and breadth of this spy system, he knew that he must meet -craft with craft. - -Pennington made no reply to this, but continued to sit and watch. The -situation must have puzzled him; clearly he did not understand it. - -But Scarlett was ready enough. - -"For my part, I blame you but little," he said. "It was but a churlish -way to treat a messenger." - -There was a short pause; then the spy spoke. - -"Might I ask," he inquired, "who this mysterious person is to whom you -confided this paper?" - -Ezra shook his head and remained silent. - -"As a grandson of Seth Prentiss," continued Pennington, "I am loth to -believe you other than a friend to honesty and good government." - -"And in that," returned the boy, "you would be right." - -Scarlett here leaned forward. - -"And was the gentleman to whom you entrusted the paper," asked he, "of a -like inclination?" - -"He was." - -"Why, in that case," and the soldier of fortune laughed good-humoredly, -"I don't think it any great matter. Let us but get word to the gentleman -and he'll take it to Boston himself, perhaps." - -Pennington's eyes searched Ezra's face, and the boy replied: - -"Perhaps so; I have heard him say that he meant to make his way into -Boston before long." - -The hidden meaning of this must have left its trace in Ezra's voice, for -Pennington's gaze, if it were possible, grew keener. - -"That may, perhaps, serve," said the man. Then he continued: "It so -chances that I am left in a most peculiar position by your unexpected -connection with this affair, Master Prentiss." There was concern in his -voice as he went on. "It will be difficult for me to explain it to those -to whom I must make explanation. And it will be equally difficult for -them to understand." - -A thrill ran through Ezra. As plainly as day he read the purpose of the -man in his crafty eyes. And, so it flashed upon him, as that purpose -would help him in his own, he at once fell in with it. - -"If I could but make my own explanation," he said, "it would greatly -lighten your labor." - -The eyes of the spy snapped. - -"To do that you must needs go into Boston," he said. "Would you venture -that?" - -"I have been there before," answered the boy. "And why not again? And I -think this gentleman," nodding smilingly at Scarlett, "would also make -the venture if it could be accomplished." - -"As well as not," said the soldier of fortune, carelessly. "One place is -much like another to me." - -There was triumph in Pennington's face as he arose. - -"Excellent!" he cried. "Both of you shall cross the river to-night. I -have the means at hand. And I will present you to those," here the -high-pitched, disagreeable laugh rang out, "who will be delighted to -welcome you." - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -IN WHICH EZRA FARES INTO THE CITY OF THE ENEMY, AND HEARS THE -VOICE OF AN ACQUAINTANCE - - -It was very evident to Ezra Prentiss that the purpose of Pennington was -to entrap him. Once safe in Boston, so the spy's thoughts ran, he and -his friends could put upon the boy whatever pressure it pleased them; -there the latter would not be so indefinite in his statements as he was -at the "Indian's Head." - -"If you have a way of crossing, it must be a most secret one," said -Gilbert Scarlett, who, like the others, was preparing to depart. "Only -this morning I made the rounds, or as much of them as I was permitted to -make, and I found the shore very well guarded." - -"They make a great display of activity and alertness," said Pennington, -with disdain. "But the river is open for any one who cares to cross it." - -Here Pennington stepped into the kitchen and exchanged a few rapid words -with the innkeeper. Scarlett pursed his lips and regarded Ezra with -attention. - -"It would seem to me that under proper conditions, he would prove a very -thorough-going gentleman," remarked he, with a nod toward the door. - -"I have no doubt of it," said the boy. - -Scarlett continued to look at him; and there was speculation in his -eyes. At length he spoke again. - -"You baffle me sometimes. By your looks you should be a plain dealer, if -one is to place an atom of trust in the reading of faces. And yet I find -you writhing about like an eel upon a brick pavement." - -"What I have said," returned Ezra, "is the truth." - -"Ay, what you have said!" The other laughed and slapped his chest. "It's -what you have not said that takes me by the horns. And," with a jerk of -the thumb over his shoulder, "our acquaintance there is bothered by it -too." The speaker studied Ezra for a moment. "Has it occurred to you -that you may have fallen in with his desires very neatly in offering to -cross the river?" - -Ezra smiled and nodded. At this Gilbert Scarlett laughed and slapped him -upon the back. - -"I might have known it," said he. "You are a deep one for a lad." - -"Only a few nights ago you had a rather poor opinion of my wit," said -Ezra. - -"I remember the saying and I recall it," spoke Scarlett. "I took you for -a country lad, in sympathy with the colonists; and I thought it quite a -jest to have you carry a message which I felt sure was calculated to -help your countrymen but little. But," with a gesture, "I have changed -my mind with regard to you. I no longer know what to think. But this I -do know," with great candor, "I like you; and I'll stand your friend, if -you need a friend, at any place and at any time." - -Before the boy had an opportunity to express his thanks, Pennington -emerged from the kitchen. Buttoning up his coat, he said: - -"You'll have to leave your horses in care of the landlord, gentlemen. -The patrols and detachments that hold the roads would be sure to see us -if we went mounted." - -Gilbert Scarlett did not like this. - -"Without a horse," declared he, "I am like a fish without water to swim -in. But, if we must, we must, and that's all there is to it." - -Without, it was dark and silent. The bronze sky of the early evening had -given place to one entirely black. But the stars winked curiously down, -and their rays relieved the darkness to a great extent. - -"It will behoove us to mind our steps," said Pennington, as they made -their way along the road by which Ezra had approached the "Indian's -Head." "Daylight shows many ditches and sunken fences in this hollow, -and it would scarcely benefit our peace of mind or body to come upon one -or the other." - -"'Twas a good thought to create the stars," mused the soldier of -fortune, aloud, after they had gone some distance. "They relieve the -moon of duty when she is weary. If it were not for them and their -twinkling, the night would be as black as my hat." - -"Queer things are done on dark nights," said the spy, and he laughed in -his disagreeable way. - -Scarlett nudged Ezra in the darkness. Then he made reply: - -"I can well believe that. And the saying brings to mind a little -experience that I once had in Moscow while I served my short career with -the Czar. My regiment had but returned from the frontier, after several -onfalls at Tartar towns; and I and several of my comrades were drinking -our glasses of tea in a booth. It was a very dark night and we talked -over the times just passed, and were hoping good fortune for those to -come, when there entered a ----" - -A shrill whistle sounded and Scarlett's anecdote was nipped suddenly. - -"Be silent," said Pennington in a whisper. He drew them to the side of -the road, where all three halted and crouched, watchfully. The steady -tramp of men was heard in the darkness; then some indistinct forms began -to wave uncertainly on their vision; finally a voice was heard saying: - -"No, I was not sure. But it sounded much like some one speaking." - -"It may have come from a great distance off. Sounds travel far at night, -you know." - -"Yes; but this seemed fairly close. And it is hereabouts that we were -warned that the British might venture seeking information, so we can't -be too careful." - -The tramp of the men continued along the road. At length they were -swallowed up; and both their voices and footsteps died away. - -"A patrol," said Pennington. "And it's the first time that I've seen one -so far away from the shore. It seems that we must be extra careful -to-night." - -They remained as they were for a time, then, under the guidance of the -spy, they left the road, mounted a fence and entered the fields. From -then on it was very rough traveling; but Pennington, who had most -probably been over the ground often before, selected the least broken -ways, in spite of the darkness. After what seemed a very long time -indeed, they mounted to the top of Breed's Hill; and off before them -they now made out the lights of the British gun vessels swinging in the -stream. - -Cautiously they descended to the water's edge. Here and there, some -distance back, there was a watch-fire, about which were gathered a small -group of hardy colonists; but Pennington had studied the situation well; -for that point of the shore upon which they stood was apparently -unguarded. - -The spy waited in silence for a time; then he uttered a low, mournful -cry like that of a night-bird haunting the water's edge. There was a -brief pause; then the sound was repeated from the river. - -"It is a most excellent thing," observed Pennington, "to have an aide -who can be depended upon at all times." - -"That remark," said Scarlett, "is almost exactly similar to one that I -once heard from the old Elector of Hanover. He said----" - -"Sh-h-h!" warned Pennington. "Not so loud." - -Scarlett at once ceased speaking. Again they stood in silence; then the -faint dip of oars reached them. A little later a low voice asked -inquiringly: - -"For whom?" - -"For King George," replied Pennington promptly. Then the low-pitched -voice resumed: - -"Is that you, Mr. Pennington?" - -"Yes, with some friends." - -The spy, followed by Scarlett and Ezra, climbed into the skiff; it was -manned by four sailor-like men, who at once pushed off. - -Not a word was spoken after they had once started; carefully the sweeps -were dipped, slowly they were pulled; the skiff progressed steadily and -with scarcely a ripple of the water. - -Gradually the lights of a vessel grew nearer. There was a rattling and -clinking of metal from her low-lying deck; then a hoarse voice, -startlingly loud after all their caution, hailed them. - -"Ahoy!" cried the voice. "Belay there, and give an account of yourself." - -"Is that the 'Scorpion'?" asked Pennington. - -"It is. For whom?" - -"For King George." - -"Come alongside and let's have a look at you." - -The skiff approached the gun vessel; as its bow scraped the side a man -leaned over the rail with a ship's lantern. - -"Ay, ay," he said in a tone of recognition. "So it's you, once more, is -it, Pennington?" - -"Once more, Mr. Halsey," returned the spy. - -"Quite a boatload, I see," and the man flashed his lantern aloft. - -"Yes, some gentlemen who wish to enter the town." - -"It's the only place for honest men," grumbled the sailor. "But I must -say there is a great shortage of fresh provision there. My men will all -be down with the scurvy if they don't get a change soon." - -The seaman was still speaking when the skiff pulled out of hearing. -Three times they were halted before they reached a point on the Boston -side just above Gree's shipyard. A heavy battery was planted here that -commanded Charlestown, and they were brought under this in charge of a -yawl filled with men and in command of a young officer of marines, who -showed dapper and spick and span under the lantern light. - -When they were landed, a file of men took them in charge until -Pennington, after some whispered conversation, was passed by the officer -in charge. - -"A right soldierly way of looking at the matter," observed Scarlett, who -had been keenly watching all that occurred. - -"General Gage is a most excellent soldier," spoke Pennington. "None of -the rebel troops shall get in while he is in command, nor," and there -was a sneer in his tone, "none of his own troops shall get out." - -As they passed through Prince's Street they heard the steady tramp of -troops on their way to the southerly part of the city. When beyond the -Mill Pond, a roar of hoofs met them as squadron after squadron of -cavalry dashed by headed in the same direction. At Middle Street they -encountered a battery of field-guns also hastening southward. - -"Something is toward, to-night," said Scarlett with great interest. - -"It may be that they are on their way to the Neck," was Ezra's thought. -And a shiver ran through him as he fancied the colonists not being ready -to meet the attack. - -When they passed the gardens they came to Sun Court; and as they paused -before a stately mansion, Ezra said: - -"But why here? Surely my grandfather has nothing to do with this -business." - -Pennington laughed. - -"Don't be too sure of that. He is a man much desirous of the -government's advancement, and he does not hesitate to use whatever means -he can to serve that purpose." - -The speaker ascended the steps and gave a sharp rat-tat-tat upon the -heavy knocker; then he turned and looked down at the boy, who remained -upon the brick walk. - -"Another thing," said he. "You will find him a man not easily -satisfied." - -"I know that," replied Ezra. - -"Your explanation as to how you came to part with Abdallah's dispatch -will have to be very much more complete than the one you gave me," said -Pennington, rubbing his hands together in a satisfied way. "He will not -tolerate evasion of any sort, especially in the presence of those whom -he is entertaining to-night." - -"He has guests, then?" said the boy. - -Before Pennington could reply, the door opened. A grave servant stepped -aside in the brightly-lighted hallway, and they entered. And as the door -closed behind them, from a room to the left of a hall came a great voice -roaring: - -"I tell you, General Gage, I did all that a soldier and a gentleman -could well do. If the messenger proved a knave and a traitor, the blame -is not to be laid at my door." - -Pennington's hand fell lightly upon Ezra's shoulder, and he said -sneeringly in the boy's ear: - -"Here is good fortune. I knew of Gage, but I did not even dream of your -acquaintance Major Buckstone being here." - - - - -CHAPTER X - -TELLS HOW ILL NEWS CAME TO GENERAL GAGE - - -For a moment, after hearing the thunderous voice of Major Buckstone, -Ezra Prentiss was startled. But an instant's reflection showed him that -the major's presence could make no difference to him or his plans. - -"He knows nothing of me that is not already known," the lad told -himself. - -The grave-faced man servant who had admitted them now spoke, in a -low-voiced aside, to Ezra. - -"I am glad to see you back, sir. We've had all sorts of fears for you. -The master thought you might have been killed, even." - -Ezra smiled. - -"But you see that I am not," said he, understanding at once that he was -again mistaken for George. - -"Yes, sir." The man looked at him in a fidgety sort of way. He seemed to -dread something. "The master, sir," he recommenced, "is--is--you'll pardon -me, sir--in a bad temper to-night. Shall I announce you?" - -But here Pennington intruded himself. - -"If I may be so pushing," said he to Ezra, "I will take that upon -myself. There are some trifles that had perhaps better be gone over -before he sees you." - -Ezra caught Scarlett's warning look, but paid no attention. He knew full -well that it was the spy's intention to be forehanded with him; he -realized that the man desired to place the case before the gathering in -his grandfather's house in as evil a light as possible. - -But he was careless in the matter; he felt that it made no difference -what Pennington said. He was in Boston; he was in a fair way, perhaps, -of discovering much that would be of help to the cause of liberty. How -he was to escape, finally, was a matter for the future. The present was -to be spent in garnering facts; the future must take care of itself. - -"Very well," said Ezra, readily enough. "Do you speak to him and prepare -him." - -Pennington followed the serving man up the wide hall; some hangings were -drawn back and both disappeared. - -"More and more strange do you grow to me," said Scarlett, as he seated -himself in a cushioned chair. "I thought you wise enough to know that a -first voice in a cause is usually the winning one." - -"When one has little interest in a thing," returned Ezra, "it matters -little who wins. My purpose here is not to see who makes the best -impression on my grandfather and his friends." - -Scarlett said nothing to this, but merely shook his head and began to -look about him. - -The hall was a lofty one with a polished floor and a broad balustraded -staircase. Paintings hung upon the walls and rich Eastern hangings -screened the doorways. There was a massiveness about everything that -indicated opulence in the owner. - -"Your grandfather," said the soldier, "is evidently a person of some -consequence." - -"He is engaged in the West Indian trade," answered Ezra, "and is -accounted a very rich man." - -"I see." The soldier of fortune twisted one end of his moustache. "This -war, however, will put a check to his money-making for a time, I think." - -"It has all but ruined the trade of them all. And I wonder how much," -speculated the boy, "that has to do with the British leaning of most of -the merchants." - -"A great deal, you may depend," chuckled Gilbert Scarlett. "Touch a -trader's purse and you touch him upon a most delicate part. Not," -hastily, "that I mean to cast any discredit upon your relative. I speak -of merchants in the bulk." - -"It is not for me to defend my grandfather," said Ezra with a smile, -"even if you did select him from them all." For there came a confused -hubbub of voices, above which was one high, harsh and threatening. "As -you shall see in a moment, he is in every way competent to take care of -himself." - -Even as he spoke the hangings over the far doorway were flung aside and -a tall, grim-faced old man, with thin white hair and of gaunt, powerful -frame, stepped into the hall. With head erect and frowning brows he came -down the hall; his eyes were hard with anger. - -"So," said he, and Scarlett at once learned that he was the owner of the -harsh voice, "you have seen fit to show yourself at last, I see." - -Ezra bowed respectfully. - -"As things are, sir," said he, quietly, "it would have puzzled me to -make my way into Boston any sooner." - -A burning hatred flashed in Seth Prentiss' eyes. One hand gestured his -fury, the other was pointed at his grandson. - -"Are you mocking me?" he asked in a voice made low by the storm of -feeling that seemed to possess him. "Are you deriding us all because we -are pent up here, like rats, and never a blow struck by the King's -troops to set the matter right!" - -"As you should know, sir," said Ezra, in the same respectful tone, "I -would not----" - -But the stern old man silenced him with a gesture. - -"I know nothing as to what you would or would not do," he said. "You -have always been half-hearted in the cause of King George. From the -beginning I've noticed a bent in you toward those rascals over there," -and his furious arm-sweep took in the whole region from Dorchester to -Charlestown. "You were always talking of what they had to bear with; -seldom indeed have I heard you speak of what we suffered." - -"The patriots----" began Ezra once more, but again he was interrupted. - -"Patriots! Fiddlesticks, sir! Rebels is the name for them! Rebels to a -good King, and skulkers who destroy the prosperity of their countrymen. -My ships rot in their docks; my trade is going from me bit by bit, after -my years of struggle to build it up." - -"It is the fortune of war, sir," said Gilbert Scarlett, soothingly. - -"War!" The gray brows drew themselves lower and the grim old face turned -upon the speaker. "Do you call this war? It is not! It is an infamy that -will recoil upon them, sir!" - -"Say what you please," retorted the adventurer coolly, "war it is, and a -very pretty one, indeed, all things considered. For mechanics and -husbandmen, these rebels of yours set to it right cleverly." - -What the answer of Seth Prentiss would have been to this is not known. -For another step sounded in the hall and a stout man in the uniform of a -British general officer made his appearance. He had a round face and a -bluff manner; his voice held the note of satire as he spoke. - -"Hah!" said he, "and so we have here a student of warfare." He swept -Scarlett with a look. "And so you admire the works of the Americans?" he -asked. - -The young adventurer had arisen upon the appearance of Ezra's -grandfather; so he now struck his favorite attitude, his legs very far -apart, his thumbs in his sword belt. - -"In so far as they go," replied he, "I have the honor to say, 'Yes.' Not -that I consider their formations complete, mind you," with an air of -great assurance, "for I have seen much that could be corrected. But, -when all is said and done, they have you fairly beleaguered; without -reinforcements you cannot stir." - -As this very clearly stated the case, General Gage, for the officer was -the British governor, looked at the speaker sharply. - -[Illustration: GENERAL GAGE LOOKED AT THE SPEAKER] - -"Mr. Pennington gave us your name," said he, "but I have forgotten it. -Perhaps you would favor us, sir?" - -Scarlett bowed elaborately. - -"I am Gilbert Scarlett," said he, "and have but lately served His -Majesty of Spain. Also I have seen blows struck while in the armies of -the Turk, the Elector of Hanover, and His Grace of Wurtemburg. I could -add to these," with modesty, "the names of the Swiss and some Northern -nations, but," as he shrugged his shoulders, "what purpose would it -serve? From what I have already said you must have gathered that I know -whereof I speak." - -The British general smiled satirically. - -"You are overyoung to have served so many princes and states," said he. -"And I fear that your time with each one must have been a brief one." - -At this the dark brows of the young soldier of fortune came together; -his hand hitched his sword around in a manner that Ezra well remembered, -and was about to speak. But the lad placed a warning hand upon his arm, -and gave him a look. - -However, Gage paid no attention to the other's reception of his remarks. -Indeed, no sooner had he uttered them than he turned to the master of -the house, and said: - -"If you will be so obliging, Mr. Prentiss, we will continue our -conference. This stranger gentleman and your grandson can, no doubt, -await our convenience." - -"Sir," replied the merchant, "I beg your pardon for leaving the room so -abruptly. But I could not wait. I could not remain and think of him -being here," indicating Ezra, "under the weight of this accusation." - -"That is very natural," returned Gage, good-naturedly enough. "But let -us come at the matter in an orderly, soldierly way. When we have fully -understood what Pennington has to say, then we shall call the lad in--and -his very experienced friend also," with rather a mocking look at -Scarlett. "That will be much the best way." - -The aged merchant bowed to the suggestion of the British governor. But -his stern eyes lost none of their anger; his jaws were set as grimly as -ever. And as he preceded Gage up the hall, his manner was proud and -unrelenting. - -"It would seem," said Scarlett, who had ignored Gage's last fling with -considerable effort, "that your grandfather is a gentleman who would -judge and condemn one very quickly if he were so inclined." - -"He is a proud man and an intolerant one," replied the boy. "He loves to -rule, and, as you may have noticed, his rule is not likely to be of the -lightest." - -Both Seth Prentiss and General Gage had disappeared into the room from -which they had lately emerged; and the grave-faced serving man brought -the two visitors chairs, that they might rest while awaiting the British -commander's pleasure. - -The night was drawing on; indeed it was past midnight, and the quietness -of the house in Sun Court was unbroken as they sat in silence, each -moment expecting to be summoned. Ezra had no notion of how the matter -would terminate. But he had expectations of learning something that -would help the cause of the colonies; and so he sat patiently, alertly, -never for a moment allowing his mind to drift from its purpose. - -Without in the court a guard paced slowly and steadily up and down. The -footsteps were heavy and measured; the soldier evidently had plates of -steel set in his shoes; for when his heels struck the stones they gave -out a metallic ring. Every now and then from the direction of Middle -Street came the rush of hoofs. - -"They seem to be pushing troops steadily toward the lower end of the -town," said Scarlett, lowly, at length. "And to my mind that means -nothing less than the delivery of an attack, or the expectation of -receiving one." - -"The lower end of the town! The delivery of an attack!" - -These words startled Ezra. Like a flash the thought of a few hours -before came to the boy. Finding that his dispatch bearer had failed him, -Major Buckstone had delivered his information by word of mouth. And now, -under cover of the darkness, Gage was hurrying his most formidable -troops toward the Neck, meaning to hurl them forward and crush the -slender line of guard. - -As the moments slipped by, the lad's feelings can well be imagined. He -was forced to wait. Even had he slipped out of his grandfather's house, -he could give his commanders no warning. The river lay between them, the -passage of which, under the circumstances, was all but impossible. - -However, there was one thought that gave him courage and kept him cool. - -"Dr. Warren received the dispatch in good time," he told himself. "He -must have consulted with General Ward. The guard at the Neck has surely -been made strong enough to resist any sally." - -An hour went by and the greater part of another. Scarlett was beginning -to grumble impatiently when Pennington pushed aside the hangings of the -far doorway and beckoned them forward. - -"It is surely time," said Scarlett, as he arose and shook himself -together like a great dog. "Even the softest cushion grows hard, Master -Pennington, when a man waits overlong." - -But Pennington made no answer; there was a mocking light in his eyes, as -he held back the hangings that they might enter; and an unpleasant smile -was upon his lip. - -In the centre of the room, which was a lofty one, was a huge table. At -the head of this sat General Gage. Upon either side sat Ezra's -grandfather and Major Buckstone. - -As the latter caught sight of Ezra he arose to his feet and his heavy -voice arose with him. - -"Ah, my young gentlemen," he saluted. "Well