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diff --git a/42113-0.txt b/42113-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c22ddad --- /dev/null +++ b/42113-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5550 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42113 *** + + THE FIRST CAPTURE + + OR + + _Hauling Down the Flag of England_ + + BY HARRY CASTLEMON + + _Author of "The Gunboat Series," "Houseboat Series," + "War Series," Etc., Etc._ + + + _ILLUSTRATED_ + + THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO. + NEW YORK AKRON, O. CHICAGO + + COPYRIGHT, 1900, + BY + THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING CO. + + + + + CONTENTS. + + + Chapter Page + + I. The Battle of Lexington 5 + + II. Enoch's Home 18 + + III. Zeke Lewis 30 + + IV. Zeke's Proposition 42 + + V. A Rebellion in the Court-room 56 + + VI. Getting ready for the Fray 69 + + VII. The Bucket of Yeast 82 + + VIII. Under Way 95 + + IX. The "Aggressive" Tory 108 + + X. A Visit to the Jail 121 + + XI. A Plan that did not Work 133 + + XII. Different Opinions 145 + + XIII. The Cheer 158 + + XIV. The Chase 171 + + XV. Hauling down the Flag of England 183 + + XVI. After the Battle 196 + + XVII. Zeke's Exhibition of Strength 209 + + XVIII. What to do with the Schooner 222 + + XIX. Conclusion 235 + + + + +THE FIRST CAPTURE + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BATTLE OF LEXINGTON. + + +It happened on the morning of the 9th day of May. The little village of +Machias in the far away colony of Maine was lively enough as far as +fishing towns go, but on this particular time it was in a regular +turmoil. Men had jumped up leaving their breakfast half eaten and ran +out bareheaded to gather round a courier, who, sitting on a horse that +had his head down and his flanks heaving as if he were almost exhausted, +was telling them of a fight which had occurred just twenty days before. +There was nothing to indicate that the men were excited except their +pale faces and clenched hands, but the looks they turned upon one +another had a volume of meaning in them. What had the messenger to +communicate that had incited such a feeling among those who listened to +him? He was describing the battle of Lexington which had been fought and +won by the patriots on the 19th day of April. We did not have any +telegraph in those days, and the only way the people could hold +communication with one another was by messengers, mounted on fleet +horses, who rode from village to village with the news. + +The courier was so impatient to tell what he knew that he could not talk +fast enough, but the substance of his story was as follows: + + General Gage, the commander of the British troops who were + quartered in Boston about this time, had become a tyrant in the + eyes of the people. When spring opened he had a force of three + thousand five hundred men. Boston was the headquarters of the + rebellion. He determined with this force to nip the insurrection in + the bud, and his first move was to seize and destroy the stores of + the patriots at Concord, a little village located about six miles + from Lexington. To carry out this plan he sent forth eight hundred + men under the command of Colonel Smith and Major Pitcairn with + orders to "seize, burn and otherwise render useless" everything in + the shape of munitions of war that they could find. He supposed he + went about it secretly, but the ever-vigilant patriots were awake + to all his movements. A watch was established at Concord, and + everywhere the minute-men were ready with "burnished muskets, + fixed bayonets, and well-filled cartouches." + +They left Boston about midnight, but it so happened that the minute-men +became aware of their expedition almost as soon as it was ready to +start. Paul Revere was there and ready to undertake his famous midnight +ride. No sooner was the trampling of soldiers heard than two lights were +hung in the steeple of Christ Church in Charlestown. Paul Revere saw the +lights, and he forthwith mounted his horse and started to carry the +warning to every village in Middlesex.[1] The British did not see the +beacon fire blazing above them, but marched away silent and still, +arresting everybody that came in their way "to prevent the intelligence +of their expedition being given." + +[Footnote 1: + + "He said to a friend, 'If the British march + By land or sea from the town to-night, + Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch + Of the Old North Tower as a signal light-- + One if by land, two if by sea, + And I on the opposite shore will be + Ready to ride and spread the alarm + Through every Middlesex village and farm + For the country folk to be up and to arm.'"] + +As the day began to dawn in the east the British reached Lexington, and +there they found a company of minute-men gathered on the green. To say +that they were amazed at the sight would be putting it very mildly; but +Major Pitcairn, after a short consultation with his superior officer, +rode up and flourished his sword as if he meant to annihilate the +minute-men then and there. His officers followed him and his troops came +close behind him in double quick time. But the patriots stood their +ground, and the redcoats shouted angrily at them-- + +"Disperse, you villains! Lay down your arms! Why don't you disperse, you +rebels?" + +But our men had not come out there to be dispersed by shouting. Utterly +ignorant of the ways of civilized warfare they continued to hold their +ground, and for a time it looked as though there was going to be +bloodshed sure enough. Major Pitcairn did not care to come too close to +them but wheeled his horse, discharged his pistol and shouted "Fire!" +and the British obeyed him. The front rank fired, and when the smoke +cleared away, seven men, the first martyrs of the Revolution, were found +weltering in their blood. That was too much for the patriots. They did +not suppose that the British were going to shoot them down like dogs. +They scattered in every direction, and the redcoats, having nothing +further to oppose them, kept on and destroyed the stores. + +"Colonel, I don't like the way those rebels retreated," said Major +Pitcairn, as he kept a close watch upon the neighboring hills. "They +fell back as though they would come again." + +"If they were soldiers we would know how to take them," replied Colonel +Smith. "But being rebels, we have nothing further to fear from them." + +Major Pitcairn, however, kept a bright lookout, and very soon he became +uneasy at the rapidity with which the militia increased in numbers. He +called the attention of his superior to it, and very shortly the latter +gave the order to retreat; and it was not a moment too soon. The whole +region flew to arms, for remember that Paul Revere had aroused to +vigilance the inmates of every house he came to, and from every one +there came a man or boy who was strong enough to handle a rifle, and +hurried to the help of his countrymen. It seems that Colonel Smith had +more to contend with than mere rebels. It appeared, too, that one who +afterwards wrote about that battle was there to have seen it for he +tells us in his poem: + + "And so through the night rode Paul Revere, + And so through the night went his cry of alarm + To every Middlesex village and farm-- + A cry of defiance and not of fear, + A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, + And a word that shall echo for evermore. + For, borne on the night-wings of the Past, + Through all our history to the last, + In the hours of our darkness, peril, and need, + Will the people waken to listen, to hear + The hurrying foot-beats of that steed, + And the midnight message of Paul Revere." + +The minute-men gathered as if by magic. They did not come out and form +themselves in line for the purpose of being shot down by the redcoats, +but remembering their skulking habits which they learned while fighting +the Indians, they hid behind trees, fences, and rocks, in front, flank, +and rear, and poured so galling a fire upon the Britishers that if it +had not been for reinforcements not one of those eight hundred men would +ever have reached the city alive. As one of their officers expressed it: +"the militia seemed to have dropped from the clouds," and the flower of +that British army must have surrendered to those patriots if relief had +not arrived. Their retreat was regarded as a defeat and a flight, and +at every corner were heard the jeers and mockings of the people +regarding that "great British army at Boston who had been beaten by a +flock of Yankees." At any rate the jubilee trumpet was sounded +proclaiming "Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants +thereof." The power of all the royal governors was broken, from +Massachusetts to Georgia. + +This was the substance of the news which was brought to Machias twenty +days after the fight. The people were both astonished and +angry--astonished to know that the British soldiers, who had been +regarded as invulnerable, could be outdone with American bullets, and +angry to learn that so many of their friends[2] should have been killed +during their conflict with them. + +[Footnote 2: Lossing says: "The British lost 65 killed, 18 wounded, and +28 made prisoners; in all 273. The Americans lost 59 killed, 39 wounded, +and 5 missing; in all 103.] + +"This thing has got to be settled now," said Zeke Lewis, turning away +and flourishing his fists in the air. "That is too many of our men to go +up after fighting those redcoats. Boston has been standing all the +brunt of tyranny so far, and we had better join in. Now there's that--" + +The man suddenly paused and looked about him. Almost every face he saw +was that of a patriot, but there were a few who were known to be Tories, +and it would not do to express his thoughts too freely before them. + +"Go on, Zeke," said a friend at his elbow. "There's what?" + +"When I get you fellows all by yourselves I will explain things to you," +said Zeke, after holding a short consultation with a young man who stood +close beside him. "There are too many Britishers here." + +"Yes; and they ought to be shot down as those redcoats were at +Lexington," said another. + +Any one who had been there could easily have picked out the Tories by +the expression of their faces. They were amazed by the news. British +soldiers whipped by a mob! They would have been glad to deny it if they +could, but there were too many stalwart sailors standing around whose +opinions differed from their own, and they thought it would be the part +of wisdom to keep their thoughts to themselves. They turned toward their +homes, but they had plenty of opportunity to exchange ideas with one +another. + +The most of those who had listened to the messenger's news also turned +away when he got through speaking and walked with their heads on their +breasts and their eyes fastened thoughtfully on the ground. Among them +was one, Enoch Crosby by name, who seemed to think that the world was +coming to an end because the British soldiers had been fired upon; but +he did not believe as the Tories did by any means. He was an American; +he could not forget that. + +Among all the boys of his acquaintance there was no one more loyal to +King George than he was. His father had been an officer in the service +of the crown before he died, and Enoch believed that a monarch who had +been selected to reign over a country, was placed there by divine right. +The people had nothing to do with it except to hold themselves in +readiness to obey his orders. He had English blood in his veins, and, +although he felt the soil of America under his feet, he had been, +almost ever since he could remember, a good and loyal subject of Great +Britain, and hoped some day to serve King George with his sword. To have +all this thing wiped out in a day by a fight, was rather more than the +boy could live up under. + +But he was an American. It came upon him with a force sometimes that +almost took his breath away. He could still be loyal to his sovereign +and ready to smite hip and thigh any one who said anything against him, +but his sailor's love of fair play would not let him stand by and see +his neighbors imposed upon. + +Enoch had been watching this thing for two years and all the while he +felt the ropes of tyranny growing tighter. Ever since General Gage had +taken up his quarters in Boston he had been growing more and more severe +in his treatment of the patriots. The Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, +The Tea Party, and the conduct of his soldiers in destroying the ice on +which the boys were accustomed to spend their half holidays--all these +were galling to Enoch, and he hoped that the time would soon come when +something would induce the King to do differently. But when Christopher +Snyder was killed by Richardson for looking on at a mob who were engaged +in throwing clods and stones at him, and Governor Hutchinson refused to +sign Richardson's death warrant, it opened the eyes of Enoch and he +began to see things in a plainer light. The man was put into prison, but +at the end of two years was pardoned out by the King. Enoch found that +it was necessary to fight in order to secure his rights, and it cost him +a long and severe struggle to come to that conclusion. He was thinking +about these things as he walked slowly homeward and went into the house. +His mother, with snowy hair and steel-bowed spectacles, raised her eyes +from her knitting, and one glance was enough to show her that something +had gone wrong with Enoch. + +If there was anybody on earth Enoch loved it was his mother. All her +surroundings bore evidence to that fact. Enoch was a sailor--he had made +a good many trips along the coast in little trading vessels--but when he +was at home he was not idle. His mother had enough from the earnings of +her husband to support her in as good a style as she cared to live; the +raiment of herself and son was neat and comely, but that did not prevent +her from sticking close to the New England maxim: "Those who do not work +should not eat." She had plainly brought Enoch up with the same ideas, +for when he was ashore he was always at work at something. + +Mrs. Crosby did not go out to listen to the news the messenger had to +bring, but Enoch went, and the face he brought back with him excited his +mother's alarm at once. Like her son she had been waiting for this day, +but she little dreamed that it would come so soon. + +"What is it, boy?" she asked, dropping her knitting into her lap. "That +man's horse seems to be near tired out. Has he come far?" + +"He came from out west somewhere," said Enoch, dropping into the nearest +chair. "But I don't know whether he came from Lexington or not." + +"What should be going on at Lexington?" asked Mrs. Crosby; although +something told her that the news the messenger brought was worse than +any she had heard yet. + +"They have had a fight out there," said Enoch, resting his head on his +hands. "King George can make up his mind to one thing, and that is, he +had better keep his men at home. The provincials whipped them because +they destroyed property that did not belong to them." + +"And they did have a fight sure enough?" said his mother. + +"They had such a fight as they used to have with the Indians. They +killed almost three hundred of them." + +Mrs. Crosby settled back in her chair and looked at Enoch without +speaking. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +ENOCH'S HOME. + + +"Enoch," said his mother, rising from her chair after a moment's pause +and leading the way toward the kitchen, "breakfast is ready and waiting. +While you are eating it I shall be pleased to hear something more about +this fight. It looks to me now as though we had got to do battle with +the King." + +"That is the way it looks to me, too," said the boy. + +The Crosby house would have been an object worth seeing if it had stood +in this century. It was a double house built of logs, the places where +they met being chinked with clay and the roof was thatched with long +grass or rye straw. The windows consisted of small lead frames set with +diamond plates of glass hung so that they opened inward instead of +outward. As the building stood facing the south the "sun shone squarely +in at noon," and gave warning that the dinner hour was approaching. + +There were two rooms in which Mrs. Crosby took delight--her "best room" +and her kitchen. The best room was used only on state occasions, that +is, when the minister came to see them or some old-time friends dropped +in for an hour or two. The andirons were of brass and shone so brightly +that one could see his face in them, and in summer time the fireplace +was always kept garnished with asparagus and hollyhocks. On the rude +mantelpiece stood the high candlesticks made of the same material, and +close beside them lay the tray and the snuffers. Here also was the +library, small, it is true, for reading in those days was undertaken for +improvement and not for pleasure. Books were scarce and cost money; but +among them could be found the family Bible, Watts' Poems, Young's Night +Thoughts, and Milton's Paradise Lost. + +The best room for the family was in the kitchen, and that was where +Enoch always liked to be. Sometimes in winter when he did not have to go +to sea he read one of the well-thumbed volumes by the aid of a tallow +dip. The blaze in the fireplace was always piled high, but even this was +but little if any shelter from the cold. The places where the chinking +did not fit were numerous, and the way the cold wind poured into the +room made the words of an old writer perfectly apparent: "While one side +of the inmate was toasting the other was freezing." To make matters +still worse "the smoke escaping into the room by no means favored study +or any other employment requiring the use of the eyes." + +When Enoch followed his mother into the kitchen he saw there a +well-filled table which had often made him hungry when he did not want +anything to eat; but it had little effect upon him now. There was hot +salt pork, vegetables, and bannocks,[3] which were all their simple +tastes required. In the place of tea they had milk; for those one +hundred and forty men had long ago thrown the tea overboard in Boston +harbor, and all that Mrs. Crosby had left was some tied up in a paper +and stowed away in one of her bureau drawers. Before they seated +themselves at the table they took their stand behind their chairs with +bowed and reverent heads, while his mother offered up thanks to the +Giver of all good for the provisions set before them. This was a plan +always followed in Enoch's home. When his mother was away, at a quilting +bee or sitting up with a sick person, Enoch never forgot the custom, but +offered up prayers himself. + +[Footnote 3: Bannocks are something like the present "hoecakes" of the +South--merely flat cakes of Indian meal or rye, wet with water and baked +over the hot coals on the hearth.] + +"Now, boy, I should like to hear something about that fight," said Mrs. +Crosby, seating herself in her chair. "Have we got to fight the King, +sure enough?" + +"The things indicate that fact," said Enoch, helping his mother to a +piece of the pork and to a potato which had been baked in the ashes on +the hearth. "King George has not acted right with us anyway. When young +Snyder was killed in Boston because he happened to be near a mob who +were throwing stones at Richardson, the King went and pardoned out +Richardson, who had been put into prison for it, after he had been there +for two years. That does not look as though he felt very kindly toward +us, does it?" + +"And then the tea," said his mother, who came as near being angry as she +could whenever she thought of that. Like all old ladies she loved the +"cup which cheers but does not inebriate," and she could not bear to +have it taken away from her. "The King ought not to have taxed us for +that." + +"He might if he would allow us to be represented in Parliament," said +Enoch, "but he would not do it. If we have got to be taxed to help carry +on the government of Great Britain, we want some men of our own over +there to see about it." + +"Now tell me about the fight. You said we killed almost three hundred of +them." + +"Why, mother, you say 'we' as though you were there and helped shoot at +those redcoats," said Enoch. + +"Of course I do, my son. If your father were here now, he would have +taken that old flint-lock down and had it put in running order before +this time," said his mother, pointing to the weapon which occupied its +usual position over the fireplace. "We are Americans, and whenever we +are shot at, we must shoot in return." + +Enoch was delighted to hear his mother talk in this way. It showed that +she was not loyal enough to