met. I am more pleased to -see you than I can express." - -"You are very good, Major Buckstone," said Ezra calmly. He bowed to the -angry old officer. There was a smile upon his face as though the meeting -gave him real pleasure. This rendered the major furious. - -"You are impudent, sir," he roared, banging the table with his fist. -"You are insolent! But," in triumph, "there are several matters which we -have before us which will make you change your manner in a moment." - -He would have continued in this strain, had not Gage said, coldly: - -"Kindly remember, Major Buckstone, that I am to conduct this affair." - -The major grew purple; however, he saluted silently and resumed his -seat. - -The British governor-general regarded Ezra speculatively for a moment. -He seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Finally, he cleared his throat -and said: - -"We have been informed by Mr. Pennington with regard to what passed a -few nights ago. Also he has told us of his meeting with you," then -nodding at the young soldier, who stood stiffly, "and with this -gentleman, to-night." - -There was a short pause; then the commander of the British continued: - -"This dispatch--a paper of the utmost importance in furthering the King's -cause--I understand was turned over by you to a certain mysterious person -whom you have not named." - -Ezra inclined his head. - -"It is necessary," and Gage leaned his stout body forward, "that the -name and quality of this person be supplied us." - -"As to his quality," returned Ezra Prentiss, "I can vouch for that. He -is a most excellent gentleman and has the country's peace at heart." - -Gage frowned. - -"That tells us very little," he said. "The country's peace is claimed by -those rascals across the river to be the thing nearest their thoughts. -And yet you see them in arms against the King and his Parliament. You -must go further than that, Master Prentiss." - -But Ezra shook his head. - -"I am sorry," said he. "But that I cannot do." - -The displeasure upon the face of Gage increased. He was about to -continue; but suddenly his expression changed; he held up one hand and -appeared to be listening intently. Then suddenly a smile overspread his -countenance. - -"It is more than likely that the misuse which you have made of this -dispatch will do little harm," he said. "But, for all," with a keen -look, "I would like much to have this unknown gentleman's name." - -A deep rumbling sound came from off in the distance. This was what -Gage's quick ear had heard. Through one of the windows Ezra noted a red -reflection glance across the sky. - -"They have begun the sally," he thought. But he kept his expression of -his concern from appearing in his face; the gaze of Gage was fixed upon -him, and it would not do to show any interest except in the matter at -hand. - -Major Buckstone also caught the sound. He looked at his commanding -officer inquiringly. - -"You have been prompt," said he. - -"It was necessary," replied the governor, dryly. "A great deal of time -had been wasted, you know." - -The bluff major seemed stung by this and was about to reply; but Gage's -upraised hand silenced him. The general gave Ezra his attention once -more. - -"You have not answered," said he. - -"I cannot," returned the boy. - -"I would hesitate in ascribing any motive to your actions that would be -to your discredit," said General Gage; "but in the face of this answer, -what else can I do? Some time since, before that unfortunate occurrence -at Lexington, I recall that you tried to be of some service to me, -Master George. And your grandfather tells me, though reluctantly," with -a twinkle in his eyes, "that there have been numerous other things you -have done to serve the King. But he tells me that you have had queer -notions--mixed feelings--odd ways of showing your loyalty." - -"He has always had too much regard for the colonies," said Seth -Prentiss, and from the expression of his face this was nothing short of -a crime. "He has done, it is true, many things that helped our cause," -continued the old merchant. "But he has done them because he thought it -the best way to serve the colonies. The King was never in his heart." - -There was a pause. The rumble of the guns rolled across the city; the -red flashes became incessant in the sky. And as they grew in volume and -frequency, so did the good humor of General Gage increase. - -"So long as he has served the King's cause," said the commander, "it -matters but very little what his reasons were. But this affair of the -dispatch is different." - -Here Gilbert Scarlett cleared his throat. - -"If I may speak a word," said he, and he bowed elaborately, "I will say -that I see no great difference in what has already happened and what is -happening now." - -Gage looked at him inquiringly. - -"If the youth has had odd and curious ways of performing his services in -the past," said the soldier of fortune, "is it any matter for wonderment -that he should have them in the present?" - -"Why," said Gage, apparently much struck by this reasoning, "what you -say has the ring of philosophy." - -He tapped the edge of the table with his finger-tips for a moment. He -was a good-natured man when things were working smoothly; and he showed -it now. - -"Who knows," laughed he, "but what this is some sort of a pleasant -surprise he has in store for us? As he deals in mysteries, much as -Abdallah does, there is no telling." - -He turned to Ezra. - -"So," he continued, "we will allow the matter to rest for a time. -Further action can be taken when any developments come to our notice." - -"And in the meantime," inquired Major Buckstone, "what disposition is to -be made with regard to the prisoners?" - -"Oh, I would scarcely regard them in that light," replied Gage -carelessly. "We will allow them what run of the city the townspeople -have. Never fear but that they will be at hand when wanted. The ways out -of Boston are closely watched, my dear major, as Master Pennington can -well tell you. They cannot get out, should they desire to do so ever so -much." - -The major glowered at Ezra, displeased. The old merchant sat silently -grim and unbelieving. Pennington, with satire in his eyes, rubbed the -palms of his hands together softly. - -Then there came a clatter of hoofs that broke the silence of Sun Court. -They paused under the window, and the rider was heard dismounting. An -instant later the heavy knocker at the door of Seth Prentiss' house gave -its thunderous rat-tat-tat. - -"Something very urgent, it would seem," said Pennington. - -The man servant hurriedly brought into the governor's presence a much -bespattered and all but breathless young officer of dragoons. - -"Well, sir?" inquired Gage, sharply. - -"News from Boston Neck, sir," and the young officer saluted hurriedly. -"The attack was made, but the Americans were in large force and we were -repulsed. Then they attacked in turn and drove us back. The George -tavern has been burned by them and we have suffered some loss." - -"Very well!" The general's voice was now sharp and angry. "If there is -any further action, let a report be sent me at once." - -The dragoon saluted and disappeared. Gage turned to Ezra. - -"It may be that this upsetting of my plans has been caused by you," he -said. "And then again, perhaps Abdallah's information may have been -erroneous. However, I shall soon come at the real facts; and you shall -remain in Boston until I do." - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -TELLS HOW EZRA AND SCARLETT THRIVED IN BOSTON, AND HOW THEY LEFT IT -IN THE NIGHT - - -Ezra Prentiss and Gilbert Scarlett left the house of the former's -grandfather in the dark of that April morning. And as they crossed the -threshold, Gage's voice sounded in their ears. - -"Mind you what I say, and be careful to follow it out. Make your -quarters at the 'Jolly Rover' Inn, in Ship Street; and report to Major -Buckstone at headquarters between ten o'clock and noon each day." - -"And never let me hear of you or see you again," said old Seth Prentiss -to Ezra, "until you have cleared yourself of all suspicion in this -matter. As you stand now, George Prentiss, you are labeled in my mind as -a traitor, as your brother Ezra is." - -Ezra said nothing; he merely bent his head in a mute good-bye; and with -Scarlett set off through the dark court. A sergeant of grenadiers bore -them company; it was his duty to see that they went to the "Jolly Rover" -as directed, and also that they were not molested by the guards that -patrolled the streets. - -They passed from Sun Court into Fleet Street, and from thence into Ship -Street. This was on the harbor front and was badly kept and worse -lighted. At one end was what was known as the North Battery; the wharves -of merchants and dockyards of shipbuilders lined the water side of it; -while upon the other were gloomy-fronted warehouses and the offices of -shipmen of various degrees. - -Midway, at White Bread Alley, they came to the "Jolly Rover." It was -tightly closed; not a light was to be seen. - -"We are all hard put to it because of the closing of the inns," said the -sergeant of grenadiers. "There is no place to spend a comfortable hour -when off duty of a night." - -He beat loudly upon the door. For a long time there was no result save -the sharp summons of a guard who rounded the corner of Foster Lane. - -"What's this?" demanded the guard. "Have you no homes to go to that you -are abroad at such an hour? And will nothing do but that you must make -noise enough to wake the dead?" - -"Use your eyes and your lanthorn, soldier," spoke the sergeant gruffly. -"If we are abroad it is because we must be. And as for the noise, it is -made but to carry out the governor's orders." - -The guard held up his light. Then, recognizing the sergeant, he saluted. - -"Our orders call for the apprehension of all found abroad after hours," -apologized he. - -A nightcapped head, lighted up by a sputtering candle, appeared at one -of the upper windows of the inn. - -"What now?" demanded a rough voice. "Plague take you, neighbors, to go -battering at an honorable man's door." - -"Come down and draw your bolts," said the sergeant of grenadiers. - -"Not I, indeed," answered the man in the nightcap, and with a promptness -that caused both Ezra and Scarlett to laugh. "I obey the law, gentlemen; -no man in the town of Boston minds it better. And the law says that all -places of public entertainment must out with their lights and up with -their shutters at sundown." - -"If you don't want your door in splinters, you'll come down and open -it," said the sergeant. "I bring you two persons whom you are to harbor, -at command of General Gage." - -"That," replied the nightcapped one, in an altered tone, "sets a -different face upon the matter. Why did you not say so at once? I will -be down instantly." - -The candle vanished; a little later, after a great deal of clatter and -clinking of bars and chains, the door opened; the man in the nightcap -was shown to be a squat, broad-shouldered personage with gold rings in -his ears and the aspect of a seafarer. - -"Now, open your ears," spoke the British sergeant, briefly. "And give -heed to what I'm going to tell you." - -"Ay, ay," replied the host of the "Jolly Rover." - -"These two are to lodge here and pay for their own entertainment. You -are to report at headquarters at once if they are absent for more than a -half day at a time." - -The landlord regarded the newcomers with no great favor. - -"I'll see to it," he growled. - -"Mind that you do. And, when I am gone, out with the lights and on with -the bolts at once." - -So saying the British sergeant turned and stepped out into Ship Street -once more. The door closed behind him; the bars and chains went up, and -again the man with the rings in his ears looked at his guests. - -"I will not say that I am pleased to have you," he told them with great -frankness, "for the custom of such as you brings little but trouble to -an inn. I'll have soldiers about the place constantly; and, if you are -gentlemen of any consequence, spies will be as thick as flies in -August." - -"We are sorry to give you any trouble," said Ezra. "But we were directed -to come here and could not well refuse." - -The man grinned. - -"I suppose not," said he. "Well, if it be any comfort for you to know -it, you are not the only gentlemen in Boston who are in the black books -of the King's officers. The town is full of suspected men. General Gage -is a governor who acts mighty quickly in such matters, even if he -won't," here the grin grew broader, "do the same in weightier things." - -The flickering candle lit up the place but dimly; the ceiling was low, -the walls were paneled; in furnishing and equipment the room resembled -the cabin of a ship. - -Scarlett, who had been observing the landlord, here remarked: - -"You are a man who has followed the sea in your day." - -The other nodded. - -"For a full forty year," he said. "Man and boy I've spliced, knotted, -hauled and reefed in every kind of craft that's sailed from here to the -Horn, and from there to the China Seas." - -"A tarry, healthy profession," commented Scarlett. "I have known many -shipmen in my day, and they have been mostly sound fellows and honest." - -The man took off his nightcap and scratched his head. - -"As to health," said he, "I agree with you. But there have been as big -rascals walked the decks of ships as any they've ever bred ashore. I -remember when I sailed my last voyage in the 'Champion,' we had a -skipper that was as great a villain as ever robbed his employers." - -At the mention of the vessel's name, Ezra became more attentive. - -"The 'Champion'?" said he. "What owners?" - -"Prentiss & Son, Boston." - -Scarlett gave Ezra a quick look. The boy regarded the innkeeper with -interest. - -"I recall the old 'Champion' very well. Her timbers are now rotting on a -reef in the South Pacific," said he. - -"Hello," said the man with the rings in his ears. He peered at the boy -through the candle-light. "And who might you be?" - -"My name is Prentiss," answered the lad. "I am the son of James -Prentiss, one of the 'Champion's' owners." - -The man thrust out a great broad hand. - -"Young gentleman," said he, "if you'll do me the honor, I'd like to -shake your hand." - -Ezra smiled and gripped the big paw. - -"Your father," continued the other, "was the finest man in this colony. -I've sailed for many owners, but he was the best of them all. Your -grandfather now," and the ex-sailor's expression of admiration greatly -changed, "was a most excellent merchant. But he expected much and gave -but little. That little was, to be sure, regularly and promptly paid; -but that is the best I can say. - -"But James Prentiss was different. He had a heart in his body for a -sailorman. And if one went out of his way to serve him, he'd see to it -that he was properly rewarded." - -"A good quality," commented Scarlett, approvingly. "It is a proof of -appreciation and also encourages effort." - -"Quite so, comrade," replied the host. "It does that very thing; and I -can prove it to you. On the last voyage of the 'Champion,' she had for -her master a Hingham man named Pickering. I was her first mate and she -carried a mixed cargo for trading among the islands. Pickering was a man -who believed in handspikes and belaying pins in his treatment of the -crew, and he was not long out before they were all but in a state of -mutiny. - -"This proved a fortunate thing for Prentiss & Son," continued the -landlord. "We ran on the reef one moonlight night with a light wind -blowing and Pickering at the wheel. So when he proposed to abandon ship -and cargo without an effort to save either, I objected." - -"He must have been a coward as well as a bully," spoke Ezra. - -"No, he was a knave. I'd never suspected the true reason of it all if it -hadn't been for the bos'n. He'd noticed the same sail hanging in our -wake for three days, and he spoke to me of it. Then I saw the real -truth. Pickering had laid the 'Champion' on the rocks deliberately. Then -his plan was for all hands to make away; the stranger was to approach, -quietly take in our cargo, and Prentiss & Son would be the poorer for a -fortune." - -"A very complete rascal, indeed," said Scarlett. "What did you do?" - -"Clapped him in irons and warned the strange vessel off with a show of -six-pounders. Afterward I got a brig at Valparaiso, put the cargo into -her, and disposed of it to good advantage in the regular way. For that -service old Seth Prentiss paid me a first mate's wages; but his son," -turning to Ezra, "your father, was more open-handed. It was through him -that I could at last afford to give up the sea and buy out the 'Jolly -Rover.'" - -They talked in the same strain for a while longer. But a patrol, -knocking loudly at the door and bidding them extinguish the light, at -last put an end to it. - -The seaman innkeeper led his guests to their rooms. - -"I can give you no light," said he, "and I'm main sorry for it. But you -can manage to sleep without it, I'm sure." - -He had said good-night to both, when he knocked at Ezra's door and -reopened it. - -"Lad," said he in a low tone, "your father was a friend to me. And if I, -William Stacey, can do anything for you or your friend at any time, all -you have to do is to give it a name." - -"Thank you, Mr. Stacey," replied Ezra, gratefully. "I'll remember that." - -The meeting with William Stacey was a most fortunate thing for Ezra. He -and Scarlett, before many days had passed, found that they could not -take a step without a spy being at their heels. Their every action, so -it seemed, was noted by a sharp-eyed stranger. They at length mentioned -this to Stacey; he grinned and observed: - -"I didn't expect anything else, gentlemen. People like you are left at -liberty so that you'll in the end lead Gage's spies to something worth -paying attention to. But I think I can help you at times when you -especially want to escape their notice." - -And this he did very successfully. Changes of clothing and large wigs, -which were then generally worn, combed in various ways, served to throw -the spies off the scent at such times as they were worn. And the two -made the rounds of the city in all the guises that Stacey's supply of -"slops" could provide them with. As sailors, mechanics and common -loafers, they sought information as to the British distribution of -force; each battery was carefully marked in their minds, for they dared -put nothing upon paper; and each item of whispered news that was picked -up was remembered. - -They soon learned that Gage feared an uprising of the townspeople in -case the city should be attacked. He knew that the citizens had rifles -in plenty; and to prevent any possible use of them, he caused it to be -made public that in case the town arose against his troops, he'd give it -over to the torch and take to his ships. - -Then it was proposed that all those who would lodge their weapons at -Faneuil Hall might depart from the city with their families and effects. -Thousands immediately complied with this; for a time it seemed that all -Boston was on the move. The Provincial Congress made an equally liberal -move. All Tories who desired to enter the city were permitted to do so. -But finally the outgoing townspeople received a check. - -"The Tories under Ruggles," William Stacey told Ezra, "think it a bad -policy to let them go. They claim that the Whig inhabitants are -necessary to save the town from assault and conflagration. They also -threaten to lay down their arms and give the King's cause no further aid -if the people are not kept within the lines." - -The late days of April had passed and May was well advanced. From -without the news came of the progress of the American cause. Recruits -were reported to be coming strongly into their camp. Their works were -growing in extent and strength day by day. A Continental Congress had -met at Philadelphia and were considering the matter of a -commander-in-chief for the colonial army and assuming the general -direction of the war. - -One day in May, Ezra saw General Putnam march about twenty-five hundred -Americans from Cambridge to Charlestown, which was deserted by its -population. This little army crossed Bunker and Breed's Hills, came out -by Captain Henly's house, and passed into the main street near the old -ferry. This was to inspire the army with confidence; they had gotten -within gunshot of the enemy when they were ordered back, and so returned -to Cambridge. - -A spirited fight took place on the 17th near Wheeler's Point. On the -21st, two sloops and an armed schooner sailed out of Boston, being so -ordered by General Gage. They carried a detachment of troops to Grape -Island, their purpose being to seize upon a quantity of hay which was -stored there. Scarlett got the facts of this expedition and related them -to Ezra with great gusto. - -"The vessels landed the troops on the island and the hay was being -placed on board. But they were not long undisturbed. The bells began to -ring at Weymouth; the people assembled on a point of land near the -island and fired at the troops. But their rifles could not carry so far. -Then General Thomas, whom I understand is an officer of experience, came -up with three companies of your farmer soldiers. Though under fire of -the vessels, these launched a lighter and a sloop and so reached the -island. The British, like churls, never waited them, but took to their -craft and sailed back to Boston. - -"Your friends, so I have heard, burned some eighty tons of hay which -they could not take off; and also a barn was destroyed. The cattle on -the island were then taken to Weymouth." - -Some time later there were like encounters at Hog and Noddles Islands -near Chelsea. General Putnam and Dr. Warren both took part in these -affairs. The British lost about twenty killed and fifty wounded, besides -some swivels and light guns. - -The fights on the islands became so frequent that the Americans began to -venture out with small armed craft and some successes were had, which -excited the ire of the British sea-dogs in command of the heavy ships in -the bay. - -About this time the army of Gage was largely reinforced; a number of -troop ships arrived, also large quantities of stores, and a fleet of -vessels of war. Thus encouraged, the British governor on June 12th -issued his famous proclamation in which he threatened all "rebels and -traitors" and offered pardon to those who should lay down their arms. In -this latter Samuel Adams and John Hancock were excepted. It was Gage's -intention to punish them, so he said, as their actions deserved. - -"It will serve one good purpose," said Ezra in speaking of the -proclamation to his companion, Scarlett. "It will rouse the people to a -greater anger than before." - -"Gage is a very dull-witted gentleman," replied Scarlett. "He once had a -chance to add a person of experience," here he twirled his moustaches, -"to his command, but, by his insults and insinuations, lost him for -good." - -"He has those now, who will perhaps prove to be of quicker thought," -said Ezra. "Generals Clinton, Howe and Burgoyne arrived in the frigate -'Cerberus' some little time since. Their hands will be felt, I fear, -when the time comes to strike a blow at the colonial army." - -"General Gage is going to send forces to occupy Dorchester Heights and -the two hills near Charlestown," said William Stacey, upon the day after -the proclamation. "He now has ten thousand men and is beginning to take -pride in his strength." - -Reports ran riot through the city. The British troops, privates and -officers both, took on a different aspect. Their appearance grew -smarter; they stepped with a jauntier tread, their spirits were higher. -They paraded more frequently; their drums seemed to beat more briskly; -their fifes to squeal more shrilly. More artillery was put ashore; the -gunboats and armed craft of lighter draught became much more -enterprising. - -From these indications Ezra Prentiss drew that there was something of -moment about to happen. But the exact nature of it all, for he could -place no dependence upon the gossip that reached him, was not made known -to him until the morning of the fifteenth of June when he and Scarlett -went to make their daily report to Major Buckstone. - -That bluff, honest old soldier was seated frowning over some papers. - -"Hah!" said he to Ezra, as the sentry led them in, "here is a -communication just come to me regarding you, young sir. It will require -your attention at once." - -Ezra took the paper from the major's hand and scanned it. It ran as -follows: - - "Major Buckstone: - - "Sir:--When George Prentiss, my grandson, next reports to you, inform - him that his presence is required at my house in Sun Court at once. - - "Your obliged and humble servant, - "Seth Prentiss." - -"I will go immediately," said the boy. "Thank you, Major Buckstone." - -They left the headquarters and proceeded along the street in the -direction of the old merchant's mansion. - -"Something," said Gilbert Scarlett, "is in the air. Within an hour you -will be much wiser than you are now at this moment." - -"It must be of more than ordinary importance," said Ezra. "For he said -on that last night at his house, you remember, that he never wanted to -see me or hear of me again." - -"Until you had cleared yourself of mishandling Major Buckstone's -dispatch," the other reminded him. "Perhaps the chance has now come for -you to do that." - -The two parted at the point where Fish Street opened into Prince's; -Scarlett went his way toward the "Jolly Rover," while Ezra continued -along Prince's until he reached Sun Court. - -The boy's knock brought an immediate answer. The grave-faced man servant -showed his pleasure at sight of the youth. - -"Your grandfather has been expecting you, Master George," said he. "I -will tell him that you have arrived." - -To be constantly forced to move under false colors was a bitter thing -for Ezra. He was a lad who was frankness itself and one who detested -methods that smacked of trickery. But to have all in Boston continue to -believe him to be his brother George he felt was necessary if he was to -aid the colonial cause. There was not a moment of his stay in Boston, -during this period, or a time that he answered to his brother's name, -that his honesty and shame did not urge him to proclaim himself. But he -stubbornly held this impulse in check. - -"If it were a matter of my own," he frequently told himself, "I could -act as I saw fit. But this matter is not my own." - -His grandfather greeted him in his library, a stately room filled with -morning sunshine, and furnished after the stiff fashion of that day. -Seated at a window with a tall volume