King George to fight against her own +countrymen at any rate. The boy began and told the history of the fight +as he had heard it from the messenger, and, as he talked and told how +the minute-men had concealed themselves behind every rock and tree that +they came to, his mother's eyes sparkled, and she said that she almost +wished that she had been a man and lived in Lexington so that she could +have been there too. + +"I really wish I had been there," said Enoch, glancing affectionately at +the old flint-lock as he said this. "Of course I could not shoot with +those who hunt squirrels every day, but I could have made a noise. And +to talk about those British soldiers being invulnerable! I tell you they +could not stand before the minute-men." + +"And to think that we should be called '_rebels_,'" said his mother, who +could scarcely restrain herself. + +"But I say we are not rebels," said Enoch emphatically. "The people in +Boston told the King just what they wanted to do, and he turned around +and made them do something else. There was not any more loyal paper +gotten up than they sent to him." + +A long talk on such matters as these occupied them while they were at +breakfast, and just as Enoch arose there came a sound like the rattling +of a stick between the pickets of the front fence. The boys had not +learned to whistle in those days to let a comrade know that there was +some one outside waiting for him. Whistling is easier, but the boys made +each other known in spite of it. + +"That is Caleb Young," said Enoch. "I know him by the way he rattles his +stick. I hope we shall hear something more about that fight." + +Enoch put on his hat and went out, and there he saw Caleb, dressed after +the fashion of a seafaring man as he was himself, leaning on the gate +and whistling softly to himself. + +"Have you got anything more to tell about it?" said Enoch, coming up to +him. + +"No more than what the courier has already told," said Caleb. "But say! +there is something in the wind." + +"I gained an idea from something Zeke said that he was thinking of +something else," said Enoch, sinking his voice to a whisper because +Caleb did the same. "He would not tell us what it was because there were +too many Tories near." + +"No, but he was thinking and talking about it since, and he has made up +his mind that we are going to do something to equal that battle of +Lexington in some way," said Caleb. "He has been talking to that Joseph +Wheaton, and he has been advising Zeke what to do. He says it is not +right for those Boston people to take all the hard knocks while we get +none of them." + +"That is what I say. If we are going to hang, we will all hang +together." + +"But we are not going to hang--none of us," said Caleb, striking the +nearest picket with his closed hand. "There are three vessels in the +harbor----" + +"Yes; and I am going to keep away from them," said Enoch, pushing +himself away from the fence. "You don't make a pirate out of me. I have +made my living honestly and I intend to keep on doing it." + +"That is me," said Caleb. "I have worked for every cent I have and I am +not ashamed to let everybody know it; but if we can capture that vessel +we will show the Boston people that they are not alone in this +business." + +"What vessel do you mean?" + +"I mean the Margaretta. She is here as convoy for those two sloops that +are loading with lumber, and she is in the service of the crown. If we +can get her we will have the sloops easy enough." + +"Why, Caleb, that would be piracy," said Enoch, fairly aghast at the +proposition. "The Margaretta has not done anything to us." + +"Of course she has not, but she is in the service of the King. Those men +who went out to destroy those stores were in the service of the King, +too; but they got neatly whipped for their pains. Zeke and Joseph +Wheaton would not have proposed that plan if they did not think we would +make something by it. You ought to have heard mother talk to me while we +were at breakfast. She said that if father was alive now he would have +taken his old flint-lock down and shot every Tory he could find." + +"I guess I know about what your mother said, for mine talked to me in +the same way," said Enoch, with a laugh. "Are you one of those who are +going to capture that schooner?" + +"I am! I am one of the fifteen men and boys who have agreed to be on +hand when they hear a cheer sounded. That is going to be our rallying +cry, and we must all go to where we hear it. What are you going to do? +You are not a Tory." + +"Don't you call me that," said Enoch, opening the gate and coming out to +meet his friend. "When that cheer is sounded you will see me on hand. +When do you propose to take the schooner?" + +"Why as to that we have not had a chance to talk it over," said Caleb. +"Zeke only spoke of it just a little while ago to see how many men we +could raise; and to-night--here come two of those Tories now," continued +Caleb, pushing his hat on the back of his head and shoving up his +sleeves. "Now let us see what they have got to say about that fight at +Lexington. I do not wish them any harm, but I would like to know that +they had been there and I kneeling a little way off with my father's +flint-lock in my hand." + +"Then you would not have heard anything about that fight," said Enoch, +with a laugh. Caleb was noted for his sharp shooting, and if he had got +a bead on one of those fellows it would have been all over with him. "I +will bet you I would have shot pretty close to him," Caleb added. + +"Now don't you go to picking a fuss with them," said Enoch in a lower +tone, "because I will not have it." + +"Oh, I will pick no fuss with them at all," said Caleb, turning his back +to the approaching boys and resting his elbow on the fence. "But they +must not say anything against the minute-men. If they do somebody will +get licked." + +The two boys came nearer, and presently drew up beside the fence beside +which Enoch and Caleb stood. They did not expect any greeting, for that +happened long ago to have gone out of style between the Tories and the +Provincials. Whenever they met on the street they looked straight ahead +as if there was nobody there. They did not want to speak to each other +for the chances were that there would be a game of fisticuffs before +they got through with it. + +These boys were evidently better off in the world than Enoch and his +friend. They wore cocked hats, neat velvet coats, knee-breeches, silk +stockings, and low shoes with huge silver buckles. But their queues were +what they prided themselves upon. They were neatly combed and hung down +upon their coat collars. The arms of their coats were "slashed" in +several places to show the fine quality of their underwear. If they had +been boys in our day we should have been obliged to introduce them with +cigarettes in their hands. + +These sprucely dressed young fellows were Tories of the worst +description, but they followed in the footsteps of their fathers. One +was a "passive" Tory and the other was an "aggressive" Tory. How these +two men differed in opinion and actions shall be told further on. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +ZEKE LEWIS. + + +Have you ever met a New England man whom your grandparents used to +regard as the very personification of all that was utterly worthless so +far as the labor with his hands was concerned? We do not mean by saying +this that Zeke Lewis was lazy--the old folks had a milder term for it. +He was always at work at something, but he was shiftless. Nothing that +he could do appeared to get him ahead any. Work always looked for him; +he never looked for work. If anybody wanted a pair of shoes mended Zeke +was always the man looked for. He was generally to be found at the +tavern (Zeke did not drink any, we'll say that much for him), or loafing +around the corner grocery, and he was always "lying on his oars," that +is, ready to pull in any direction in which work was to be found. Zeke +would work early and late upon those shoes until he got them done, and +he carried his money straight to his wife, who had the faculty of making +a shilling go farther than he would. If a vessel was ready to sail, +either up or down the coast or on a fishing trip, Zeke always got the +first berth. He could do more work in less time and with less trouble +than any two men you could find. And he was brave, too. No one ever saw +Zeke refuse to go where duty called him. + +He was just such a man as you would expect to see after this description +of his way of doing business. He was tall, and so round-shouldered that +he did not look as though he had any chest at all; he was strong; so +strong that when he got hold of a rope everybody knew he was there. +There were two things about him that were noticeable--his smiling, +good-natured face and his queue, which was always freshly combed and +looked as though it had come from the hands of a dresser. But then his +wife always attended to that. She took it down and combed it every day. + +Zeke was always in straits where money was concerned. No matter how hard +he worked or how little money he spent upon himself he never could make +both ends meet. One night he came home after a hard day's work in the +hay-field. He found his wife sitting in the kitchen engaged in knitting, +but she made no efforts at all to get supper for her husband. Zeke +thought she looked a little paler than usual, but then he was used to +that. The patient little woman never had a word of fault to find with +him. She believed that Zeke was doing his best, and with that she was +satisfied. + +"Sick?" asked Zeke. + +"No, I am not ill," answered his wife. "I feel as well as usual." + +"Something is the matter with you and I know it," said Zeke. "I guess I +will have to go to work and get my own supper. I am hungry." + +"You will not find a crust of bread in the house," said his wife. + +"You don't tell me!" exclaimed Zeke. + +"I have looked the house over and I cannot find anything. You ate the +last this morning." + +"Bussin' on it!" gasped Zeke, backing toward the nearest chair. "And you +did not have any?" + +"I thought you were at work in the field and would need it more than I. +So I let you take it all." + +"Whew!" whistled Zeke. "And I thought there was not more than enough to +keep a hen from starving when I ate it. Mr. Howard owes me five +shillings, but I don't like to ask him for