upon his knees, was a -striking-looking officer, attired in the brilliant uniform of a British -general. - -"I would not have thought you interested in such things as this, Mr. -Prentiss," this gentleman was saying, not noticing the boy's entrance. -"It denotes rare judgment and taste in the binding. And the book itself -is very rare," with much admiration. "I know of only one other in -existence." - -"The gathering of such was a folly of my son's," said the old man -sternly. - -"Folly!" The soldier laughed amusedly. "Well, that's all to one's taste, -I suppose. But for my part, the more follies of this sort," nodding -toward a great heap of other books which he apparently had already -inspected, "a man possesses, the more apt I would be to like him." - -"And he was not alone in his folly," said the old merchant. "He left two -sons, both of whom have inherited more or less of his manner of -thought." He gestured grimly toward Ezra as he added: "This is one of -them." - -The general looked over his shoulder at the boy; then he arose, brushing -traces of dust, left by the books, from his immaculate uniform. He was a -polished man of the world, plainly a scholar and unquestionably a -gentleman. - -"Ah, yes," said he. He took a step toward Ezra and held out his hand. "I -ask your pardon," he continued, "and am greatly pleased to see you." - -"This is General Burgoyne," said old Mr. Prentiss to Ezra. "He happens -to be here, having heard of the library, and will no doubt join with me -in what I am about to say to you." - -The officer smiled pleasantly at Ezra. - -"I have heard of your case from Major Buckstone," said he. He was about -to proceed, but the merchant interrupted him. - -"And no doubt," said Seth Prentiss, "you think the transaction a -rascally and traitorous one." - -"I never make up my mind to things," answered Burgoyne, "until I have -sounded them for myself." - -He reseated himself and took up the book which had before engaged his -attention. There was the same pleasant smile upon his face; he -delicately turned the leaves and continued: - -"I give your grandson far too much credit for clear understanding than -to believe him in any way connected with this absurd condition which," -with a laugh, "the colonists call a siege. That ten thousand peasants -can coop up an equal number of the King's trained troops is too -monstrous for any sane mind to believe. But Gage is a good-natured -gentleman who believes in mild measures. Since Clinton and Howe have -arrived, things will be vastly different. Let us get among the rebels -and we'll soon find elbow-room." - -With that he gave his attention to the precious volume which he held on -his knee. The merchant turned to his grandson. - -"I told you when I last saw you, that I was done with you until you had -redeemed yourself. I had not thought to help you in any way, but it -appears that blood is thicker than water, and I want to give you a -chance of proving to me and His Majesty's governor and officers that you -are not what you have appeared to be." - -Ezra inclined his head, but was silent. - -"Within a few days there will be a happening that----" - -The handsome head of General Burgoyne was lifted from the book like a -flash. There was a ring of reproof in his voice, as he cut the old man -short. - -"It would be well to specify nothing," said he. - -"And I desire to hear nothing of the King's business from you, sir," -said Ezra, hastily. - -Much as the young patriot desired to serve the cause of liberty, he -could not bear to do so at the expense of his grandfather. He felt that -it would be shameful to take advantage of the old man's unguarded -eagerness. - -A flush stained the old merchant's hard face. He bowed to Burgoyne. - -"I ask your pardon," said he. "In my anxiety to give my grandson this -chance to reestablish himself, I had forgotten more important things." - -"I understand perfectly," said the general, once more smiling. "The -thing was natural enough." He turned toward Ezra, his well-kept hands -caressing the book. "It will be sufficient for you to know that there -will soon be an opportunity for all loyal subjects of King George to -show that they are such." He paused a moment, then went on: "It would be -well for you to take advantage of this at once. There has been talk of -curtailing your liberty to some extent." - -A thrill of dismay ran through the boy. - -"That means imprisonment," he thought. "If I don't join with the -British, I'll be clapped in irons." - -But he concealed his feelings. His face was unruffled as he made reply. - -"I thank you, General Burgoyne, for the hint. You may rely upon me to -act for the best." - -The officer shot Ezra a penetrating glance. But he said nothing, and -with a little shrug, he turned to his book. - -"And now," said the merchant, "that is all. I feel that I have done my -duty toward you. It remains for you to do the rest. Harrison," as the -servant answered his pull at the bell-cord, "show this young gentleman -out." - -Once in the street, Ezra made all haste to the "Jolly Rover." - -"Something must be done at once," he muttered. "I'll have to contrive to -leave Boston within twenty-four hours, or I'm done for." - -The first persons he saw at the inn were Scarlett and the landlord in -close converse in a far corner of the long room. Scarlett beckoned him -at once, and the boy approached them. - -"Sit down," said the soldier of fortune, "and as there are two of our -shadows keeping us under observation, I would suggest that you do not -allow anything that we might say to make you change countenance." - -"You have news then?" questioned Ezra. - -"Most urgent news for you at least," said Gilbert Scarlett. - -He pulled up his soft leather boots and twirled one point of his -moustache. - -"At first," said he, "like the others here I was not at all sure as to -which side you favored in this struggle. But since becoming more -intimate with you, I have discovered at least enough," laughing, "to -make up my mind." - -"A son of James Prentiss could not be for anything else than liberty," -said the ex-first mate of the "Champion," stoutly. - -"Thank you, Mr. Stacey," said Ezra, quietly. - -"Well," said the adventurer, "let's to our news. It has transpired," he -proceeded to Ezra, "that General Gage will at last make a move. A large -body of troops will cross the river with entrenching tools within the -next three nights." - -"But you don't know exactly when or where?" - -"No," replied the innkeeper as the other hesitated. "I had the news from -a source that can't be wrong; but it went no farther than to say that -the movement would be carried out within three nights." - -Ezra sat for a moment regarding his friends. - -"There are two reasons, then," he said at length, "why I should leave -Boston at once." - -The others said nothing, but waited for what was to come. - -"I must warn General Ward," continued the boy. "That is the first and -most important. The second is that I must keep myself out of a dungeon." - -"Your visit to your grandfather, then, has not been without result," -hazarded the soldier of fortune shrewdly. - -"No," said Ezra. "On the contrary, what I heard there was sharp and -definite enough." Then he turned to the innkeeper. "Mr. Stacey, I will -trouble you to-night for one of your suits of slops and any other thing -that may be useful in hiding my identity. If you can also direct me to a -place where a boat is to be had, I shall be much in your debt." - -"No son of your father's can speak of being in my debt," said the old -sailor. He pondered a moment while the others watched him. Then he -proceeded: "A disguise is simple enough. But a boat is a different -matter. However, I think I can do it." Then he laid a hand upon Ezra's -arm. "You are running a great risk in making such a venture." - -"I would be running one equally great if I did not take it," replied the -boy. - -"The waters all about the city are fairly choked with armed craft," said -Scarlett. "How can we pass them and get fairly away?" - -"We?" said Ezra. - -"Why, to be sure, we." The speaker gestured his entire acceptance of the -situation. "Do you forget that I promised to stand your friend if you -needed one?" - -"I would shake your hand, comrade," spoke Ezra, much touched, "if it -were not for our being watched." - -"Don't give me too much credit," laughed Scarlett, his moustaches -pointing upward. "You forget that if you stand a chance of going to a -dungeon, I would not be far behind you; for I am not much beyond their -suspicions." - -"You are right," said Ezra, "and that makes it easier for me to accept -your offer." He bent his head toward them and his voice lowered. "It -will be a desperate risk, no doubt. But, somehow, I feel that if there -is a chance to make the crossing, we will do it." - -"Spoken like a lad of mettle," commented the landlord of the "Jolly -Rover." "That is the sort of spirit that carries a man well on his way -in anything he undertakes." - -The remainder of the day they spent together in one of the upper -chambers, where they would be well out of the way of all prying eyes and -listening ears. - -"There is a brig tied up at Burrough's wharf, just opposite Battery -Alley," said the innkeeper. "Her skipper is still aboard of her and he -is an old shipmate of mine. I can get a dory from him if the case be -made plain to his understanding. Then we can put into it some -fishing-tackle, floats, trawls and such like as was used by the -fishermen who once drew their living from the harbor." - -"An excellent idea," applauded Scarlett. "It reminds me of a little -experience I had once in the Bosphorus while I was in the service of the -Moslem. And if this ends as fortunately as that, we shall do very well, -indeed." - -As it was found necessary to get some idea of the anchorage of the heavy -vessels and the patrolling guard of the smaller, the ex-seaman got out a -long glass and they ascended to the garret, where from one of the dusty -windows they could sweep the bay. - -Ships of the line and frigates were there in plenty. Heavy troop ships, -and others which had lately arrived with cargoes of supplies, lay -sluggishly tugging at their chains. - -"There is nothing to be feared from the seaward," said Stacey. "So there -is little or no activity. The smaller vessels are further up in the -rivers. So your best plan, as I see it, is to take a small lug-sail in -the bottom of your boat, pull straight out into the harbor, and when you -think you are beyond the danger line, up with your sail and head for the -nearest safe point that you can make." - -This seemed a most excellent piece of advice, and after some discussion -it was adopted. As night drew on the two ate a hearty supper. - -"It will help both our strength and our courage," said Scarlett. "My -experience has taught me that a well cared for stomach is a most -necessary thing in an adventure." - -It was eleven o'clock when they donned some worn fisherman's clothing -and each a tarpaulin hat. Both wore their hair clubbed in seafaring -fashion; and with them they carried the trawl-lines and other equipment -that Stacey provided. - -The latter had preceded them; so they stole along, keeping in the -deepest shadows, toward Burrough's wharf. They narrowly escaped several -guards; but at last came safely to the place where the brig was tied up. -The dory was ready; and Stacey and his friend the skipper were awaiting -them. - -"There are two strong sweeps, a mast and sail in the bottom of her," the -innkeeper told them. "Keep your minds clear as to the position of the -war-ships and guard vessels; pull straight out of the harbor between -them, if you can. It is a moonless night, and so far the luck is with -you." - -The speaker shook their hands as did the brig's master. - -"I'm taking a risk in doing this," said the latter. "But, then, every -man must do what he can for the cause, and this is my share for the -time." - -There were low-voiced good-byes spoken, then Ezra and Scarlett stepped -into the dory, slipped the sweeps into place, headed out into the dark -harbor and gave way. - -More and more distant grew the few military lights on shore. Nearer and -nearer drew the belt of ship lights; and the vessels themselves began to -lift their dark bulks out of the water like huge monsters of the deep, -watchful, waiting, full of silent terrors. - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -SHOWS HOW EZRA AND THE ADVENTURER WON BY THE BRITISH FLEET - - -The night was moonless and without stars; a fresh breeze was blowing -from the landward; this, together with the strong strokes of the rowers, -drove the dory forward at a good rate of speed. - -Two tall ranges of lights were visible directly ahead and the oarsmen -headed to pass in the thick murk between them. And this they would have -safely done had it not been for the unforeseen. The little craft was -driving along in fine style, when suddenly out of the darkness loomed -the towering bulk of a ship without lights. Before they could prevent -it, the dory fouled the chains; Scarlett was thrown from his seat amid a -clatter of oars. - -A sharp outcry came from the ship's deck. Feet were heard running -forward and lights began to flash. - -"Quick!" breathed Ezra, dragging the discomfited adventurer into his -seat. "To your oars before they make us out." - -Scarlett had just recovered his stroke and pushed the boat away from the -ship's bow, when a solid shot, directed by the owner of a pair of sharp -eyes, fell into the water beside them. Had they delayed another moment, -it would have dropped into the boat, stove in the bottom and sunk them. - -But they not only escaped this by their quick recovery, but also escaped -the lights that were lowered over the side. - -"It was a clever trick," spoke Scarlett, guardedly. "They kept no lights -burning, for the purpose of entrapping any one that should attempt to -steal by." - -They pulled noiselessly away, out into the harbor and into the thick of -the British ships. They heard the creaking of blocks as boats were -lowered from the vessel with which they had collided; then they heard -the splash of their oars. But they continued their strong, regular -tugging at the sweeps, and gradually left the sounds behind. One by one -they passed the ships; once, indeed, there came a doubtful hail; but -they rested upon their oars for a full ten minutes and it was not -repeated. Finally, as far as they could make out, they were free of all -obstacles and fell to the sweeps with a will. - -In a little while again, they stepped the mast and hoisted the lug-sail. -The breeze caught and filled this, and away the boat swept into the -darkness, like a night-bird skimming the surface of the sea. - -After a good hour's running they began to beat to and fro; but when the -first glimmer of dawn struck the water they found themselves between -Spectacle and Castle Islands; sighting Dorchester Point, they put for it -with the lug full of wind, for several small sail of a suspicious nature -were in plain view toward Thompson's Island. - -As the dory neared the point, the American sentinels sighted it; there -was a three-gun battery planted at no great distance, and this was -trained upon the flying little craft. Some difficulty was had in getting -ashore, and when they had scrambled to solid ground, they found a file -of men, ununiformed, but armed with long-barreled rifles and in charge -of a youthful lieutenant. - -"You will please give an account of yourselves," announced this latter -in a businesslike tone of voice. - -Scarlett sat down, drew off his boots and emptied the water from them. -Ezra, however, gave his attention to the lieutenant. - -"Sir," said he, "we are sympathizers of the colonies who have just made -our way out of Boston through the fleet." - -The young officer, who wore a new, spick and span blue uniform turned up -with red, regarded them suspiciously. - -"That," said he, with a glance out at the ominous black hulks that were -now plainly showing through a faint early morning mist, "would be a hard -thing to do." - -"It was," smiled Ezra, "and good fortune alone enabled us to accomplish -it." - -The young lieutenant, proud of his new trappings and his new office, saw -fit to regard the two with great suspicion. - -"My orders are to apprehend any one coming from the seaward," spoke he, -importantly. "So it will be my duty to hold you until the colonel -arrives to inspect this post." - -"And when will that be?" asked Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Toward noon, or perhaps somewhat later," replied the lieutenant. - -The soldier of fortune drew on his wet boots and stood up. - -"Sir," observed he, his legs wide apart and his thumbs hooked in his -belt, "you seem to have very little notion as to the value of time. We -have but a few hours to go about the business of saving the colonial -army." - -The youthful officer started at this. But there was that in the -hectoring tone of Gilbert Scarlett which he did not like. So he frowned -and said sharply: - -"If you have anything to impart my commission, issued by the Provincial -Congress, makes me a proper person to hear it." - -That the speaker was right, even though unnecessarily stubborn, Ezra saw -at once. But with the hot-headed adventurer it was a different matter. - -Without more ado, he whipped out his long sword, and addressed the -lieutenant with careless superiority. - -"Step to one side," directed he, "and have your fellows do the same, or -I'll contrive a piece of work for you that none of you will forget." - -The lieutenant spoke swiftly to his men. They threw forward their -rifles; and Ezra had just sprung between them and Scarlett when there -came a quiet, chuckling voice, saying: - -"Hot work, Master Prentiss! Hot work, upon my word!" - -All eyes went toward the point from where the voice proceeded; and all, -even to the angry Scarlett and the stubborn lieutenant, burst into a -laugh. - -Upon a large flat stone, at no great distance, sat a dwarfish figure. -The short legs were crossed Turkish fashion, and the huge head, with its -stiff crest of hair, was bent forward, the chin resting upon his palms. - -"What!" said Ezra, astonished. "Is it you, Porcupine?" - -The imp grinned, showing his strong white teeth. - -"It is no one else," answered he, arising. "I had just come down this -way to look about me before the others were awake. And," with a look at -Scarlett, "it's a good thing that I have. Your friend there seems to -want to get himself into mischief." - -Scarlett sheathed his sword with a flourish. - -"I crave the pardon of your assured smallness," said he with a sweep of -his feathered hat. "It is a trick of the temper that lasts but a moment. -I also," turning to the lieutenant, "ask pardon of you, sir." - -The young officer nodded stiffly and gestured the long rifles away. Then -he turned and gave ear to the dwarf, who claimed his attention. - -"Porcupine, you call him?" said Scarlett, his eyes traveling over the -stunted body. "And a very good name it is, indeed. Was there ever such a -stiff crest of hair upon a human before? Have you known him long?" - -"He rode with myself and some friends from Philadelphia last fall," -replied Ezra, "and proved himself of value to us all. He is faithful, -watchful, shrewd and has uncommon courage." - -"Excellent!" cried the soldier of fortune, with high admiration. "In -those you have some beautiful qualities for so small a youth." - -At the Porcupine's low-spoken words, the face of the American lieutenant -changed in expression. - -"If Master Brewster and his friends will vouch for these gentlemen," -said he, "that will be enough for me." - -"I will fetch them at once," said the dwarf. - -Ezra advanced a step or two eagerly. - -"You don't mean to say that Nat is hereabouts!" said he. - -The Porcupine grinned and replied: - -"Not only Nat, but Ben and George as well. We all rode this way -yesterday, after a journey which we had been on for Dr. Warren to the -lower counties." - -"Then make haste and tell them of this," said Ezra, delighted. "Tell -them that it is of great importance that they should come at once." - -"I'm off," said the Porcupine. And away he darted, his short legs -twinkling at a most marvelous speed. - -"It will all be arranged without difficulty in a little time now," said -Ezra to the adventurer. - -"Fortune favors us in spite of my bad temper," replied Scarlett. Then he -added, after the fashion of a philosopher: "Never allow your dependence -upon your sword to become your greatest asset. It is a mistake. The wise -man always waits until the end before he takes matters into his own -keeping. For at the last moment, Fortune may fling her rarest gifts at -his feet." - -The lieutenant now spoke. - -"In these days, gentlemen," said he, "one cannot be too careful. I am -dangerously placed here, and with but few men. I can, therefore, afford -to trust nobody." - -"Sir," said Scarlett promptly and with a wave of the hand, "say no more -about it. You are young and unaccustomed to your work; but you have done -well for all." - -The lieutenant was fully as old as the speaker; and he was regarding -Scarlett with a puzzled look, when there came a clatter of hoofs upon -the road and up clashed Ben Cooper, George Prentiss and Nat Brewster, -the latter bearing the dwarf before him in the saddle. - -With one accord they leaped to the ground and clustered about Ezra with -cries of welcome and delight. - -"Why, it's a good month since you left us," cried Ben. - -"We'd all but given you up for dead," said George, gravely. - -"But we're glad to have you back," spoke Nat Brewster, quietly. "The -cause would be the poorer for the loss of Ezra Prentiss." - -"Master Brewster," and the lieutenant addressed Nat, whose grave manner -always caused him to be selected from the group upon occasions like -this, "these gentlemen but a short time ago landed here in a boat. They -claim to have come from Boston, and this one," indicating Ezra, "claims -to be acquainted with you." - -"I can vouch for him," cried Nat, his strong hand upon Ezra's shoulder, -"and," with a quick look at Scarlett, "if this gentleman is a friend of -his, I can vouch for him also." - -"While my acquaintance with him is something less than two months' -duration," said Ezra, "I can safely say that he is a friend in -everything that the term implies." - -Nat shook Scarlett by the hand, and Ben, George and the Porcupine -followed in their turn; and as they did so, Ezra told the adventurer -their names. - -"I have heard of you all many times," said Scarlett with vast -satisfaction. "And I have listened to some of your experiences of nights -at our inn, the 'Jolly Rover.' After hearing them, and seeing you, I can -say that it all affords me much pleasure." - -"I recall Ezra telling us of you after his return from Chelmsford some -time since," said Nat. "He said that you appeared to be a gentleman of -parts." - -The adventurer assumed his favorite attitude. - -"If experience makes for quality, I am to be pardoned if I claim it," -said he. "I was younger than the youngest of you when I fought my first -field, and since then I have seen service under many flags." All the -time he spoke, and in fact before he began, his eyes went alternately -from Ezra to George and back again. Now he broke off his remarks and -addressed the latter: "Your name, sir, is----?" - -"George Prentiss," replied the boy. - -Scarlett turned to Ezra. - -"Your grandfather called you George," said he, shrewdly. - -"Because of a mistake," said Ezra, his face flushed as he called to mind -the fact that the mistake was not corrected. - -The soldier of fortune seemed to divine this feeling; he slapped Ezra -upon the back. - -"No," said he, "never be ashamed that you did not undeceive him. What -you did was for the best." Then, with another look at George, "I -scarcely blame the old gentleman for his blunder. Your brother is most -marvelously like you." - -Here George said eagerly to Ezra: - -"You have seen grandfather?" - -"Twice while in Boston. He is well." - -"But as staunch for the King as ever?" - -"Yes." - -They had left the guard and were making their way along a narrow road, -the horses, under care of the Porcupine, following. Nat now spoke. - -"That you have been in Boston," said he to Ezra, "is astonishing news. -But that you have slipped out again seems almost impossible." - -"Yet here we are," smiled Ezra. - -"But tell us about it," urged Ben Cooper, his round, good-natured face -full of expectancy. "We are all but gaping to hear it." - -So with that, as they walked along, Ezra related how on that April night -at Charlestown, he had been seized with a desire to venture toward the -"Indian's Head." Then how he met with the spy Pennington, and also, for -the second time, with Scarlett. From the experiences at the inn, he went -to the crossing of the river, the interview with his grandfather and -General Gage and the long stay at the "Jolly Rover" in Ship Street. But -when the latter part of the story was told, the eyes of Nat, George and -Ben opened widely; the Porcupine, back with the horses, executed a caper -in the road. - -"An attack!" said Nat, his face all alight. - -"At last!" cried George, with an involuntary tug at his belt. - -"We'll make them run as we did before," declared Ben Cooper. - -But, as was usual, Nat's was the practical mind. - -"It is good news," said he, "and we are all glad of it. But the next -move, I think, is to get it to the ears of General Ward." - -A chorus of assent followed this. In a few minutes they reached an -encampment of colonists; to a gray-haired captain, a veteran of the -Louisburg, Nat represented the case as far as he saw fit and asked that -two mounts be loaned them. - -"We haven't horses enough for our own use," said the captain. "But if it -is, as you say, a matter of great importance, why of course you must be -accommodated." - -Accordingly the nags were brought forward and saddled. Then all six, -with the dwarf riding with Nat, mounted and rode off at a smart canter, -heading for Cambridge and General Ward. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -SHOWS HOW EZRA RODE WITH PRESCOTT TOWARD BUNKER HILL - - -As the six dashed along the morning roads toward Roxbury, Ezra noted -much improvement in the American position; and those works that were in -view had grown stronger and much more formidable than heretofore. - -"It is right cleverly laid out," commented Gilbert Scarlett, whose keen, -dark eyes missed nothing. "I am more struck with admiration of your -farmer and mechanic soldiery the more I see of them." - -"I can see," said Nat Brewster, who rode with him, "that you have been -harkening to the stories that the British have to tell about us. They -call us impudent peasants who, in ignorance of what we are about, dare -to face the army of the King. But that is mere bluster and affectation. -Those officers among the British who have any experience in the warfare -of the colonies, know that we have leaders who are perhaps their -superiors." - -Scarlett smiled. - -"Almost," said he, "do you surpass our young friend Prentiss in -attachment to the cause." - -"It is the cause of my country," said Nat, simply. - -A look of something like sadness came into the adventurer's face. - -"It must be a fine thing, indeed, to feel like that," said he moodily. -"As I have mentioned, I have served many causes--but never that of my own -country, because I have no country." - -Nat looked at him inquiringly. - -"I was born in Lisbon, of an English mother and an Italian father," said -Scarlett, "and in my childhood, you might say the world was my cradle. -My father followed the wars and my mother followed him. And when they -died, I took up their task of wandering. This sword," and his hand -rested upon the heavy hilt, "was my father's, and I have carried it from -Muscovy to the Floridas; and it has profited me no more than the cloth -you see upon my back." - -"You have lived and fought in old countries, or among old peoples," -spoke Nat, eagerly. "But here is a new land, a new people. In the years -to come, by the righteousness of our cause and the strength of our arms, -we'll stand free and alone. Make this your country. Draw your blade for -it. And when all is done, it will not forget you." - -Scarlett's eyes sparkled; he looked at Nat with admiration. - -"That's well spoken," said he, "and you all but persuade me. But," and -he shook his head, "I have seen uprisings of people before. I have seen -them suffer under burdens imposed upon them by their masters until they -could bear it no more; then they threw it off and struck out madly, -blindly at their tormentors. But always they were beaten down. They were -untaught in war; they had no skilled leaders to show them the way to -point out the foe's weaknesses, to direct their strength. If I expect to -see this repeated now it will not surprise you, surely." - -"When you come to know us," smiled Nat, "you'll know us better." - -As they entered Cambridge they encountered Colonel Stark, with his -powerful face and fearless bearing. Ezra saluted and stopped him, and as -they conversed at some distance, Scarlett said: - -"Who is that?" - -"It is Colonel Stark, of New Hampshire. He has fought the French and -Indians all his life and is a sample of our leaders." - -"He has the front of a man who'd face terrible odds and never flinch," -commented the adventurer as he regarded Stark narrowly. "Yes, I like -your Colonel Stark; but I will require to see the others before I change -my mind." - -Ezra saluted the New Hampshire warrior, who then rode on. The boy -returned to his comrades. - -"We are again fortunate," said he. "Colonel Stark has just left General -Ward and tells me that Colonel Prescott and General Putnam were then -with him. If we make haste we might find them there still." - -The hasty clatter of hoofs awoke no surprise in the town. Cambridge had -grown accustomed to such long since. As they approached the house which -the commander had made his headquarters, they saw a few sentries leaning -upon their rifles, conversing carelessly. - -A broad window, which faced an open sweep of green, stood open; and -within, three men in blue uniforms faced with white were gathered about -a table in earnest discussion. - -The boys halted and dismounted; after a moment's discussion it was -decided that Ezra should seek admittance to the officers' presence -alone, as he could best tell of what had happened. So the others seated -themselves upon the grass in full view of the window, while the young -New Englander approached the sentries and announced himself. After some -hesitation one of them went into the house as though to seek the -commands of a superior. - -Scarlett's searching eyes watched the three about the table; every -movement, every lineament, so it seemed, came under his observation. - -"And so these are more of your leaders," said he to Nat. "Tell me now, -which of them is General Ward?" - -"The one directly facing us," replied Nat, pointing to the general in -command. "He is a safe leader, and that's saying the least of him. The -only fault that could be charged against him is that his health is bad, -which might affect his enterprise. He was once a justice of the peace; -also he served with the British commander, Abercrombie, against the -French and Indians. He was a lieutenant." - -Scarlett plainly had no exalted opinion of General Ward as an officer; -but he made no comment. - -"This other, now," he said, "this thick-set man with the full red face -and the whitening hair. Which is he?" - -"That," said Nat, "is General Putnam. He is considered to be, and I -think justly, one of the most remarkable military characters of this -time. For years he led the quiet life of a country gentleman on a -beautiful farm at Brooklyn in Connecticut. He was noted but for one -exploit; and that was the killing of a she-wolf which had become the -terror of the countryside. As no one had been able to destroy the beast, -Putnam had himself lowered into its den, and shot it to death as it -sprang at his throat. - -"When the French invaded northern New York, he took up arms and, with -the provincial army, marched to repulse them. Ten years of his life were -spent in that and Indian warfare. Once he was taken at Wood Creek by the -Indians, who determined to burn him, and were about applying the torch -at his feet when a French captain of the name of Molang arrived and -saved his life. He won the rank of colonel in the provincial army and -was with General Lyman in the West Indies, serving at the fall of -Havana. After that he went back to his estate, where he remained until -the alarm went out to the Sons of Liberty some two months ago." - -"A right experienced officer," said Scarlett, "and like the man from New -Hampshire, he has the look of one that would not be easily beaten." - -At this juncture they saw Ezra admitted to the house; a moment later -they saw him enter the room where the three officers sat. - -"Your Colonel Prescott is the other one, of course," said the -adventurer, as he regarded the stalwart, soldier-like figure of that -gallant gentleman. "For what is he remarkable?" - -"He, too, has seen honorable service in the provincial army. He was a -captain under General Winslow. At the first call for defenders he left -his estates at Pepperell and gave his service and influence to the -general good. I have the opinion," continued Nat, "that this officer -will conduct himself with distinction in whatever place his lot be -cast." - -"If we are to go by appearances, yes. However," and the soldier of -fortune twirled his moustache points, "the future will raise up leaders -for your country if the war continues." - -While they were speaking, they had been closely watching the scene -within the headquarters of the colonial commander. George, Ben and the -Porcupine were also likewise engrossed. - -They saw Ezra greeted with rather surprised reserve. This was to be -expected, as the three officers were apparently deep in some problem -that required their undivided attention. Ezra saluted, and then the -watchers saw Colonel Prescott speak to him. What he said must have been -kindly and encouraging, for a look of gratitude came into the boy's -face. - -He stood at the foot of the table. General Ward was at its head, while -the other officers sat upon either side. Then the lad began to speak, -and from the first sentence those outside noted a look of anticipation -settle upon the listeners' faces. - -[Illustration: PUTNAM STRUCK THE TABLE] - -This grew deeper and deeper; now and then General Putnam struck the -table a smart blow with his right hand, his red face growing still -redder. But toward the end of Ezra's story, he grew as grave as the -others; and when the finish came, all arose quickly. General Ward was -seen to speak, the others gestured their accord with him. Then all shook -Ezra's hand warmly, after which Putnam and Prescott, followed by the -lad, strode out of the room. - -The horses belonging to the general and colonel were at hand when they -emerged. A sentry brought them forward, and as this was being done, Ezra -beckoned Gilbert Scarlett to the door of headquarters. - -"This," said the boy, "is Mr. Scarlett, who was of such great assistance -to me." - -Both soldiers greeted the adventurer warmly. - -"Sir," said General Putnam, in his bluff, honest way, "I am glad to see -you in Cambridge at such a time. For a man so ready of hand and brain as -you have proved yourself, there are deeds to be done." - -"If you will accept a commission with our forces," said Colonel -Prescott, after examining the young man steadily, "I feel sure that Dr. -Warren and his fellow committeemen will see to it with pleasure." - -"Gentlemen," responded Scarlett with a flourish, "you are kind. I will -not forget you. And if it should come about that I should at last take a -side in this bickering that is now begun, I will give what you say -serious consideration." - -As Putnam and Prescott mounted, both Scarlett and Ezra stood at salute; -the officers replied to this and rode hastily off, after the manner of -men who had urgent matters that required their attention. - -"Well?" inquired Nat Brewster, as Ezra and the adventurer approached -once more. - -"As it happened," said Ezra, cheerily, "General Ward was just outlining -a plan to fortify one of the hills above or below the city, when I -arrived. The matter has been under consideration in the council for some -days, but some of the commanders have felt doubtful." - -"And what will now be done?" asked George, anxiously. - -"A force will be sent to throw up works on Bunker Hill." - -"But," protested Ben Cooper, "how do they know that it is Bunker Hill -that the British mean to attack?" - -"They don't. But General Putnam says that they will attack any -commanding place that our force seizes." - -Scarlett slapped his thigh. - -"A sound military judgment," declared he. "He is most undoubtedly right. -If Bunker Hill is taken possession of, Bunker Hill will be the object of -Gage's assault. Look here." - -Then in the shadow of General Ward's headquarters, the lads, together -with the Porcupine, held consultation over a rough map which the -adventurer had drawn before entering Boston. - -"There will be riding to-day," said Ezra, at length, "and the bearing of -dispatches. It would be as well that we should report to Dr. Warren for -any service that we can render." - -As Scarlett was not open to perform any such service until he had -committed himself finally to the cause, the dwarf was sent with him to -find a comfortable inn; then the four comrades rode to Dr. Warren's -house. - -The patriot doctor had just received a hasty line from Prescott, more -than likely written in the saddle, and was delighted at the arrival of -these four active, enterprising young spirits. - -"This," said he, as he sat down to plan the work which he desired them -to do, "will be a day of days. Let us hope that Providence will be kind -to us and guide us to victory." - -All day the four rode up and down the countryside. And wherever they -went all became activity. Arms were seen to, ammunition was gotten -ready, men were set to drilling outside their camps. Volunteers, at the -prospect of immediate action, flocked into the towns; mattocks, spades -and other entrenching tools were sent forward in wagon-loads to -Cambridge. - -Orders were issued in the evening for Prescott's, Frye's and Bridge's -regiments, also a party of two hundred Connecticut troops to parade in -the Cambridge camp, furnished with packs and blankets and with -provisions for twenty-four hours. Also Captain Gridley's company of -artillery of forty-nine men and two field-pieces was commanded to -parade. - -However, in all the dispatch-bearing and all the activity, not a word as -to what was going forward had leaked out. Captains assembled their -companies and saw them equipped as directed without the faintest notion -as to what was about to be attempted. - -The brigade named was to make an immediate advance upon Bunker Hill -under command of Colonel Prescott. Colonel Richard Gridley, the American -engineer, was to bear him company with the plans of the proposed works. - -Gilbert Scarlett sat his borrowed horse by the side of Ezra Prentiss and -watched Prescott's brigade mass upon Cambridge common. - -"It's true," said he, with a hitch at his sword belt and a flush upon -his face, "that I have taken no side yet in this quarrel. But I never -could resist a good fight. So I'll strike a blow for the sheer pleasure -of it, even if I have no feeling in the matter." - -"I expected that," laughed Ezra. "And when you have struck one I am sure -that the second will follow." - -Dusk was beginning to settle upon that sixteenth day of June but there -was light enough to play upon the rifle barrels and upon naked bayonets -thrust into wide leather belts. The men were earnest-faced and -determined; they bore themselves not after the style of regulated -troops, but rather after that of men who were about to face the power of -tyranny and attempt to break it once and for all. As he looked at them, -admiration came into the face of the adventurer. - -"Here," said he to Ezra, "we have fellows that have the power and the -will to fight. The King's troops will have no rabble to disperse, as -I've more than once heard they've expected." - -With the officers at their heads, the brigade stood with heads bowed, -resting upon their grounded rifles. A white-haired man, venerable and -dignified, advanced before them, his hand upraised. - -"Who is that?" whispered Ben Cooper, much impressed. - -"It is President Langdon of Harvard College," replied Ezra Prentiss. -"Hush-h-h!" as Ben was about to speak once more. - -Amid dead silence the venerable scholar began a fervent and impressive -prayer. He prayed that heaven would watch over the little army and bring -it to victory over the forces of evil, that morning should dawn upon it, -strong for the fight and that it would hold out in the face of -discouragements and dangers. - -When everything was ready it was about nine o'clock; the command was -formed into column and the advance began. Masked lights were borne in -front by Ezra Prentiss and his friends; the carts containing the -entrenching tools rumbled along in the rear. - -At Charlestown Neck the detachment was halted, and the officers and men -were informed as to the nature of the venture. Captain Nutting and his -company, together with a party of Connecticut troops, were here ordered -by Prescott to proceed to the lower end of the town as a guard. Here, -also, General Putnam dashed up, accompanied by Major Brooks, and joined -the main body. - -Once more the party was put into motion; but at the foot of Bunker Hill -it again came to a halt. Colonel Prescott called his officers about him -and they plunged into an earnest debate. The dim light of the lanterns -held by the boys lit up the earnest faces of the officers as they -talked. - -"The orders for us to occupy Bunker Hill are most explicit," said -Prescott after a time. "And yet it would seem to me----" - -He paused and his bold gaze went toward the hill nearest Boston, which -bulked upward in a dense swell through the night. - -"The nearer the enemy, the quicker we come to hard gripes with him," -declared the rough and ready Putnam. - -The other officers were for the most part silent; those who did speak -were non-committal. It was plain to be seen that they had no desire to -go contrary to General Ward's orders unless some one else assumed the -responsibility. - -"If we had a map of the section," spoke Prescott, "I think I could show -you all the weak points in our orders." - -In a moment Ezra Prentiss stood forward and saluted. Prescott signed to -him to speak. - -"Mr. Scarlett has such a map," he said. "I saw it only to-day." - -Instantly the drawing was demanded. - -[Illustration: GILBERT SCARLETT'S MAP, AS REVISED BY HIM AFTER THE BATTLE] - -Scarlett stepped within the circle, coolly took it from his pocket, and -proceeded to explain its design. The officers listened with great -attention and examined the map closely. - -"Orders to a soldier," stated Scarlett wisely, "should be as the breath -to his nostrils. But," and he elevated his brows, "plans made in the -camp are sometimes necessarily modified in the field." - -Putnam looked at Prescott and that gentleman smiled. - -"That Breed's Hill," continued Scarlett pointing to his map, "is nearest -the enemy is the point of view of a fighting commander. Two more things -are to be considered in its favor. Occupy it and you face your foe as he -comes up the slope from the water; also by so doing you deprive him of a -point where he can plant his batteries." - -Putnam threw back his head and laughed. - -"Could anything be better said?" demanded he. "The gentleman makes it -all point. There is nothing else to do that I can see," with an -inquiring look at his fellows, "but to shift from Bunker to Breed's and -make our fight there." - -Colonel Prescott and Colonel Gridley at once gave the same as their -opinions; and after a few minor objections, the remainder also gave -their consent. - -Again the troops were put in motion; and this time they were not to halt -until they had reached a spot for the possession of which they were to -fight a battle, the story of which will live while the nation holds her -place among her sisters of the earth. - - - - -CHAPTER XIV - -IN WHICH IS FOUGHT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL - - -Bunker Hill, at the time of the siege of Boston, was a familiar place, -but Breed's Hill was not so well known. - -The surface of the latter was divided into tracts used as pastures; and -these were called after their separate owners. There was Russell's -pasture, and Breed's pasture, further south, while Green's was at the -head of what is now Green Street. - -The east and west sides of the hill were very steep. At the east base -were brick kilns, clay pits and much marshland. - -At the top of Breed's Hill the men, at the command of their officers, -threw down their packs, stacked arms and stood ready. In the dim light -of the masked lanterns held by Ezra and his comrades, Colonel Gridley -marked out the lines of the works; the tool carts came up, the tools -were distributed and the men set to work. And as this began, Colonel -Prescott ordered a guard, under Captain Maxwell of his own regiment, to -patrol the shore of the lower part of the town near the old ferry. - -"We must know what the enemy is about," Ezra heard the colonel say to -Colonel Gridley. "His movements are most interesting to us to-night." - -So near were they to the sentry-belted town of Boston that they could -hear, now and then, the cry of the guard at Copp's Hill battery. Also -the sounds from the war-ships were carried to them on the quiet wind. - -"Their vessels command our position very well," said Colonel Gridley, as -they stood looking out across the starlit waters. "That is the 'Falcon,' -there off Moulton's Point. The 'Somerset' is at the ferry, and that ship -near to Craigie's Bridge is the 'Glasgow.' The 'Cerberus' and some -floating batteries are yonder where you see that tangle of lights." - -"It will be a surprise to me if our work is not suspected before -daylight," said Prescott. "However, the men are accustomed to handling -their tools, and may carry it through unnoticed." - -And that is what happened. Diligently the thousand patriots cut into the -earth. Perfect silence was maintained; and every little while the -assuring cry that "All's well" came from Maxwell's patrol down along the -water's edge. - -When dawn finally broke on that seventeenth of June, the works were -about six feet in height, and the men were still laboring away on them -with a will. The entrenchments were first discovered by the watch upon -the twenty-gun vessel "Lively." Captain Bishop, her commander, did not -wait for orders, but put a spring in her cable and at once opened fire. - -The roar of the "Lively's" guns awoke the British camp, and soon all -Boston was assembled, staring in wonderment at the fortifications which -a night had caused to arise upon Breed's Hill. - -A little later a battery of six guns at Copp's Hill took up the firing, -and soon the heavier vessels joined in. - -A cannon-shot finally killed a man laboring on the platforms behind the -breastworks. At once the faces of his comrades went pale at the sight; -but Colonel Prescott, who happened to be close at hand, stepped upon the -parapet and leisurely paced around, examining it and speaking to the -officers. Noticing his intentions, Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster, who -were with him, awaiting his commands, did likewise. And seeing these -three calmly ignoring the British fire, the raw soldiers took heart; -indeed a little later they took to greeting each shot with shouts of -derision. - -The sun came well up and the heat became oppressive. Some of the men, -unaccustomed to warfare, had neglected to bring provisions, as ordered. -Suffering for want of food and drink, they began to murmur. - -Some of the officers became alarmed. - -"We had better send word to General Ward at once, to relieve them with -other troops," said he. "In a little while they will be beyond control." - -"I will never consent to these men being relieved," said Prescott, -promptly. "They have raised the works and are the best able to defend -them. They have suffered the labor, so let them have the honor of the -fight." - -Ezra stood with Ben and George a little later upon the slope of the hill -nearest the water; he had been gazing across toward the city, and -finally said: - -"There seems to be some sort of a movement in Boston. Governor Gage has -probably thought it high time to act." - -In this he was correct. Gage, after a council of war, in which his plans -had been objected to by General Clinton, had finally issued the orders -that brought the climax of the day. Artillery was wheeled into array, -foot-soldiers and dragoons paraded in all the bravery of their uniforms -and colors. - -Ten companies of British grenadiers and light infantry and the Fifth and -Thirty-eighth regiments, with ammunition and supplies, were ordered to -the Long Wharf. The Fifty-second and Forty-third regiments, together -with the remaining companies of grenadiers and light infantry, were -ordered to the North Battery. Other troops were held in readiness to -march at a moment's notice. - -At the earnest request of his officers, Colonel Prescott dispatched -Major Brooks to Cambridge to General Ward for reinforcements. This -officer reached headquarters about ten o'clock, and after much -discussion, the regiments of Colonel Stark and Colonel Reed, both of New -Hampshire, were sent to the aid of those upon the hill. - -When, at last, the men at work upon the fortifications were exhausted by -the toil and the heat, General Putnam had a large force of men gather up -the tools, fall back with them to Bunker Hill and there begin a second -line of works. - -"We don't expect to be beaten," said that seasoned officer, "but in a -battle no one knows just what will happen; so it's best to have -something to fall back on." - -It was about twelve o'clock noon, when Ezra Prentiss' keen eyes detected -the first of the British march to the boats. - -"Here they come," he shouted to Ben Cooper, who was some little distance -away. "We'll need the rifles now." - -All of them, the Porcupine included, carried rifles strapped upon their -backs; and their pouches were stuffed with ammunition. So now they -proceeded to get them ready. Locks were examined; old charges were -withdrawn and fresh ones rammed down. With Prescott's permission they -selected stations at the end of a line of riflemen whose position -promised at least a fair share of action. - -The Porcupine, as he stood leaning upon his rifle, the barrel of which -towered above his head, excited much laughter among the men. But he -grinned good-naturedly and smoothed down his stiff crest of hair. - -"Laugh away," said he, "if it'll do you any good. I don't mind it. But -remember, it won't take inches to shoot straight. You'll find the -British dodging the bullets I send them, as nimbly as they do those of -the tallest of you." - -A laugh and the clapping of hands down the line greeted this. - -"Truly spoken," said a huge farmer-like fellow who had performed -prodigies in the entrenching, "and aptly said, too. Pointed properly, -his bullet will lift a lieutenant-general out of his saddle, and more -than that you can't say for any of us." - -As the British began preparing to embark, two more ships of war moved up -the Charles River to join the others in firing upon the American works. -The roar of the cannonade was tremendous; the yellow smoke at times -almost obscured the sun. The "Falcon" and "Lively" were sweeping the low -ground at the foot of Breed's Hill to dislodge parties that might have -been sent by Prescott to prevent a landing. And as General Howe, who was -in command of the attack, with Brigadier-General Pigot under him, -embarked, the "Glasgow" frigate and "Symmetry" transport began raking -Charlestown Neck to prevent the crossing of any further American -reinforcements. - -As the signal, the hoisting of a blue flag, was given, the British host -began to advance across the river, their artillery in the leading -barges. A breeze drove the smoke to the northward, and the lads, as they -stood in the redoubt, had a clear view of the crossing. And Ezra, as he -looked, drew in a deep breath. - -"If splendor of appearance ever wins battles, surely this detachment -will be the winner today," he said. - -"But it never does," said Gilbert Scarlett, a rifle in the hollow of his -arm. "Accurate firing, steadiness and the resolve to stick to it until -the very last shot, is what brings victory." - -The brilliant scarlet coats, the white cross belts, the gleam of the -rifle barrels and brass guns formed a most dazzling and impressive -sight. And the boats came with the regularity of machinery; the heavy -frigates and brisker gunboats covered their advance with a continuous -thunder of guns. - -The Americans did little to halt the British progress. The time for -action, as their wise commanders had decided, had not yet arrived. - -"And they are right," commented Gilbert Scarlett. "Our cannon are few -and of light weight, and to fire on the shipping would be waste of -powder." Even the troop-barges, he pointed out, were difficult to hit, -up to the moment of their landing. - -This latter occurred just one hour after the start, and Moulton's Point -was the place selected. Not a shot was fired at the British force as -they left their boats, and they immediately formed in orderly array. -There was a long halt. General Howe, after examining the American works, -seemed to think very well of them, for he at once sent back across the -river a demand for reinforcements. And while these were being sent the -British officers, with the nonchalance that experience brings, very -quietly dined. - -Prescott and Putnam and their force lay stubbornly behind the earthworks -waiting for the foe to make the first move. But beyond, at Cambridge, -all was excitement and uproar. Bells clashed and swung in the church -towers, drums beat to arms, and guns roared their warning that the -British had crossed in force. - -There was no need now for General Ward to withhold the regiments still -under his command; all along he had been afraid to send too many men to -Breed's Hill, thinking that the attack might be leveled at Cambridge. -Now he reserved but Patterson's, Gardener's and part of Bridge's -regiments to protect the town; the remainder of the Massachusetts force -and what was left of Putnam's Connecticut men were hurried forward to -the point of attack. - -Dr. Warren appeared at the earthworks at this time and was greeted with -cheers. The men were exhausted and hungry, and for a time had been -inclined to suspect the good faith of their officers. But now with such -men as Warren, Putnam, Prescott and, later, General Pomeroy, plain in -their sight, they were quiet and patient enough. - -At about two o'clock the British began a movement along the Mystic River -with the intention of flanking the Americans and surrounding the -redoubt. Putnam at once ordered two pieces of artillery, and Captain -Knowlton with the Connecticut troops, to leave the entrenchments, -descend the hill and oppose the enemy's right wing. - -While Knowlton was carrying out this command, Colonel Stark with his New -Hampshire men began the crossing of Charlestown Neck. The guns of the -"Glasgow" were trained upon them; shells screamed through the air; solid -shot ripped great seams in the earth. - -In the heart of the regiment a single drum tapped with regular beat; the -men marched to this calmly, their long rifles over their shoulders. Now -and then a shot tore through them, but they never hurried their pace. - -Stark's grim face was set like stone; it seemed as though he scarcely -cast a look at the thundering ship of war. The command continued to -swing slowly along to the tap of the drum. When part way over Captain -Dearborn spoke to the colonel apprehensively: - -"We are moving very slowly. Wouldn't it be well to sound the double -quick?" - -But the heroic Stark replied, quietly: - -"They are moving fast enough for men going into action. In a fight, one -fresh man is as good as a dozen tired ones." - -These troops, with Captain Knowlton's, took possession of a rail fence -at the foot of Bunker Hill; and they set about extending it by throwing -up a stone wall on the beach. Later Colonel Reed's force joined those of -Connecticut and New Hampshire. - -When Howe's reinforcements arrived, the British commander addressed his -army, now of about three thousand men; then he gave the order to advance -against the colonial force. At the same time a signal was given and the -frigates, the floating batteries and that upon Copp's Hill, all centred -their fire upon the fortifications. At the same time other British -batteries in Boston began to throw shells into Roxbury in an effort to -burn that town. - -The British advanced under cover of this terrific fire. The American -artillery was but feeble and soon silenced. General Howe moved with his -right wing, with which he hoped to burst through the Connecticut and New -Hampshire men at the rail fence: General Pigot came on with the left, -which aimed to storm the redoubt. At this point the attacking force -found that twelve-pound shot had been sent to load six-pounder guns. -Howe was all but frantic with rage; but he ordered that the pieces be -charged with grape and that the force continue to push on. - -The miry ground, the tall grass, the heat and their heavy equipment -burdened the British rank and file; but they regarded victory as -assured; they felt nothing but contempt, in spite of Concord Bridge, for -the "peasants" who so stubbornly faced them. - -Coolly the Americans awaited. - -"Hold your fire," commanded Prescott, "until they are within ten -rods--and then wait for the word." - -"Powder is scarce," cried General Putnam. "Don't waste a charge." - -"Aim low," directed Dr. Warren. "Then you can't miss them." - -"Wait till you see the whites of their eyes!" - -"Through the middle of their red coats!" advised a rifleman, to whom, so -it seemed, the white cross belts upon the scarlet coats offered a -splendid target. - -Pigot's command advanced nearer and nearer; the fire of the shipping -ceased altogether, for the British were so close that sharp eyes in the -American lines could pick out individuals. Nat Brewster pointed out a -body of marines. - -"There is our old friend, Major Pitcairn," said he to George Prentiss. - -Both Nat and George had had rather an intimate acquaintance with that -gallant and humane British officer, just previous to the Lexington -fight. - -"He is as smooth and unruffled as ever," laughed George, "and his men -move like clockwork." - -As the redcoats came on, a scattering fire began at some points. - -"Wait for the word," shouted Prescott. And Ezra, Scarlett and Nat -Brewster leaped upon the parapet and ran along, kicking up the leveled -pieces. "Hold your fire, men." - -The British, as they advanced, had kept up a continuous fire; and this -made it all the more difficult for the Americans to restrain themselves. -However, they had not long to wait. - -Step by step the brilliant array of British swung nearer. The sun -sparkled upon their lines of rifle barrels; their faces were hard and -scornful; the metal upon their harness shone like gold. - -With an almost mystic sense of time Prescott caught the right moment. -Sharp, clear, ringing, his voice went up: - -"Fire!" - -Along the redoubt, and the full length of the breastwork, there was a -level line of darting flame: like a shock of thunder the crash followed. - -"Again!" rang the voice of Prescott as one line of his riflemen gave -place to another. "Fire!" - -Once more the flame points sprang outward; once more the crash followed; -once more the bullets poured into the British. - -The latter received the leaden hail with all the stoicism of the -veterans that they were. Briskly they came on, sharply they answered, -their ranks melting like wax all the time. But even they could not long -face that awful rain; suddenly they wavered, furiously General Pigot -sounded a retreat, and as the foe fell back a thunderous cheer went up -from the colonials, behind the works. - -"Good firing," commented Gilbert Scarlett, as he looked to his smoking -rifle. "These countrymen of yours," he continued to Ezra, "need -disciplining--yes; but no one need teach them how to shoot." - -While this was happening, the line of Stark and Knowlton at the rail -fence was grimly facing Howe and his oncoming force. The frightful rifle -fire littered the ground with the British veterans; they broke and fled -in disorder. - -When this was seen from the redoubt, a tempest of cheers went up. Ezra -made out in the thick of the retreat the fine figure of General Howe, as -that gallant officer strove with his men, trying to get them into some -semblance of order. - -"See," said the boy, pointing, "he's bringing them into shape. I have -heard that this General Howe is a very able officer; and his men seem to -believe in him." - -"His second attack will be warmer, I think," said Nat Brewster. "He'll -know what to expect, and will no doubt make his plans accordingly." - -They watched, as did the entire American force, the reassembling of the -British. And while this was going on the battery at Copp's Hill began to -throw shells into Charlestown; also a party of marines landed upon its -easterly side from the "Somerset" to fire the town. - -Suddenly Ben Cooper cried out: - -"Look there!" - -A pall of smoke was rising above the town; then a fierce burst of flame -ascended. - -"They have fired Charlestown," said George Prentiss, his face paling. -"They think to frighten us. But it will take more than that." - -The buildings were mainly of wood and the fire swept among them, -swirling and devouring; huge, far-reaching tongues of red flame curled -outward across the streets, from structure to structure, licking them up -and leaving nothing but ashes behind. - -In the midst of this terrifying disaster, General Howe ordered his -second attack on the rail fence. This time his artillery got fairly into -service; his men, as before, fired as they advanced. - -The American officers, grown confident, cried out: - -"Reserve your fire. Let them come within three rods!" - -This command was followed. When the time once more arrived the American -rifles spat their messengers of death at the enemy. Whole ranks of the -British seemed to fall. In the midst of death General Howe cheered on -his soldiers. Two of his aides were shot down while receiving his -orders. - -In the face of swift-coming death the soldiery faltered. The British -officers were seen to strike some of them with their swords, urging them -on. But it was no use. Again they gave way, this time rushing to their -boats and leaping in as though frantic with the fear of it all. - -The flames roared and the smoke billowed over Charlestown. At the foot -of Breed's Hill, the brilliant red-coated and white cross belted men -huddled and massed in seemingly hopeless confusion. The sun glinted upon -their tall brass-fronted hats, their musket barrels threw off countless -dancing reflections. Their officers raved among them in efforts to -reform them; swords were drawn, and pistols were presented at the heads -of the more stubborn. - -Because of this panic among the British and because Howe was -communicating with the Boston shore, the third attack was delayed. The -Americans were thankful for this, and spent the time trying to bring up -the further reinforcements sent to them. It was also discovered about -this time that the ammunition was all but exhausted. - -George Prentiss and Ben Cooper, mounted upon swift horses, were sent to -bear this news to General Putnam, who had gone back to bring up the new -men. - -"Tell him to send us some powder, or we are lost," was Prescott's last -and secret word with them. - -When the two had raced furiously away, some artillery cartridges were -pointed out by Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Broken open, they would supply quite a few charges for the small arms," -he suggested. "I saw the like done at a small engagement in which I took -part in Egypt." - -This was eagerly seized upon; but the quantity secured was pitifully -small. - -"Don't waste a grain of it," cautioned Colonel Prescott. "Send every -bullet to its mark." - -But that their officers feared for the result of the day was hidden from -the men. Both Prescott and Dr. Warren walked constantly up and down the -parapet, talking cheerily with the defenders, and advising them how to -meet any fresh onset. - -"You have beaten them twice," cried General Warren, for that was the -rank he now held. "Do it once more; and it will be the last." - -While this was going on at the top of the hill, Howe was still raging at -its foot. - -"I'll conquer the rascals, or die trying," he declared repeatedly. - -A reinforcement of four hundred marines had reached him from the fleet. -Also he had a distinguished volunteer in the person of his close friend, -the very able General Clinton. The latter had twice seen Howe -discomfited; so he threw himself into a boat at Copp's Hill and crossed -to offer his services. - -But some of the British officers strongly advised against another -attack. - -"It will be little less than butchery to lead the men upon that position -again," they said. - -But Howe thought otherwise. He sternly commanded that the men be put -into a soldier-like formation; then with the crafty help of Clinton, he -began to plan the third attack. - -The British commander had, by this time, learned to respect the -colonials. - -"They told me that I had a rabble of peasants to fight," said he to -Clinton. "If it's so, then there are the makings of fine troops among -those villains on the hill." - -In the forming of his last attack Howe had no doubt the sound advice of -General Clinton; for it was better thought out and delivered with more -wisdom than the others. - -The rank and file were now commanded to lay aside their heavy knapsacks. -They had been burdened with these and other useless pieces of equipment -during the entire afternoon, and this, perhaps, had had its effect in -breaking their courage. Then they were formed into columns. - -"Rely upon the steel," Howe commanded them. "Reserve your fire until you -get within a dozen paces of them. They shall see that we, too, can fight -after that fashion." - -This attack was directed upon the redoubt above; only a sham advance was -made against the rail fence, in order that Stark and Knowlton's men be -forced to hold their position, and so not be able to come to the aid of -Prescott's. Also the British artillery was now supplied with proper -shot, and was wheeled forward to rake the breastworks. - -As the British came on, Ezra Prentiss regarded their compact columns -with an anxious eye. He had had but little experience in warfare; but -something told him that there was a task coming much more formidable -than what had gone before. - -"It looks," said he to Nat and Scarlett, "as though this would be the -test, somehow. This attack seems more deftly directed." - -Gilbert Scarlett's black eyes were sparkling with anticipation. - -"Our friend, my Lord Howe, is increasing in wisdom as the day advances," -he said. "As you say, it will be a test. If we can hold the breastworks -against that," and he pointed to the King's artillery being pushed into -its last murderous position, "we will beat them again. If not, we are at -the end of the fight, and can only hope for a safe retreat." - -On came the steady, sullen, silent columns. Some of the American -riflemen had but one charge of powder; and this was poured in with -deadly effect as the word was given. The grenadiers and light infantry -shook under the shock, but came on at the urging of their officers. In a -little while the left columns under Clinton and Pigot reached a position -under the walls of the redoubt where they were sheltered from the -scattering and feeble fire of the defenders. Then they deployed and with -a rush the first flank had gained the parapet. A leaden hail; the last -concentrated volley of the colonists swept this into eternity. - -But on came the second rank of redcoats over the works with leveled -bayonets; the Americans met them with clubbed rifles and the few -bayonets that they possessed. Stones flew through the air, hurled by -desperate hands; rifle barrel rang against sword and bayonet. -Desperately the colonists strove; but at this style of fighting they -could not hope to hold their ground against the trained troops of Lord -Howe. Step by step, Prescott saw them beaten back; their ranks were -thinning fast, and hope was past; so with mercy in his heart, the -gallant leader sounded a retreat. - -So great was the dust thrown up by the rushing feet of the contending -forces that the retreating Americans had difficulty in locating the -outlets in the redoubt. Some leaped over its top; the majority fought -their way grimly through the British, leaving a track of killed and -desperately hurt behind them. Colonel Prescott was among the last to -leave. He parried countless bayonet thrusts with his heavy sword and his -waistcoat was pierced more than once. - -As the Americans fled from the works, General Warren threw himself -desperately among them. He knew that unless the riflemen were stayed the -retreat would become a rout. And it was here that this gallant gentleman -met his heroic death. The British took possession of the redoubt with -shouts of victory; with the instinct of trained troops they formed and -poured a murderous volley into the Americans. Warren was seen to stagger -and fall before this; and the rushing mass of his countrymen passed by -and left him upon the field. - -"I guess it's all over, boys," panted Nat Brewster. "We'd best make our -way back with the others." - -But at this point, when destruction seemed hovering over the flying -Americans, Putnam succeeded in at last bringing up the reinforcements. -Between Bunker and Breed's Hills parts of the regiments of Ward, -Gardener and Gerrish poured a continuous fire upon the enemy as they -rushed forward in pursuit, and so checked them. Then the New Hampshire -and Connecticut men at the rail fence, who had defended their position -like heroes, saw that Prescott's men were in retreat. So with that they -gave back like veteran troops, compelling their foes to keep their -distance, and soon the entire American force, with their foemen held -well in hand, were bearing back over Bunker Hill. - -It was at the brow of this eminence that Putnam rode up upon a foaming -horse, his face shining like that of a son of battle. He had labored -with the strength of a score of leaders upon the works here, but they -were still unfinished. However, that never once caused his bold heart to -falter. - -"Make a stand here!" he shouted. "We can stop them yet! One shot more, -men! One shot more!" - -But the retreat was not to be stopped; the Americans had not yet been -hardened to the desperate fighting in the face of defeat that comes to -seasoned soldiery. And many of them had no more powder. And so they -passed over the hill and across Charlestown Neck amid the fire of the -British shipping and batteries. - -Then, with great parade, the British crossed the Neck and took -possession of the hill that they had, only a few months before, -staggered down in the retreat from Concord. But they dared go no -further; upon Winter and Prospect Hills, and from Cambridge a desperate, -smoke-blackened army of patriots faced them, once more supplied with -ammunition and with the resolution to stand and fight until the sun set -and rose again. - -Ezra Prentiss, weary and covered with dust, cleaned his befouled rifle -and sighed. - -"And, after all, it was a victory for the British," he said. - -But Scarlett, who sat at his side, likewise occupied, laughed grimly, -and cast a look at the orderly but depleted array of the enemy. - -"It was a victory for them--yes," said he, with the wisdom of experience. -"But another such victory would be fatal to General Gage. You have been -beaten, but you have struck him a vital blow." - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -SHOWS HOW EZRA CARRIED THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE, AND HOW HE MET -GENERAL WASHINGTON BY THE WAY - - -After the desperate struggle upon Breed's Hill the two armies lay upon -their different eminences, breathlessly regarding each other; they still -held their arms ready, for they each dreaded what the other might do; -but there was no movement to continue the battle upon either side; and -so the last hours of daylight wore on. - -Ezra Prentiss and Nat Brewster were with Colonel Prescott almost all the -time since the retreat had ceased. Their hearts were heavy when they -learned of Dr. Warren's death; for where would such another be found as -he? That there were other great men in the colonies, they knew well; but -none were quite so human, so entirely unselfish, so absolutely devoted -to the public good as this patriot who still lay upon the hillside, his -face turned to the sky. - -They sat upon a settle in the wide hall of the house in which Prescott -made his headquarters, and talked the sad news over in mournful -undertones. Through an open doorway they could see the colonel pacing up -and down, his face darkened with anger, his lips pressed tightly -together. - -"The result seems to set heavily upon him," said Nat, at length. "See -how his hands are clenched; and he has not even brushed the dust of the -fight from his clothes." - -Ezra looked at the colonel's lowered head and burning eyes. - -"I have no doubt," said the young New Englander, "that there is nothing -in the world that he would welcome so much as a renewal of the -engagement. He had the battle won, but for the lack of powder and the -reinforcements that were so delayed and confused." - -They continued to talk in low tones for a time; then suddenly Colonel -Prescott's tramping ceased. He had paused in the centre of the room, and -as the boys' eyes went to him once more, they found that he was looking -toward them. - -"Prentiss," said the colonel, with the manner of one who had finally -made up his mind to something, "ask them to bring me my horse." - -Ezra saluted, and went quickly out. A few moments later the clatter of -hoofs sounded upon the pavement, and Prescott, as he snatched up his -hat, gestured Nat to follow. - -Not only was Colonel Prescott's mount awaiting him, but a little behind -it stood the raw-boned black which Nat Brewster had ridden ever since -leaving Philadelphia the fall before. Beside this again was a hardy -looking, flea-bitten gray of visible quality which Ezra had bought of a -horse dealer in the camp to replace the tall bay which, for all he knew, -still stood in the barn at the "Indian's Head." - -All three mounted, and Prescott headed at once for General Ward's -headquarters. The sun had but a short time to keep its rim above the -west; indeed, in sheltered places, the shadows had grown long and were -thickening into dusk. - -The colonel was admitted at once to the general's presence; and the boys -remained in an anteroom, which was crowded with officers and persons of -consequence, all eager to hear the news of what was to be done on the -morrow. - -General Ward's room was also thronged, and business was being dispatched -hurriedly. The hangings of the doorway were drawn because of the heat of -the evening, and all that was said and done was plain to those in the -anteroom. A light breeze was blowing through the house; and some lights, -already burning in tall silver candlesticks, leaped agitatedly, throwing -quavering shadows upon the stern faces of the fighting-men gathered -about. - -With one accord, all fell back from the table at which General Ward sat, -upon the appearance of Colonel Prescott. As the commander of the force -at the summit of the hill, they at once gave him place. - -"General," and Colonel Prescott saluted grimly, "I have come to make my -report upon the engagement fought to-day in the neighborhood of -Charlestown." - -He placed a closely written paper upon the table as he spoke, and then -stood back a pace. - -General Ward took up the paper and sat running his thumb and forefinger -along its folds; but he did not open it. - -"What has happened," said he, "is of course already known to me. All who -witnessed your work to-day join in praising it; it seems the universal -opinion that no man could have done more. If you were driven from your -position----" - -Colonel Prescott's hand went up and his flashing eyes swept the room. - -"If I lost my position," said he, "it was not because my men and I were -not willing to hold it to the last. It was because of the neglect of -some whose duty it was to lend me help. Another thing," and he advanced -to the table, his hand falling upon it with force, "give me fifteen -hundred men to-night, with powder and ball and bayonets, and I will have -recovered Breed's Hill for you by sunrise to-morrow." - -A thrill ran through Ezra at these words. There was no doubting but that -the aroused man meant them and stood ready to carry them out. But -General Ward was too conservative a soldier to harken to any such daring -plan. - -"The risk would be too great," said he. "We must not waste our strength. -To-day we have lost above four hundred men. If Howe were to order an -advance we could scarcely hope to hold him in check." - -"He has lost three times as many as we," returned Prescott; "and we need -have no fear of his attacking us again, just yet." - -Then some one else broke in, and the conversation in a moment became -almost general. Plans were suggested and debated; the raising of men, -money and ammunition engrossed every one. - -When Colonel Prescott was leaving, General Ward arose, shook his hand -warmly and thanked him for his services in the name of the colonies. -Coming with him to the door of the anteroom his eyes fell upon Ezra and -Nat, and his face lighted up. - -"Here are the very lads," said he. "I had all but forgotten that I -required the service of some ready riders, and at once." - -The two boys stood forward and saluted. - -"There is a dispatch, all ready," said General Ward to Prescott, "for -the Congress at Philadelphia, giving a brief account of to-day's -engagement. If you can spare these lads, and if they are not too weary -with their work of to-day," with a smile at the two, "there are none -that I would rather send upon the mission." - -Prescott turned and looked at Ezra and Nat; their eager looks caused a -smile to appear upon his stern face. - -"They will carry the dispatch," he said, briefly. - -"I shall require it to go to-night," said the general to the lads. - -He was a thoughtful man; knowing that they had been in the thick of the -fight, he hesitated about burdening them with this long journey without -their having had a chance to rest. - -"Our horses are at the door," said Ezra, promptly. "We are ready to go -at once." - -So they remained after Colonel Prescott had departed. Soon the dispatch -of the colonial commander was placed in Ezra's hands; their instructions -were brief; then they mounted and rode swiftly away upon their journey -through the deepening dusk. - -"We should sleep at Framingham to-night," said Ezra. - -"We made the complete journey once in seven days," answered Nat. "And -this time we should not be behind that." - -A farmhouse was their first halt; and the good people were eager to do -all they could for them when they heard who they were. It was the same -through all of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Innkeepers gave them their -best attention; hostlers looked to their horses with unexampled -solicitude; the townspeople gathered about them burning to hear the news -from the lips of the lads who had been in the battle. - -They reached New York, where they attracted great attention, crowds -thronging the streets to watch their progress; then