it." + +"Are you working for that man? Then you will never get your money." + +"What for won't I?" + +"Because he will cheat you out of it just as he has cheated everybody +else who has worked for him." + +"Eh? Do you see these arms?" asked Zeke, getting upon his feet and +stretching himself so that his wife could see on all sides of him. "I +have not often slung these arms about loose and reckless since I went to +school to old Parson Stebbins, and then I slung them at Jeems Howard +because I thought he had tried to take my knickerbockers[4] away from +me. He has not forgotten that, I am proud to say. My wages will come due +on Saturday night and I shall get every cent that is coming to me. But +you must have something to eat. Bussin' on it! Why did you not tell +me?" + +[Footnote 4: Marbles.] + +Zeke went out into his woodshed where he kept his shoemaker's tools and +began to gather them up in his arms. A pang shot through him while he +did so, for he could not help thinking what he was going to do if +somebody came to him with shoes to mend while the tools were gone. + +"It can't be helped," said he, with a long-drawn sigh. "She took me for +better or worst when she married me, and she has had the worst all the +time. I will go and see Jeems Howard about them, and see what he will +give me until next Saturday. He is the only one around here that I know +of who has got any money." + +As soon as he had gathered up all his tools Zeke went out of the back +door, for he did not want his wife to see him; but there were others +that saw him as he walked along the street, and every one wanted to know +where he was going to mend shoes. For in those days the cobblers always +came to a person's house and did their work there. Zeke always gave some +good-natured reply, for no one ever expected anything else of him, and +in a few minutes he had walked through Mr. Howard's yard and come up to +the back steps. + +"I want to see if you will lend me five shillings on these tools until +Saturday night," said he, when he had brought the man for whom he was at +work to the door. "We want something to eat at our house." + +If the man had possessed the semblance of a heart he would have pulled +out some money and given it to Zeke; but all was fish that came to his +net, and he forthwith began to haggle with him in order to get them as +cheap as possible. Zeke wanted more for them than he could afford to +give, and he concluded that two and a half shillings were all he could +pay. He insisted so strongly upon it that Zeke was about to close with +his offer, when a new actor appeared upon the scene. It was Jeremiah +O'Brien, of whom we shall have something more to say as our story +progresses. Something told him that Zeke was in trouble, and he opened +the gate and went in. Like all the rest of the patriots he had but +little love for men of Howard's opinion, and he was not anyway backward +about beginning his business. + +"Zeke, what are you doing with your tools here?" he asked. + +"I want to sell them until next Saturday night," returned Zeke. + +"How much are you going to get for them?" + +"I want five shillings, but Jeems allows that he can't give more than +two and a half." + +"They are worth two pounds if they are worth anything," said O'Brien +emphatically. + +"I know they are. Just see that knife. It is sharp----" + +"Pick up your tools and come with me," interrupted O'Brien. + +"Where are you going?" + +"Pick up your tools and come with me," insisted O'Brien. "I don't want +to tell you twice." + +Zeke smiled, drew himself up to his full height and looked at O'Brien. +The latter returned his gaze with interest and Zeke finally thought +better of it, gathered up his tools from the step where had placed them +and followed him out to the gate. + +"Look here," said O'Brien, when they reached the street. "The next time +you want to sell your tools that you make a living with, I want you to +come to me. Don't go to that old Tory, who is bound to cheat you out of +everything you have. You say your wife has not had anything to eat?" + +"Not a smell," said Zeke looking down at the ground. "She gave me all +she had for breakfast and never has had a bite all day." + +"Well, lay your tools down here," said O'Brien, when they came to Zeke's +house. "They can stay there until you come back." + +"Bussin' on it!" exclaimed Zeke. "What are you going to do?" + +"We will go up to the grocery and get some provisions. I am going to +send out a vessel next week and you can pay me then." + +This made everything all right in Zeke's estimation. He wanted credit, +but he little knew how he could get it unless he was regularly employed +in some business that would pay him in the end. Of course, when he was +at sea on one of Mr. O'Brien's vessels, his wife could go to the store +and get anything she pleased; but Zeke knew it was not so while he was +working for James Howard. The old Tory was a cheat, and nobody except +Zeke or some other fellow who happened to be "hard up" would work for +him. He accompanied O'Brien to the grocery store and got everything he +wanted. When he came back into his wife's presence he looked more like +himself. + +This little episode will give the reader