they crossed the -Hudson and began pushing their way across the level Jerseys. They had -gone a half day's ride over the sandy roads; it was a little past noon -when they came to a fine, old, tree-shaded house, with broad fields, -green with the spring's planting, beautiful orchards and a generally -prosperous look. - -"Now this," spoke Nat, good-humoredly, "is a likely sort of place for -two wayfarers to alight and beseech entertainment. The people who live -here could provide good food and in plenty, if appearances go for -anything." - -They dismounted at the open gate and tied their horses to the fence. A -small dog, hearing their footsteps upon the path, ran toward them with a -great ado of barking; this brought forward a very small boy, who stood -before them, his freckled face turned up inquiringly. - -"Do you want my father?" asked he. - -Ezra smiled down at the child. - -"Perhaps so," said he. "Is this your father's place?" - -The boy swept a small hand to all four points of the compass. - -"All of it," answered he. Then confidentially, "And he's going to get -more." - -"Good for him," laughed Nat, "and so now run off and ask him if he can -see two riders who are on their way to Philadelphia." - -The child pursed up his mouth. - -"He is engaged," spoke he, wisely. "Some gentlemen stopped a while ago. -They are having dinner, and one of them is a general." - -The young continentals looked at one another. - -"What's his name?" inquired Ezra. - -"General Wash'ton," answered the child promptly. - -Again the lads' eyes sought each other in mute question; and a thrill -ran through them both. They recalled the tall, athletic Virginian who -had sat his horse so well in Philadelphia's streets; they remembered the -calm, handsome face, so highly bred and yet so powerful; they recalled -the outspoken admiration of the citizens, the great esteem of his fellow -members of the First Congress. - -"Can it be," said Ezra, "that Washington of Virginia has been chosen -commander-in-chief by the Continental Congress!" - -"If he has," replied Nat Brewster, all excitement, "they have done -excellently for the colonies. There is no nobler man in all America; and -from all accounts, he is a born soldier." - -The small boy disappeared into the house while they were speaking; but -the small dog remained, sniffing suspiciously and occasionally growling -for them to keep their distance. And while they were smiling at the -self-importance of the little beast, there came a full-toned voice -saying: - -"I had not thought, Mr. Clark, to see so fine a farm in the Jerseys. It -is splendid. And as I come from Virginia, where the plantations approach -the extent of principalities, I may say that I am a judge." - -There were footsteps upon the wide verandah which ran about the house; -and turning in the direction of the sound, the boys saw a party of -gentlemen. Nat's eyes instantly sought out the speaker, and at a glance -he recognized the tall, strong frame and the lofty face. - -And almost at the same moment the eyes of the great Virginian caught -sight of the boy. - -"Hah!" cried he, taking a step forward, "here is some one I think I -know, Mr. Clark." - -"They are strangers to me, general," spoke the rich farmer, staring at -the boys. "Travelers perhaps, young gentlemen?" addressing them. - -"On our way to Philadelphia," said Ezra, as Nat stepped upon the -verandah and grasped the cordially extended hand of Washington. - -Nat had done Washington a splendid service just outside of Philadelphia -some ten months before, and as the Virginian seldom forgot a face, and -never a service, his hand grasp was warm and firm. - -[Illustration: NAT GRASPED THE HAND OF WASHINGTON] - -"I am glad to see you. And so," with a look at Ezra, "you are on your -way to Philadelphia?" - -"Yes, general." - -Washington smiled a little. - -"Why," said he, "my new title seems to run before me like a forest fire. -But," inquiringly, "may I ask from what direction you travel?" - -"We left Cambridge in Massachusetts some five days ago," replied Nat. - -An eager light came into the eyes of the commander-in-chief. - -"What news?" asked he. - -"A battle has been fought," said Nat. - -Instantly the lad was encircled by a ring of anxious faces. - -"And the result?" Washington's voice was entirely without excitement. - -"The British were victorious." - -A sort of groan went up from the little party of gentlemen. And it was -here that Ezra Prentiss spoke eagerly. - -"We are bearing General Ward's report of the fight to Congress. And -though the British did drive us back, we twice repulsed them. We would -have done so the third time had not our powder run out. As it stands, -they lost a thousand men and do not dare advance beyond the ground they -won." - -The gloom which settled upon the face of Washington at Nat Brewster's -words vanished at those of Ezra Prentiss. - -"The militia?" he asked, his hand upon the boy's shoulder. "How did they -hold themselves under fire?" - -"Bravely," returned Ezra. "As long as they could fire back they showed -fear of neither cannon-shot nor musketry." - -"That is all I wish to know," exclaimed the commander-in-chief. "The -cause of liberty is safe." - -The others then burst in with anxious and excited questions. Even during -the dinner which the bountiful Mr. Clark sat the boys down to in a long, -shaded room did not stop this flow of interrogations. Both were forced -to answer as best they could between mouthfuls, but they did so with -enthusiasm, for they were as full of the matter as their questioners. - -General Washington sat alone upon the verandah while the boys ate; his -eyes were fixed upon the broad, fertile fields and his expression was -rapt. Perhaps he saw the future, when he should retreat with a shattered -army across the Jerseys, the wolf-pack of the enemy close behind him. -And behind them again, the countryside in ruins! - -But when the lads came out he arose. - -"Mr. Clark," said he, "you have been kind, and I thank you. And now, if -you will have them bring out our horses, we will be on our way toward -New York." - -The farmer sent some of his people to do as asked; then the general -turned to the boys. - -"I am about to send a messenger back to Philadelphia with some -suggestions to Congress which this news of yours has called forth," said -he, "and if you are so inclined, the message of General Ward shall be -sent by him." - -The boys hesitated a moment. - -"General," said Ezra, finally, "there is nothing that would please us -better than to ride with you back to Cambridge, but----" - -Washington smiled. - -"If it would please you," said he, "then you shall do it. As your -officer, I direct you to turn over your dispatches to this gentleman," -indicating a young man who stood seemingly ready to depart. - -Promptly Ezra drew out General Ward's dispatch and handed it to the -rider. In a few moments they saw him dashing away through the dust to -the southward; and in a very few more they were heading north toward the -theatre of war at the side of General Washington. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -IN WHICH EZRA LISTENS TO A DARING PLAN, AND HOW THREE SPIES LISTEN -TO IT LIKEWISE - - -From the time that Washington reached New York, his progress toward -Cambridge was a constant ovation. In all the towns he passed through he -was received by committees of citizens. Addresses of welcome and praise -were read to him, cannon were fired in his honor, and escorts met him -and saw him on his way. - -While he was no doubt gratified by all these signs of favor and -indications of the people's confidence, the general's most earnest -desire was to reach his destination and assume the command entrusted to -him. At Springfield a committee of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress -met him; a cavalcade of mounted citizens and troops escorted him into -Cambridge on the second of July. - -It was about two o'clock in the afternoon when the commander-in-chief -entered the town. The streets were thronged with people; cheers met him -upon every hand; people filled windows, sheds and roof tops to do him -honor. The various colonial flags fluttered wildly; guns roared and the -troops saluted their leader with critical satisfaction. - -The next day General Washington assumed command of the army in due form. -He at once rode about its posts and carefully examined the position of -the enemy. Ezra, Nat and Gilbert Scarlett rode with the party that -accompanied him, he having selected the two former as his messengers and -the latter accompanying them because of his curiosity regarding the new -leader. - -"He looks," Scarlett told Ezra, "like a man of unmistakable parts. -Colonel Prescott, last night, was good enough to sketch his life and -military acts for me, and I was much struck. At Braddock's defeat he -played the part, not only of a man, but of a most excellent officer." - -Slowly Washington reconnoitered the British lines. He found Howe -strongly entrenching on Bunker Hill, advanced about half a mile from the -late battle-field, with his sentries extending fully one hundred and -fifty yards upon the Cambridge side of the Neck. Three floating -batteries lay in the Mystic River, and a twenty-gun ship was at anchor -below the ferry. On Roxbury Neck they were also strongly fortified. The -bulk of the British army lay upon Bunker Hill; only a few light horse -were at this time left in Boston. - -Not a point of all this seemed to escape the observing eye of the -Virginian; his comments and directions were listened to by Scarlett with -close attention and deepening appreciation. - -The American position had grown stronger since the Bunker Hill fight. - -Entrenchments had been thrown up on Prospect and Winter Hills. From -these the British camp was plainly in view at little more than a mile -away. There was a strong work at Sewall's Farm, which, afterward, -Washington made stronger still. At Roxbury, General Thomas had thrown up -a powerful fortification. The New Hampshire troops and a regiment of -Rhode Island men held Winter Hill. General Putnam was in command at -Prospect Hill with the greater part of his Connecticut regiments. The -troops at Cambridge were all of Massachusetts Bay; and the bulk of -Greene's Rhode Islanders held Sewall's Farm. Two other regiments of -Putnam's men and nine regiments of Massachusetts were stationed at -Roxbury. Then there were some seven hundred men scattered along the -coast to prevent descents of the enemy. - -In spite of all that had been done by earnest and competent men, it was -scarcely an army which Washington took command of that July day. It was, -rather, a gathering of armed men, for there was not much organization. - -"The men are rugged, faithful and brave," said Ezra Prentiss to his -friends that night as they sat at an inn called "The Honest Farmer" on -the outskirts of Cambridge, toward Stark and Putnam's entrenchments. -"But they are also independent and impatient of restraint." - -"They elect to follow their own officers and obey no others," said Nat -Brewster. "And if they are not pleased with what is going forward, whole -regiments feel themselves perfectly at liberty to withdraw, wait until -their views are agreed to, or return to their homes." - -"General Washington will see to all that," spoke Scarlett, with a nod of -the head. "I have been giving him some attention to-day and I have -perceived that he is not only a man who desires order, but one who has -the will to achieve his desires. From this day on things will go -differently; men will obey when an order is given them; if they do not, -they will find that an accounting is to be made, not to an officer who -is a friend and neighbor, but to one who has only the welfare of the -colonies at heart." - -Ben Cooper laughed. - -"The new general has been approved by you, then?" said he. - -Scarlett twisted the points of his moustache. - -"I am like to serve him before very long," returned he, soberly. "For, -under him, this promises to become a very pretty war, indeed." - -"The Honest Farmer" was a large place once frequented by farmers driving -into Boston with their loads of produce. As it was cleanly kept, even in -these lax and unprofitable days, it had become a favorite place of -resort for young officers and citizens who liked to drop in and discuss -the progress of events with them. - -Upon the evening in question there was quite a throng gathered in the -public room and the sound of voices filled it. Upon a bench opposite the -boys sat a portly old fellow with a full, red face and a downright -manner of speaking. A mild, thin-faced man sat beside him, and as they -talked the lads could not help but overhear. - -"It is all very well for a parcel of men such as Adams and Hancock and -their agitating like, to sit safely away in Philadelphia, and send us a -stranger to take charge of us," grumbled the portly man, in his -downright way. - -"But, surely," remonstrated the thin-faced man, "you would not call -General Washington a stranger." - -"He is a stranger to me, sir," spoke the portly one, in an injured tone. -"And he is from the South. Why could we not have had one of our own -people? Answer me that!" - -But the thin-faced man shook his head. - -"Congress should know what it is about," said he. "It must know that the -general is fitted for his work, or it would not have sent him." - -"What work?" blustered the portly man, and his voice was loud and -domineering. "What work, I ask you, sir?" - -But the thin man again shook his head and looked blank. - -"The work to be done is to drive the British out of Boston," stated the -red-faced man with the portly figure. "To drive them out of Boston so -that we can go back and resume our trades and occupations. That's what -he's sent to do. But," and he challenged the room with both voice and -eye, "how is he going to do it?" - -"Faith," laughed a gray-haired major, who stood near, "he has him -there." - -But the thin-faced man unexpectedly had an answer. - -"He will attack them," he declared valiantly. "He will attack them as -soon as possible." - -The portly man snorted his disgust. - -"Attack them," he repeated scornfully. "But plague on it, sir, what will -he attack them with? I am no military man, but I know that he can't move -on them with his bare hands. To attack successfully," and the stout palm -of the speaker struck the bench with a resounding whack, "he must have -artillery--heavy artillery." - -The thin-faced man had no reply to make to this. But the gray-haired -major spoke in his stead. - -"You may be no military man, as you say, sir," said he, "but you are -quite right, for all. To reach Gage in his den we must have guns that -will throw great weight a long distance." - -The portly man's red face glistened with triumph. - -"Sir," said he cordially, "it is a great satisfaction to speak to a man -of understanding. You have the intelligence, apparently, to grasp a -situation. And I ask you, sir, as a man of intelligence," impressively, -"where those guns are to come from?" - -It was the gray-haired major who now shook his head. - -"You have a faculty of asking difficult questions, I perceive, sir," -laughed he. "And that is one which I must allow to pass me by." - -More and more triumphant grew the gentleman with the red face. - -"We haven't them," he declared loudly. "We haven't them. And, more than -that, we cannot get them." - -"Don't be too sure of that," said a quiet voice from a bench in a -corner. "Don't be too sure of that, Mr. Trivitt. There are guns a-plenty -to be had, if they will but be sought after." - -The portly Mr. Trivitt glanced toward the corner, and scorn filled his -red face. - -"Huh!" he grunted. "Because you served in the militia, Harry Knox, and -because you went tearing about on horseback at the Bunker Hill fight, -don't think that you can teach me understanding. I was a man before you -were born, and I have the sense to see what is open to my eyes." - -Harry Knox, as Mr. Trivitt called him, was a medium-sized young man, -well built and with a strong, intelligent face. He laughed at the -other's words, and replied: - -"But it is possible, Mr. Trivitt, that all things do not come beneath -your eyes." - -To one so self-important as the portly man this was little less than an -insult. - -"It is a pity that you were forced by the war to give up the selling of -books," said he to Knox. "I have heard, though I've never read a book in -my life, that you were clever in your trade. But in the trade of a -soldier you promise to be less excellent." He arose to his feet with -great dignity. "However," he continued, "I never discuss matters of -importance with youths. It is a waste of time and breath." - -And with that the indignant Mr. Trivitt stuck his three-cornered hat -upon his head and stumped out of "The Honest Farmer" much affronted. - -Ezra caught the eye of Henry Knox and nodded to him. Young Prentiss had -inherited his father's love of books, and had many times purchased -volumes from the youthful bookseller at his shop in Boston; indeed, in -the discussions that accompanied these transactions, quite an intimacy -had sprung up between them. - -Knox arose and approached the boys cordially. He was but twenty-five -himself at this time, and had many boyish traits still. - -"I am glad to see you once more," said he to Ezra, as they shook hands. -"I noticed you and your friends, here," with a smile at the others, "as -Prescott fell back from the hill on the day of the fight; but of course -there was no time then for any exchanges, except with the enemy." - -The others were made known to him; he sat down with them and began to -talk over the coming of Washington and the things that were to be -expected of the new commander. At length, during a lull in the -conversation, Gilbert Scarlett said: - -"You did but jest with your fat friend, Mr. Trivitt, I suppose, with -regard to the heavy guns." - -But young Knox shook his head. - -"No," said he, "I spoke seriously enough. If General Washington wants -heavier and more cannon than he already has, they are to be had for the -journeying after them." - -Seeing the look of interest upon the faces of his listeners, he -continued: - -"It is a simple matter enough. We have all heard of the success of -Colonel Ethan Allan and young Arnold at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. -Both these strongholds have been captured from the British and both are -provided with heavy guns. A party, equipped with proper authority, could -bring these on to Cambridge with some little effort." - -"I am not acquainted with the country between here and the captured -strongholds," said Gilbert Scarlett, delightedly, for the idea seemed to -appeal powerfully to his imagination, "but the project is one of -exceptional quality. I congratulate you, sir." - -"Thank you," said Knox. "I am obliged to you. I have mentioned it to -others--General Ward, for example, and he fancied it impracticable." - -"I have all respect for General Ward," answered Scarlett, "but you'll -pardon me if I say that he's too conservative. You'd gain a friend to -your plan at once if you spoke to General Putnam or Stark, or one of -their kind. A man must have a spice of daring to grasp opportunities." - -After that night the boys saw a great deal of Henry Knox. Indeed, also, -he gradually came to be a man of importance in the camp. For his -services at Bunker Hill he was made a colonel; and a practical, -enterprising officer he proved to be. - -The days went on, and Washington labored with the force newly under his -command. Powder continued to be a scarce article in the camp. At no time -was there above nine rounds to a man, and with this slender supply, the -general had to maintain a constantly extending line of posts--posts -always exposed to the concentrated assaults of well-ordered veterans. -But he clung grimly to the task; little by little his ideas began to be -seen, order gradually arose out of confusion; his brigadiers grasped his -intentions readily, and so things began to shape themselves as he wanted -them. - -More than twenty thousand able men were desired to carry out -Washington's designs. There were only seventeen thousand enrolled; and -of these less than fifteen thousand were fit for service. Recruiting was -carried on throughout New England. Eloquent speakers harangued village -crowds, and their highly colored words drew the young men constantly to -the camp at Cambridge. - -The environs of Boston at this time presented an animated sight. -Fortifications were everywhere; men labored for the cause of liberty -with mattock and spade; they drilled ceaselessly; whole towns, so it -seemed, were given up to the military; white tents were pitched in -orderly lines in the fields. Only a century before the two principal -passes into Boston--Charlestown Neck and Boston Neck--had been fortified -to save the town from the Indians and so preserve American civilization. -Now the hills that commanded these same passes were peopled with the -descendants of those who had formerly defended them and they were -arrayed in the pride of war; their hands were raised against the -oppressive government that should have fostered them, but which, -instead, sought to crush them out. - -While Washington was bringing order to his army and strengthening his -position, he was also constantly seeking to confine the operations of -the enemy and cut off their supply of provisions. Attacks were carefully -guarded against; parties in whale boats were afloat each night to watch -the waters; the American pickets grew as keen as night-birds, so -accustomed were they to search the darkness. - -Sudden assaults, made by parties on both sides, marked the summer, and -the fighting on the islands continued. British transports arrived from -time to time, filled with additional troops; now and then the King's -batteries opened fire upon an American work which they fancied was being -pushed too far; on the sea, the Yankee privateers were increasing in -numbers and in power; scarcely a week passed that the city did not -receive news of some daring deed of theirs. - -Then finally the long expected party of Southern riflemen arrived. These -had enlisted at the first echo of the war and they had marched from four -to seven hundred miles in their anxiety to face their country's enemies. - -They were bronzed, hardy looking men, dressed in hunting-shirts and -coonskin caps. They carried rifles, the length of which caused the boys -to open their eyes. - -"They look like marksmen," said Ezra Prentiss. "I have heard that the -backwoodsmen in their colony are very expert with the rifle." - -As though to prove this, a party of the Southerners passed in review -before the commanders shortly after they reached the camp. While -advancing quickly, and at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards, -they fired at a target seven inches in diameter. And each bullet found -the mark! - -Washington at once ordered these riflemen stationed at the outposts. -Here they made themselves terrible to the British, and day by day this -terror increased. Whatever they fired at they hit; and soon the King's -outposts dreaded to move except under cover. Rumors of the remarkable -shooting of these men reached even so far as England; and one of them, -who was made prisoner, was taken there. The newspapers described him -with great minuteness; and the British public swarmed to see him and the -motto "Liberty or Death" which he wore upon the breast of his -hunting-shirt in common with his fellows. - -Several times Washington tried to force the hand of Gage, as in his -occupation of Ploughed Hill. But the British refused to accept the -challenge. They bombarded the position, to be sure, and kept it up for -the greater part of two weeks, but finally the firing ceased. During -this summer, also, the celebrated Liberty Tree in Boston was attacked by -the furious Tories and ruthlessly cut down. - -October had arrived and the coming frost was felt in the night air. And -as the chill grew deeper, the public room of "The Honest Farmer" grew -more and more a place of resort for citizens and officers. One night the -four boys had gathered there in company with Gilbert Scarlett. They sat -before a slow fire of green wood, which served very well to take the -discomfort out of the air, and were talking together upon topics of the -time and listening to the sayings of those about them. - -It seemed that "The Honest Farmer," besides being a very pleasant inn, -was a great place for grumblers. And just now some citizens, gathered -about an oaken table, saw fit to criticize General Washington for what -they called his inaction. - -"What can he mean?" demanded one. "If the British will not come out to -him, he should go in to them. This state of affairs, at the present -rate, will continue on forever." - -"He was sent here to drive them out. Let him show that he is competent -by at least attempting to do so," grumbled another. - -Thus they went on; each had his say in the matter and each said it -churlishly and discontentedly. - -"To be a military commander," spoke Gilbert Scarlett to the boys, his -booted legs stretched out to the fire, "is not to lie upon a bed of -roses. Here we have a party of gentlemen who will speak their minds upon -a subject upon which they have no information. They would have General -Washington charge upon a strong position without powder enough to wake -General Gage from his sleep. Apparently they possess rare enterprise, -but their discretion is small, indeed." - -While he spoke Colonel Knox entered the room; after greeting some -friends he made his way directly to where the boys were sitting. He was -dressed in the blue uniform faced with white which had grown so familiar -in those early days of the war; his face was bronzed through exposure to -the weather, and his eyes were bright and full of a newly kindled -eagerness. - -He shook hands with the lads; that he was a colonel and they but -enlisted men made no difference in that democratic time. And after he -had greeted Scarlett, who made room for him at the fire, the young -colonel sat down. - -"Have you noticed a tinge of frost in the air?" asked he, as he rubbed -his hands briskly. "It will be a hard, cold winter, I think, when it is -once upon us. It is always so when there is so early a beginning." - -"It was midsummer when we saw you here last," said Ezra. "You remember -the night that you told us about the guns at Crown Point and -Ticonderoga." - -The boy's words were followed by a curious interruption. A mug, partly -filled, shattered upon the brick paved floor near by; they turned -surprised and saw a man, apparently advanced in years, bent over a -table, his back turned to them. The hand that had held the mug hung at -his side, trembling as though with palsy; his whole attitude was as of -one stricken with some sudden shock. - -Two others sat with the man; they wore the dress of seafarers, and while -one was of commanding proportions, the other was small. The heads of -both were bent toward the old man; and the boys could see little of them -except that they were dark and wore their sailcloth hats pulled low over -their foreheads. - -After a glance the other lads gave their attention once more to Colonel -Knox. But Ezra continued to watch narrowly the actions of the three. As -the boys had come along in the dusk toward "The Honest Farmer" he had -noticed some figures that seemed to cling to their shadows. He had, -also, a dim sort of consciousness that these same figures had entered -the inn after them. And now something whispered to him that these were -the same--that the men had a purpose in being where they were--that their -selection of seats so near to his friends and himself was no accident. - -"And," he told himself in a puzzled sort of way, "they seem familiar. I -somehow feel that I have met with them before." - -He examined the strangers narrowly; in a few moments the old man -recovered and seemed to be talking guardedly to his companions; and the -boy, more than once, caught a ferret-like look from the smaller of the -two seamen that impressed him queerly. More and more he felt that these -were persons whom he had known before. - -But while he was watching the strangers, he was also listening to the -remarks of his friends as they spoke to Colonel Knox. Some little time -passed; then the colonel said, addressing them all: - -"I came here to-night in the hope of seeing you. It just happens that -there is something toward that makes me require the help of a few young -spirits who will not hesitate at a little risk." - -"We feel flattered," said Nat Brewster, with a smile, "that you should -think of us." - -Ben Cooper bent forward. - -"It has something to do with the big guns at Ticonderoga," said he. - -Colonel Knox laughed. - -"You are a clever guesser, Master Cooper," said he. - -"It was no guess," replied Ben. "I've known all along that you'd not -give up that idea of yours. I knew that if you'd get permission, you'd -be off to the captured forts at once and try to carry it out." - -Ezra, watching the three strangers, fancied them rigid with attention, -but at the same time making a show of keeping up a conversation of their -own. Once he was about calling his friends' attention to this, but the -fear that it might, after all, be but imagination upon his part, -deterred him. - -"You are right," said the young colonel. "The notion was a pet of mine -because I thought it practical and likely to succeed. But I've had great -difficulty in convincing others. When they thought of the vast -wilderness to be crossed, the lakes and streams, they scouted the plan. -It could not be done, they said; those great cannon could never be -dragged so tremendous a distance through such a country. - -"But at length I got the ear of the commander-in-chief. I flattered -myself that he thought me no fool; for he has a way of looking at one -that tells its own story. - -"'Heavy ordnance is badly needed,' he said, 'and this would be welcome, -indeed, if we could but secure it!' Then he fixed me with one of his -looks and asked: 'How would you go about getting it here?' - -"'I would start in the early fall,' I said. 'On the way I would collect -sledges. By the time I reached Ticonderoga, transacted my business and -was ready to return, the lakes would be frozen over. I could load the -guns upon the sledges and so cross the ice. And so it will be through -the wilderness. Lack of roads will not affect me; the snow will be there -and the traveling will be as smooth as it can well be.' - -"He seemed much struck with this idea and took it under consideration. -And now he has given his consent." - -"And you are going!" cried George Prentiss, eagerly. - -"As soon as I can collect the small party that is to accompany me." - -"And that's why you sought us out!" exclaimed Nat, his face glowing in -the firelight. "Good! Shall we go, lads?" turning to the others. - -A chorus arose that caused the other frequenters of "The Honest Farmer" -to turn about in mild surprise. - -"You could not have done us a greater kindness," said Ezra Prentiss to -Colonel Knox. "The work of the camp is, of course, willingly undertaken -by us all; but this is the sort of service that we most like." - -"If you are pleased to go," returned the young colonel, "why, for the -matter of that, I am equally pleased to have you. I have heard the -stories of your doings since this war began; and of the services you -rendered even before it started. They've long been abroad in the camp, -as have the words uttered in your praise by Colonel Prescott, Mr. Adams, -General Putnam and even Washington himself." - -As the lads chorused their low-voiced agreement to ride with Colonel -Knox upon this mission which promised so much, Gilbert Scarlett drew his -sword belt tighter and leaned forward toward that officer. - -"Sir," spoke he, "if you could contrive to make room for a volunteer in -your company, I should be most pleased to make this venture under your -leadership. It is true," and he waved his hand in a gesture of -depreciation, "that I am not of this country and am rather a stranger to -you all. But," here he reared his head proudly, "I have had some small -experience in onfalls, ambuscades, sieges and other forms of warfare, in -various parts of the world. So it is possible that I might be of service -to you." - -"Mr. Scarlett," said Colonel Knox, promptly, "I have heard of you. I -accept your offer and am delighted to have you." - -They talked for some little time upon the matter; then the young colonel -arose. - -"Just when I shall start," said he, "is a matter of doubt; but it will -not be until I can be sure of the ice and snow, which will act such -important parts in my plan. However, when we do start," and he said this -with quiet confidence, "we will make all speed and it will not be long -thereafter until the King's guns will be turned upon his governor. And -then Boston shall be ours!" - -The boys and Scarlett accompanied him to the door and out into the -night. Here the colonel began saying something that seemed to interest -them; and all but Ezra walked along with him toward his quarters. - -Ezra, as he gave a quick look over his shoulder in the doorway, saw the -three men at the inn table arise. He closed the door; and as his friends -walked slowly away with Colonel Knox, he stepped back into the shadow -and waited. - -It was the smaller of the two sailor-like men who opened the door of -"The Honest Farmer." His thin face went this way and that, apparently in -quest of those who had just left. As he caught the cautious questioning -way the man had of holding his head, Ezra gasped in astonishment. - -"It's Jason Collyer!" he muttered. - -Collyer's two friends appeared directly behind him. As he saw him in -motion, Ezra had no difficulty in recognizing the larger of these. - -"It's Abdallah," he told himself. "There is no mistaking that measured -step." - -"They have gone in that direction," said Collyer, pointing down the dark -street. "Shall we follow them?" - -"There is no need," spoke Abdallah, and his voice was as smooth as ever. -"We have learned all that they can tell." - -"It was luck that made you want to follow them here when you saw them on -the way," said Collyer to the old man. "I confess, sir, I thought it but -a waste of time, myself." - -The door of "The Honest Farmer" was now closed; but from a window a -broad beam of light streamed out upon the stones. The men stood upon the -margin of this and could be plainly seen as they faced away from Ezra, -their eyes trying to follow Colonel Knox and the boys. - -"Fortune," said Abdallah, "is a queer thing. Sometimes it smiles upon -us; and at others, it frowns. And all for no reason that we can see. -Take that last night at my house for example. Everything had gone well, -when suddenly that boy"--and he pointed down the dark street, "rode up -and changed everything by his shrewdness." - -Here the old man gestured angrily and was about to speak. But Abdallah -stopped him. - -"It is no time for faultfinding or resentment," said he, gently. "Rather -it is one for self-congratulation. He beat us then, but we will beat him -now. When they ride to Ticonderoga for the guns, they will have their -labor for their pains. We," and he laughed softly, "will have been there -ahead of them." - -"Don't be so sure of that," said Ezra Prentiss, quietly. - -He took a step forward as he spoke. The men whirled about with -exclamations and stood staring at him as the light from the window fell -upon his face. At the same time a steady tramp of feet was heard; the -flash of lanthorns came up and down the street. Patrols of continentals -were coming from both directions. - -"It is always best to make sure of what you say before you say it," -resumed the boy. "When we reach Ticonderoga, the guns will still be -there; but you will be here, awaiting the judgment of a drumhead court, -as spies." - -A gasp of dismay went up from the ferret-like Collyer; but Abdallah held -up a hand for silence. He addressed Ezra. - -"Spies?" said he, gently. "That would be a rough-hewn fate indeed. Think -what is meted out to such offenders." - -"It is death," said Ezra, solemnly. - -"And would you deliver us up to that?" - -"It is not for me to pass judgment," answered the lad. "I leave that for -my superiors." - -"But," and there was a curious note in Abdallah's voice that caught the -boy's attention, "you shall decide, for all! And your decision will be -in our favor." - -"You shall see in a moment," spoke Ezra Prentiss, gravely. "Here comes -the American patrol. What is to hinder my giving you up to them?" - -"This," said Abdallah. - -As he spoke he thrust the old man, who bore him company, forward -suddenly. For the first time, Ezra saw this latter plainly. - -"Grandfather," he cried chokingly. - -The old merchant lifted a hand as though about to denounce the lad; but -Abdallah drew him back with a fierce whispered word of warning. - -"If we are spies," then said Abdallah to Ezra, "so is your grandfather. -If you give us up to those men," and his eyes went toward the patrols, -who were now abreast of them, "you must also give him up. And remember," -all the gentleness out of his voice and manner, "to give him up means -death!" - -He paused a moment and then said with a low laugh: - -"Speak up; what shall it be? Shall we go or stay?" - -And Ezra, his heart frozen with fear, stared first at the patrols and -then at his grandfather. Then both hands went up and he gestured them -stupidly away. - -Instantly they turned and obeyed; within a moment the night had -swallowed them up; but still the boy stood there as one turned to stone. - -"To save my grandfather's life, I have made myself a traitor to the -cause," he whispered to himself. "But I could not help it," a sob -swelling in his throat, "I could not help it." - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -TELLS OF A RIDE THROUGH THE WILDERNESS AND OF HOW TICONDEROGA'S GUNS -BEGAN THEIR JOURNEY - - -For two days Ezra Prentiss was burdened with the thought of what he had -done. His friends wondered at his pale face and dejected manner; they -questioned him, but could get nothing but evasive replies. - -But one morning as the lad arose he determined to have done with it all. - -"If I have misserved the colonies," said he, "I am not fitted to be at -liberty." - -Within an hour he was at the quarters of General Putnam; and a few -moments later found him in the presence of that bluff warrior. - -"Well," inquired Putnam, who was still at breakfast, "and what is it -now, Master Prentiss, that you should be so intent of face?" - -Ezra, in as few words as possible, told his story. Putnam went on with -his breakfast, listening and making no comment. When the tale was done -he leaned back in his chair and looked at the lad with pursed lips. - -"The situation was a pretty one," said he. "It was do your stern duty -and send your grandsire to his death; or allow him to go free and those -two rascals with him. In the same position," continued he, a twinkle in -his eye, "I should have been tempted to do as you have done, and no -doubt I should have done it." - -"But do you not see what danger I have placed this mission of Colonel -Knox in?" cried the lad. - -"I must say that I do not," said Putnam, good-humoredly, as he -recommenced upon his breakfast. "Ticonderoga and Crown Point are in the -hands of our people and are well guarded. There are not enough British -troops in Canada to make an advance upon them; and for Gage to do -anything is out of the question. - -"The only thing that could be done would be a secret expedition by this -man Abdallah and any followers that he might have. And even that would -be so difficult as to make it all but impossible. So make your mind -easy, my lad. You have done no great harm." - -Ezra went surprisedly from the presence of Putnam. But he was not -satisfied, and at once sought Colonel Knox at Washington's headquarters. -This young soldier listened to the boy's frankly told story. When it was -done, he said with a smile: - -"Perhaps this will hasten our departure a trifle, but that is all. Don't -worry about what you have done. Under the circumstances your action was -perfectly natural. None of us is a Brutus. All of us would find it hard, -I hope, to give up those nearest to us to death." - -But for all that Colonel Knox thought that the advent of the spies would -hasten his movements, the start was not made until the following month. -During the interim, Ezra suffered keenly. A dozen times the delay seemed -more than he could endure. His imagination teemed with pictures of -happenings at the two strongholds in the wilderness; in his sleep he saw -parties of British take them a score of times; he witnessed the sinking -of the heavy guns in the depths of the lake; he saw Abdallah's and Jason -Collyer's grins of derision at his frantic, dream-heavy efforts to -prevent this; and always he'd awake crying out to his friends to come to -his aid. - -More than once he reached the point, in his desperation, of saddling his -horse with the idea of setting out alone. - -"If I ride on in advance, I may be able to spoil any plan that they may -have laid," he told himself. - -But each time, second thought showed him how profitless such an effort -would be. He must wait for Colonel Knox, if he was to be of any value. -Alone he could accomplish nothing. - -His heart leaped one evening when he received word that the expedition -would start early next morning. At the time the intelligence reached him -he was standing within the Roxbury works, watching the cannonade of the -British, which had broken out from shore batteries and shipping a short -time before. The roar of the guns was in perfect harmony with the -exultation that filled the boy's breast. - -"At last," he cried to Ben Cooper, who had brought the news, "at last -I'll have a chance to do something." - -Ben, like the other boys, had heard nothing of Ezra's experience upon -the night at "The Honest Farmer"; so now he stared in wonderment at his -friend's display of feeling. But as Ezra made no explanation, the other -asked no questions; however, he now and then stole a curious look at the -flushed boy at his side. - -"Something's wrong," Ben told himself. "I've noticed that he's acted -very queerly of late. Whatever it is, it's got a deep hold on him, for I -don't remember ever seeing him look just this way before." - -At sunrise next morning a well-equipped troop of horse was drawn up -before Colonel Knox's quarters. Beside Ezra, Nat, Ben, George and -Scarlett, there were a dozen hardy young fellows whose bold faces and -stalwart frames told of a willingness to face hardship and the power to -endure it. They were all armed with rifle and pistol; axes hung at their -saddles; heavy coats and blankets for use amid the rigors of the North -country were strapped securely behind them. - -When Knox at last appeared and mounted, the troop rode to Washington's -quarters. Here both the commander-in-chief and General Putnam reviewed -them. - -After nodding his approval of both the party's appearance and equipment, -Washington said: - -"How long shall you be on the way?" - -"I calculated some two weeks for the going, general," replied the young -colonel. "But we shall be longer upon the return trip, for then we shall -have the guns." - -Putnam laughed at this confident answer. A flicker of a smile crossed -Washington's grave face; but there was a light of satisfaction in his -eyes as he said: - -"That you will have them, colonel, I feel sure." - -Following the example of the officers, the troop saluted; then at the -word, they wheeled and went at a swinging pace through the streets of -Cambridge. - -The way north was rough--sometimes even trackless. But there was with the -party a youth of the name of Bennet, who had been one of Allan's Green -Mountain Boys, and had been with that gallant leader at the taking of -the two strongholds of the North. He knew every mile of the way, was of -vast service in pointing out fords, locating towns, and picking short -ways through the forests and hills. - -Sometimes they passed the nights at isolated villages; at others they -camped in sheltered spots and rolled themselves in their blankets upon -the ground. The air grew chiller as the days went by; and as they -approached the cold lake regions it grew more so. Their heavy coats and -warmer clothing felt very comfortable by the time the first snow fell. - -"And now," said Colonel Knox one morning to Ezra, as he surveyed the -wild, snow-covered stretch before him with no little satisfaction, "is -the time to collect our sledges. Horses or oxen we shall also want; and -men to drive them would not be at all amiss." - -The troop was that day split up into parties with orders to make a sweep -of the region for sledges and teams as they advanced. They covered a -good dozen miles of country in their progress and from the first luck -was with them. Sledges were to be had with gratifying frequency, also -teams of oxen and shaggy, powerful looking horses. Young backwoodsmen -willing to venture upon the journey as drivers were also to be found. -Faint echoes of the war had reached them in their remote villages; to -see a troop of uniformed men belonging to the army of their country gave -them a thrill of expectancy and filled them with a desire to go where -the issue of the battle was drawn, where blows were being struck, and -the far-off King defied. - -Ezra Prentiss, Ben Cooper and Scarlett formed one party of sledge -hunters. The section given them to cover was rough and boulder-strewn, -with only here and there a dirt road or path. Houses were infrequent and -clearings in the thick woods rarer still. It was a country of trappers -and hunters rather than of farmers; now and then one of these hardy -fellows was seen making a tour of his traps or wading in a cold stream -with the fresh pelts of fur-bearing animals hanging from his belt. - -Once, however, they heard the distant ring of an axe; they made their -way through a thick growth of timber and came upon a log house where a -young woman and child were visible. Some little distance off a young man -was seen cutting down a tree. When they approached him and made their -errand known, he looked surprised. - -"You've been through this section before, haven't you?" he asked. - -"No," replied Ezra. - -The look of surprise upon the young man's face deepened. - -"That's queer," he said. "Tom Hadley, who lives down the creek aways, -was in Skenesboro a couple of weeks ago for provisions; and he met a man -who inquired about sledges and offered to buy up all that he could get." - -A shock ran through Ezra. - -"Did Hadley say what kind of a man he was?" he asked. - -"Yes; he was tall and well made. And Tom said he looked like some kind -of a foreigner." - -Ezra felt sure that it was Abdallah, but desired to make sure. - -"He was a rough spoken kind of a man too, I suppose," he insinuated. - -But the backwoodsman shook his head. - -"No," he replied. "It was just the other way. Tom says the man was the -smoothest talker and had the softest ways of any man he ever struck." - -"They are ahead of us," thought Ezra in a sort of panic. "They will have -secured all the sledges and horses--we will be left helpless to do -anything." - -But that night when the troop drew together at the point named for the -camp, the boy found Colonel Knox very well pleased indeed. Five drivers -had been picked up, three span of oxen and some half dozen heavy -sledges. - -When Ezra told him what he had heard, Colonel Knox said: - -"They seem very enterprising; but we have no occasion for worry, for -they seem to be meeting with little success. And even did they collect -all the sledges on the route, don't forget that we could change our -route. Another thing; there is plenty of timber; we could build our own -sledges, if put to it." - -Ezra saw the truth of this. But still he could not help a feeling of -fear, for he knew that Abdallah was a man of resource and daring; and -what a person of that sort would do next was never to be guessed. - -When they reached Shoreham, Colonel Knox had collected forty-two sledges -in all. These were at once hauled across the frozen lake to the fort and -the officer in charge made acquainted with the nature of the expedition. - -No time was lost by the energetic Knox. The very next day he set to work -selecting what cannon he thought would be required, both at Ticonderoga -and Crown Point. His band of hardy adventurers, ably assisted by the -little garrison of the forts, loaded these securely upon the sledges. In -all there were thirteen brass and twenty-six iron cannon; eight brass -and six iron mortars. Also there were twenty-three hundred pounds of -lead for bullets, and a barrel of flints. - -All was ready one night and as Colonel Knox desired to have nothing -delay him, he gave the order to move at once. - -"To-night," he said, "the ice upon the lake will bear us. To-morrow -morning it may be so that we could not venture across." - -[Illustration: NO TIME WAS LOST BY KNOX] - -The oxen were being yoked and the horses harnessed to the sledges when -Ezra approached his commander with a salute. - -"Colonel," said he, anxiously, "would it not be well to send out an -advance? The ice, even now, may not be as safe as you think." - -There was something in his tone that attracted Knox's attention. - -"What has made you think that?" asked he. - -Ezra flushed in the light of the pine torches. - -"Since the night of which I told you," said he, "I have been so anxious -that my nerves and senses often play me false. It may be so now, but a -while ago," and his eyes went out across the frozen stretch of water, -striving to pierce the darkness that overhung it, "I thought I saw a -glimmer of light out there." - -"It was probably the ice throwing back the flashing of the torches," -said Colonel Knox. "But," kindly, "if you have any doubts in the matter -it would be as well to settle them at once. Suppose you take a few men -and look about before we start with the guns." - -"Thank you, colonel," said the lad, gratefully, "I shall do so." - -He at once called together Nat, Ben Cooper, Scarlett and his brother -George. - -"See to your arms," he said, quietly. And as they examined the priming -of rifle and pistol, he continued: "We are going to cross the lake in -the most direct route. Let no one speak unless compelled to; and even -then, not above a whisper." - -All five left the circle of light and advanced across the ice. They had -pulled heavy moccasins over their boots upon approaching the lake in the -first place, in order to secure their footing upon the smooth surface; -these now deadened their footfalls as they carefully made their way -along. - -Almost two-thirds of the distance had been traversed when Ezra suddenly -paused. His outstretched hands brought the others to a halt also. - -"Hark!" said Ezra, softly. - -All stood motionless for a time. At length Nat Brewster whispered: - -"I fancied that I heard something, but I could not make out what it -was." - -Here Nat felt Ezra's hand close over his arm in a powerful grip. At once -he became silent and all stood bending forward, listening once more. - -From some distance across the ice came a faint, rasping noise. Now and -then a quicker and heavier sound reached them. It was as though blows -were being struck. - -"Do you understand?" breathed Ezra. "Some one is cutting through the -ice! It's a trap! The sledges are to cross this way." - -The sharp hissing of indrawn breaths told him that they appreciated the -situation. - -"That rasping, now, is made by a saw," said Scarlett, guardedly. "I can -see their plan, whoever they are. And a rarely pretty one it is. They -will saw, in part, a stretch of ice that we were almost sure to cross. -When we reached it, the ice would give way, and we, perhaps, but the -cannon surely, would go to the bottom of the lake." - -"Ready with your rifles," whispered Ezra. - -Softly they stole forward. Clearer and clearer grew the sounds, and -finally they were able to discern a dozen or more laboring forms in the -darkness. - -"Now," said Ezra, as he sank to one knee and threw his rifle forward, -"fire when I give the word." - -His comrades crouched beside him, their weapons leveled. And just then -there came the gentle voice of Abdallah through the dimness. - -"I think this will be a surprise, Jason Collyer. What do you say?" - -A chuckling laugh followed this, apparently from the ferret-faced young -man. And just then Ezra spoke the word, the five rifles rang out and a -chorus of shrieks rang out in the stillness. There was a huddle of -falling men, a scattering of others, then Ezra shouted: - -"The pistols!" - -Like lightning the heavy pistols were drawn; angrily they spat their -messengers into the darkness in the direction of the running feet. From -the direction of Ticonderoga came a swirl of moving lights. Then a score -of men hurried up, Colonel Knox at their head; and their flaring torches -lit up the scene. - -"You were right, then," said Knox as he took in the situation at a -glance. "And it was just such a trap as we would have walked into -blindly." - -A half hour later, the sledges, with their precious burden of guns, -crossed the lake at a point higher up; and away they trailed through the -wilderness, over the snow, while behind them, among the others, lay -Jason Collyer and Abdallah, their darkened eyes turned up toward the -starless sky. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -CONCLUSION - - -The snow was deep and the sledge teams had heavy going at first. But, -after a few days, the snow began to pack, and the progress of Colonel -Knox's party became more easy. There was little or no difficulty with -the streams; these were frozen solid, for the winter had developed into -a remarkably severe one. - -However, fresh falls of snow now and then impeded their advance, and -they were content to make very few miles a day; but they pushed doggedly -on, nevertheless, for they knew that their burden was urgently needed at -Cambridge. - -It was at Fort George that Ezra and Ben Cooper left the party and rode -forward to Boston bearing the news of the expedition's success. - -The lads never forgot the look of triumph that swept into Washington's -face as he read the dispatch. Generals Putnam and Ward and Colonel -Prescott were with him at the time and he read the missive aloud to -them. It ran: - - "'December 17th. - - "'I hope in sixteen or seventeen days to present to your Excellency a - noble train of artillery, the inventory of which I have enclosed.'" - -Then he read the inventory, and the boys saw the eyes of the other -officers kindle. - -"Now that," cried Putnam, striking the table a mighty blow, "is -something like!" - -"It would seem," commented General Ward, "that fortune has thought it -worth while to smile upon us for once, at any rate." - -"With the shells and powder from the King's stores at New York and the -cargo of the ordnance brig lately captured," spoke Prescott, "we now -have a comparative plenty of ammunition. What is there now to hinder us -from moving to the reduction of Boston?" - -"Nothing but the opportunity of doing so without injury to those of our -own people who are still therein," replied the commander-in-chief. - -Great events had happened in the past few months. Not the least of these -was the recall of General Gage by the British ministry and the -appointment of Howe in his place. Washington had practically discharged -one army and recruited another in the face of the enemy. The colonies -were making a united effort toward liberty; for until this time New -England had borne alone the brunt of the uprising. - -The lads found the Porcupine at their quarters, and in a conversation -with that small but very shrewd person, they learned a great deal of -what had taken place. - -"Last month," said the dwarf, as he sat cross-legged before them upon a -wide settle, while they ate of the good food set before them, "there was -a party of British light infantry landed at Lechmere's Point. They -desired to take off some cattle; but Colonel Patterson and our riflemen -objected and there was a brisk fight in which the British were driven -off." - -"Have our men been keeping their hearts up?" asked Ezra. - -"Fairly well. But last month things were very bad indeed in this camp. -We had nothing--no food to speak of, no quarters to keep out of the -weather, no fire to warm ourselves by, no clothing but rags to hide our -nakedness." - -"Well," remarked Ben Cooper, "so long as it was kept from the knowledge -of the British, it was not at its worst." - -"But it was not kept from their knowledge," returned the Porcupine. -"General Howe knew of our situation all the time!" - -"And he did not attack!" cried Ezra, wonderingly. - -"He had been expecting reinforcements, so our spies learned," replied -the dwarf with a wise nod of the head. "And as they did not arrive, he -kept waiting. You know," and here a wide grin spread across the -speaker's face, "that he's tried our mettle once, and so he was in no -hurry to do so again without a good force behind him." - -"And the general?" asked Ben, "how did he take it all?" - -"He went about as calm as the morning," replied the Porcupine in high -admiration. "You'd never have thought but what everything was as well as -it could be. He seemed always planning and building defenses. General -Putnam was told to occupy and fortify Cobble Hill. Two half moon -batteries were thrown up between Lechmere's Point and Cambridge River. -Three places between Sewall's Point and Roxbury Neck were also -strengthened, to be manned in case of a sortie when the bay is frozen -over." - -"But that things have taken a turn, I can see plainly," said Ezra. "The -camp has a brisk look; the men look content; the officers hold their -heads high." - -"It all began with Captain Manly's capture of the 'Nancy' brig," said -the Porcupine. "Ah, there is a brave and enterprising officer; if there -are many on the sea like him, they'll give the King's admirals trouble -enough." - -"The 'Nancy' is probably the ordnance brig we heard Colonel Prescott -mention," said Ben to Ezra. - -The Porcupine nodded his head. - -"It's more than likely," said he. "All have talked of it more or less. -You see Captain Manly, who is in command of the 'Lee,' took the 'Nancy' -as she came into the bay, and carried her into Cape Ann. And she proved -to be a most wonderful treasure ship--crammed to the hatches with -military stores of every sort." - -"Excellent!" cried both listeners together. - -"So full was she, and so struck was General Washington by her value, -that he at once sent a strong guard to protect her. He felt sure that -the British would not rest until they had done something to recover a -vessel so desirable." - -"And did they?" - -"They had not the time, so prompt were the general's orders, and so -rapidly were they carried out. Teams were impressed, the minutemen about -Cape Ann were called out to give their help; and in a little while the -cargo was discharged and removed to a safe place within our lines." - -"Now that was an admirable stroke of fortune," cried Ben Cooper. "The -stores must have pleased everybody much, to change the complexion of -things so." - -"They would have pleased a king," said the Porcupine. "There were two -thousand muskets; one hundred thousand flints, thirty thousand round -shot for one, six and twelve-pounders; thirty tons of musket shot; -eleven mortar beds; and one great thirteen-inch brass mortar that weighs -not an ounce less than twenty-seven hundred pounds." - -"A most astonishing ship, indeed!" said Ezra Prentiss. - -"Then there came powder and shells from New York about the same time. -Barracks were built to house the troops during the severe weather. Other -ships were taken by Captain Manly and seamen of his quality. Among the -cargo were thousands of uniforms intended for the British soldiers, and -hundreds of barrels of salt beef and pork; woolen goods in vast -quantities; flour, hard biscuit and other things were taken. And, so -then, as we were very well off, indeed, the recruits began to take heart -and offer themselves for service: the regiments are filling up, and we -will soon be quite strong once more." - -"But the British," asked Ezra, "how do they like all their winter's wear -and provisions falling into other hands?" - -"Why," answered the dwarf with a shake of his big head, "they endure it -very ill indeed. As we advanced into comfort, so did they fall in need. -Fuel and food are very high in Boston at this time; and the citizens are -suffering much more than the soldiery. Some few vessels have gotten -safely by our privateers, but Howe has kept their stores for the use of -his troops." - -"They have made no advance, then?" said Ben. - -"Rather they have fallen back," answered the dwarf, and he grinned -delightedly. "They had begun to build barracks on Bunker Hill, but -building materials were so scarce, the winds grew so keen, and the snow -fell so constantly that Howe at length bid Clinton strike his tents and -return to Boston. Lieutenant-Colonel Agnew and seven hundred are left to -man the three redoubts that are now upon the hill." - -The middle of December found Boston all but upon the verge of -starvation. The townspeople were desperate and Lord Howe feared that -they might rise against him. He offered to allow any of those who -desired to leave the city, and like Gage, covertly threatened the torch -in case he were attacked from within. As a protection from an assault by -Washington, which he daily dreaded, there came an outbreak of smallpox -among his troops. - -"That will keep the rebels out, even if our guns fail to do so," he -said. - -British cannon were planted all about in the city's hills and open -places; its churches and unoccupied houses were torn down by the -soldiers for fuel; Faneuil Hall was a playhouse in which mocking -comedies were presented; Old South Church was used as a riding school. -Under a strict martial law the people of the city were all but -prisoners. Thousands now took advantage of Howe's permission, crossed in -boats to Point Shirly and dispersed into the country. - -On the first day of January, in that most memorable year of 1776, the -first continental flag was thrown to breeze, and as its thirteen stripes -rippled at the top of the pole, it was saluted with tremendous shouting; -and thirteen guns were fired by way of a salute. Upon the same day, the -King's speech upon the opening of Parliament was received in camp. For -the first time the Americans heard that King George contemplated the -hiring of foreign troops to help subdue them. At this, their rage was -without bounds; they hooted the King, his Parliament and his army; then -they burnt his speech and otherwise bid him defiance. - -A little later than this came the news of the American defeat at Quebec -and the death of the heroic young Montgomery, whom Washington had -selected to lead the expedition against that city. Appeals were then -sent out to various colonies to hurry some fresh regiments to Cambridge; -and Congress formally authorized Washington to attack Boston at any time -and in any manner that he thought most efficient. - -When the army was finally in sufficient strength to warrant his so -doing, Washington took the step that he long knew would bring him -victory or defeat. - -"It will bring on a general attack," he was heard to say; "we will -either be forced from our position, or the British will be compelled to -take to their ships." - -This step was the occupation of Dorchester Heights. From this elevation -Washington could reach Boston with the heavy guns from Ticonderoga, -which had in the meantime been brought in by Colonel Knox. It was March -when preparations were begun, and Ezra and his friends were in the thick -of the matter. - -Gilbert Scarlett was especially valuable in the designing of -chandeliers, fascines and such like, necessary in the erection of the -works; also with the aid of his boy friends, he worked with the spirit -of a dozen in the collection of bateaux in which to transport the men. - -When the time for movement arrived, Washington had forty-five of these -clumsy craft, each capable of seating eighty men. Two floating batteries -were held with them in the Charles River; hundreds of militia came -pouring into camp to lend what aid they could to the enterprise. - -The design was kept secret; to divert the attention of the enemy a brisk -bombardment and cannonade was begun on the night of the second of March, -from Cobble Hill, Roxbury and Lechmere's Point. Many houses were -shattered by this fire; the British returned it with spirit, but did -little damage. On the night of March fourth this was repeated, and about -seven o'clock, General Thomas with about two thousand men marched to -take possession of Dorchester Heights. The entrenching tools, under care -of a large detachment, were sent on ahead; later the main body, with -three hundred carts, loaded with fascines and twisted hay, followed. - -All night the Americans labored; the moon was brilliant, the guns -roared, the arching shells burst high in the air. And when morning -dawned, two forts were in a sufficient state of advancement to resist -small arms and grape-shot. - -If the British had been surprised to see the works raised in a night -upon Breed's Hill, they were astounded at the sight of those which now -met their gaze upon Dorchester Heights. - -"It looks like the work of twelve thousand men," declared Lord Howe to -his generals. "The rebels have done more in one night than my army has -done in a month. The genii must have aided them." - -These works commanded both the harbor and town of Boston. The British -admiral at once decided that the fleet could not ride in safety unless -the Americans were displaced. - -"We must do one of two things," he told General Howe. "The Yankees must -be driven from that post, or we must evacuate Boston." - -This enraged the governor. He had a very high notion of British honor -and military superiority. - -"They will be driven from the Heights," he declared, grimly. - -At once he went to work. Twenty-four hundred men were ordered to embark -in transports, rendezvous at Castle William and make a night attack upon -the American position. The command of this force was given to the -gallant Earl Percy, the same who had come to the retreating column under -Lieutenant-Colonel Smith as it fell back in defeat from Lexington in the -spring before. - -Washington saw this movement and sent two thousand men to reinforce -General Thomas; and with the reinforcement marched Ezra Prentiss and his -friends. Everywhere among the Americans was anxiety to meet the foe. - -"I never saw such high spirits anywhere," said Nat Brewster. - -"Every man on the Heights seems exultant," said Ezra. "They seem to -think victory is ready at their hands." - -"And a right good thought that is for men about to engage a hostile -force," observed Gilbert Scarlett. - -"Did you see the rows of barrels?" asked George Prentiss. "They are -filled with earth, and have been placed in front. Upon the enemies' -advance they will be rolled down the hillside upon them." - -While things were being made ready, General Washington appeared upon the -ground to inspect what was going forward and to cheer up the troops. - -"Remember, men, it is the fifth of March," he said. "Avenge the deaths -of your brethren shot down in Boston." - -At fort Number Two, near Cambridge, a fine body of four thousand troops -were paraded and made ready to assault the British lines. This was -arranged into two divisions; one was under General Greene, the other -under General Sullivan--and the whole under command of General Putnam. - -But the fight was not to be just yet. The wind blew up so furiously that -the British transports could not reach their destinations; and the surf -was too heavy for boats to have made a landing. - -The next day the British attack was still further delayed for the same -reason; and all the time the Americans were increasing the strength of -their works. - -"I can find it in my heart to be sorry that the attack was not made," -Washington said to his generals. "Everything was complete for the -reception of the enemy; we can hardly hope for a repetition of the same -conditions." - -Howe was forced to abandon his project and his troops returned to -Boston. His situation was now perplexing and critical. The fleet could -not ride at anchor because of the positions of the American batteries, -and the British army was unable to drive them from these positions. The -Boston Tories, in a panic of fear of what might happen, demanded the -protection which had long been guaranteed. No dispatches had been -received from London for a long time. - -"It looks," grumbled the British officers, "as though we'd been left to -get out of a bad scrape as best we can." - -"To remain in Boston," said General Howe to the Tories, "will put my -troops in great danger." - -"But if you don't remain, you will put us loyalists, and all property, -in equal danger," promptly answered Ruggles, the Tory leader. - -But Howe was now looking at the other side of the picture. The fate of -property was nothing to him when his army was in the balance. When he -had assumed command, he had written the ministry many reasons why Boston -should be held. But with the great guns upon Dorchester Heights frowning -down upon him, he saw many reasons why he should abandon it. - -Washington desired to gain possession of the city above all else; but he -wished to do so without bloodshed if it could be done. However, he went -on with his preparations. On the ninth he planted a battery on Bird's -Hill and began firing upon the British shipping. Nook's Hill was an -eminence greatly feared by Howe and his officers. All along they had -felt that if the Americans established themselves upon it, Boston would, -indeed, be at their mercy. - -Washington now directed that Nook's Hill be occupied. A strong -detachment was sent there in the night. While the guns were being -brought up, Ezra Prentiss noted a soldier impudently kindling a fire -behind the hill. He sprang toward the man, crying: - -"Hello! Put that out!" - -The man was a surly fellow and made a short reply. Ezra, without -parleying, kicked the blazing wood about and began trampling upon it. -But it was too late, the enemy saw the light, suspected what was going -forward, and began to fire. This was the beginning of a night of terror; -the American batteries answered at once from Cobble Hill, Lechmere's -Point, Roxbury and Cambridge; the British thundered and raved through -the darkness like the stubborn fighters that they were. More than eight -hundred cannon-shots were fired before morning, and the result was that -the American works upon Nook's Hill were stopped and the troops -withdrawn. - -But at the same time, this event showed General Howe that to attempt to -hold Boston any longer would be folly. His horse transports were ordered -to fall back to Castle William; all goods which would likely be of value -to the "rebels" were confiscated. Ammunition which could not be carried -was thrown into the river; guns were spiked and gun-carriages were -broken. - -While waiting for their ships to assemble, the city was practically -given up to sack by the Tories. This news reached the American lines and -Ezra and George Prentiss were greatly worried about it. - -"If the British really mean to evacuate, this will make it all the -harder for those Tories who are left behind," said George. - -"And grandfather is just determined, or stubborn, enough to be among -those," answered Ezra, anxiously. - -In both their minds was a picture of the grim old merchant, deserted, -unprotected and at the mercy of a populace whom he had long reviled. And -both fervently hoped that the outgoing of Howe would be at once followed -by the ingoing of Washington; as an unpatrolled city, even for a short -time, might mean the death of Seth Prentiss. - -On March sixteenth, as the British were still apparently undecided -whether to abandon their now assembled vessels or no, Washington took -the step that forced the issue. Once more he ordered a night occupation -of Nook's Hill. And this time, in spite of the enemy's fire, he held it. - -The effect was instantaneous. At nine o'clock the garrison left Bunker -Hill; fleets of boats loaded with soldiers and Tories put out from the -wharves of Boston. - -Instantly the American troops under Putnam were put in motion. Bunker -Hill was occupied; a compact force crossed to Boston from that end; -another advanced across the Neck under Colonel Learned. These, under the -command of Putnam, at once seized all the important posts and manned -them. Ezra, Nat, Scarlett and the others, who had all crossed with -Colonel Learned, rode in search of Putnam. When they found that stout -warrior in the midst of his work, Ezra saluted and said: - -"General, if I and my friends can be spared, we'd like to ride to Sun -Court." - -"Why?" asked Putnam. - -"My grandfather lives there; he may be in danger." - -"I understand," replied the general. "Go at once; you have my authority -to put down any kind of illegal violence." - -So away the five dashed through the streets. The smashed doors and -windows of stores mutely told their tale; the rows of razed houses whose -timbers had gone to keep the British army warm during the winter, left -great gaps and also made the town look queer and strange. Gaunt and -wan-faced people feebly cheered the boys as they raced over the stones; -bands of eager, wolfish-looking men were already prowling about in -search of what plunder the outgoing army had been forced to leave -behind. - -As they approached Sun Court, a muffled roar began to reach their ears. -It was the sound of distant voices, angry, threatening, and high-lifted. - -"Push on!" cried Ezra, his face whitening. - -Urging their mounts to the utmost, they wheeled out of Fish Street into -Prince's. Louder grew the cries; people were pouring into Sun Court from -every direction. Turning the corner the five rode over the bricked -pavement into the midst of these and to the edge of a huge, swaying, -shouting mob gathered before Seth Prentiss' door. A stout man with a -very red face and wearing the smock of a butcher stood upon the steps. - -"He's had his will with us this many a day," cried this person loudly, -"and now his British friends have left him for us to have our will with -him." - -There was a shriek from the mob, and a tossing of hats and arms. - -"Let us have him out of his house," yelled a voice above all the others. -"Let us show him that we, too, have our day." - -With one impulse the crowd swept forward; some were battering upon the -door and heavy shutters, when the boys and Scarlett came plunging -through them. - -"Hold!" cried Ezra, as he reached his grandfather's door. He wheeled his -prancing horse, as did his friends, and faced the mob. "It is the order -of General Putnam that no violence be offered to any one. In the name of -the Continental Congress we bid you to stand back!" - -The uniforms of the five were new to the men of Boston, but the name of -Putnam and the mention of the Continental Congress had their effect, and -they hesitated. - -But the red-faced butcher urged them on. - -"Will you be stopped by a parcel of boys?" he shouted. "Will you be -cheated of your revenge by a handful of young upstarts because they came -a-riding on horseback and use high words?" - -The crowd wavered. The butcher saw this and redoubled his efforts; then -Scarlett dismounted and approached him quietly. Hooking his thumbs in -his sword belt the soldier of fortune said: - -"My friend, you are a stout fellow enough, but you make overmuch noise -for even one of your girth." - -And with that he took the butcher by the scruff of the neck and shook -him like a rat. The man sputtered and coughed and fought back. But he -was but as an infant in the hands of the slender but powerful -adventurer, and as they witnessed his discomfiture, some of the crowd -began to laugh. Then a roar of mirth went up; and seeing the good nature -of the crowd, Ezra held up his hand for silence and cried: - -"Boston is now in the hands of General Washington and his army. Justice -will be done every man. It is your place to see to it that no good -American, through a spirit of revenge, falls into the usages of the -British. Go to your homes. If you have a complaint to make of any man, -make it to the proper authorities. To take the law into your own hands -is dangerous, for you cannot see the end of such a thing." - -There were a few scattered cheers to show that the people realized the -force of this reasoning. But at the same time was heard the quick tramp -of a body of Continental infantry, one of the many sent to patrol the -city; and Ezra never knew but what their arrival had more to do with the -mob's change of front than anything he had said. At any rate, they were -instantly seized with a huge admiration at this display of their -national force, and burst into loud huzzas. The officer in command of -the troop bid them disperse, as it was against the general's orders for -any crowds to collect until the city had come under control; and as both -townfolk and troop passed out of Sun Court, Nat Brewster said: - -"It was a fortunate circumstance that brought this finish about. I had -thought to have harder work of it." - -"And I," said a voice behind them. - -All turned. The door of the mansion had opened and Seth Prentiss stood -before them. He was dressed in gown and slippers; and large -silver-rimmed spectacles seemed to add to the harshness of his face. - -Regarding both Ezra and George for a moment in silence, he said: - -"I had not expected to ever bid either of you welcome to my house. But -if I were to say that I did not silently welcome you when those good -friends of mine came hammering at my door, I would not be speaking the -truth." - -He ran his eyes over them with an expression upon his face that neither -of his grandsons had ever seen there before; then he continued: - -"Neither did I ever think that you would make a better selection of -government than myself." - -"Grandfather!" both boys flung themselves from their steeds and -approached him, joy in their faces. - -"I mean it," cried the old merchant. "None has kept faith with the King -more loyally than I have done. But he has deserted me--he has deserted -his city. And now I desert him!" - -He wrung the hands of his delighted grandsons, then shook his gnarled -fist in the direction of the bay. - -"Their ships are there, crowded with armed men; they have fled, and in -so doing showed me that they are not competent to rule." Just then -another compact body of Continentals went by with throbbing drums and -squealing fife. The old man watched them to the turn of the street. -"Your General Washington is not of the fleeing kind," spoke he. "He -believes in a cause and holds to it like a true man should." - -"In that, Master Prentiss, you say rightly," said Gilbert Scarlett. "And -not only is he a true man, but a great soldier as well--a soldier -destined to gain many victories. One victory already he has gained -beside the taking of Boston Town," with a laugh. "And that is over -Gilbert Scarlett, soldier of fortune. A commission is mine, they have -told me, for the asking. Always have I loved great leaders; and you may -be sure that I will not delay longer now in asking for it." - -"Sir," responded Seth Prentiss, "you show yourself a man of sense. And -now," with a bow, "will you dismount and enter? Also you, young -gentlemen," to Nat and Ben. "From now on the friends of my grandsons -will be very welcome here." - -And so they tied their horses and entered the fine old house. As the -door shut behind him, closing out the distant huzzas and the throbbing -of the Continental drums, a sense of great peace filled Ezra's heart. - -Other Books in this Series are - - THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AND LEXINGTON - THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT TRENTON - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill, by -John T. 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