a pretty good idea of the kind +of life Zeke Lewis led at Machias. Nothing bothered him. His wife being +out of provisions was the nearest thing that came to throwing him off +his balance; and when the goods obtained in this way were gone, why, +then he would go to work at something and earn some more. + +We have said that nothing bothered Zeke Lewis. That was what all the +people about Machias said, and they had known him for a long time. A man +who would not wake up from his shiftless habits and go to work at +something in order to support his wife, who depended on him for +everything, was not of much use in the world; but on this particular +morning, after listening to the story of the battle of Lexington, Zeke +began to take a little interest in matters. In fact the people had +never seen him so worked up before. He held a short but earnest +consultation with Joseph Wheaton, attended eagerly to what the man had +to say, and then walked away with his head up, his fingers moving +convulsively, and now and then he lifted his hands and brought them +together with a loud slap. + +"What's the matter with you, Zeke?" asked one of his companions who +walked by his side. + +"Are there any Tories around here?" exclaimed Zeke, casting his eye +behind him. "Then I guess I can speak out here as well as anywhere. I +say we ought to go to work and do something to equal those fellows in +Boston." + +"But there are no troops here," said his companion. "These Tories will +not come out so that we can shoot them down as they did at Concord." + +"No matter for that. They have got some property here, and we can +capture it as well as not." + +"I am in for that. Where is it?" + +"You know that the Margaretta is here to protect two sloops that are +loading up with lumber for the crown. What is the reason we cannot +capture her?" + +"It would be all right if we could do it; but suppose we should fail? +Have you forgotten what the penalty for piracy is?" + +"No, I have not forgotten it, and furthermore, I know that we are not +going to fail. I will make one of half a dozen men that will capture her +to-night. Where are the rest of you?" he continued, glancing around at +the men who had come up, one by one, to listen to what he had to say. +"Are you all Tories? If you are not, say you will join in." + +"She lies some little distance from the wharf," said one of his +auditors. + +"Are there not plenty of boats that we could get to take us out to her?" +asked Zeke. "Some of you are afraid of being killed. That is what is the +matter with you." + +"If the others are afraid of being shot at I am not," said Mr. O'Brien. +"What are your plans, Zeke? But first let us go somewhere so that we can +talk without being overheard." + +It put a different look on the matter when Mr. O'Brien began to inquire +into Zeke's scheme. If he was not afraid to undertake it the rest were +not. They crowded up around Zeke to hear what he had to propose. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ZEKE'S PROPOSITION. + + +"But first I want to see if there are any Tories around here," said +Zeke, stopping in his walk and coming back to gaze fixedly into the face +of every man who was following him. "We don't want to talk too loud for +fear that everything we say will go straight to the ears of that +schooner's crew. If there is any man here who can't be trusted let him +say so and go back where he belongs." + +There were probably a dozen men and boys in the crowd, and every one of +them wore a white face as he looked at it; but it was an expression of +"defiance and not of fear." Every one of them believed in capturing the +schooner, but every one, too, if we may except Zeke and O'Brien and +perhaps Joseph Wheaton, who was the first man to conceive of the thing, +could not help thinking what their fate would be if they failed. The +act they were about to perform was piracy, and they could not make +anything else out of it. To board and capture a schooner which had come +into their harbor on a friendly mission was something the law did not +bear them out in. + +"I guess we are all true blue," said Zeke, as he pushed a man out of his +way and planted himself fairly in the middle of the group, "and I guess +we can talk here as well as anywhere else, if we talk low. We want to +keep the Tories from knowing or suspecting anything about it." + +"Do you want to seize the schooner?" asked Mr. O'Brien. + +"Exactly," said Zeke. + +"And you are going to take her out from under that flag whether the crew +is willing or not?" + +"Certainly. That cross of St. George does not stay above her after we +get her into our hands." + +"And what will we do if they resist us?" + +"Then they just make up their minds that they are going to keep company +with those fellows at Lexington." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted one of the auditors. + +"Silence!" whispered Zeke in a low tone. "Don't say anything to arouse +the suspicions of the Tories. We want to get this thing done before they +know a thing about it. We will send them to keep company with the three +hundred and more who fought our fellows at Lexington," continued Zeke, +turning to O'Brien, "and those of us who have guns will get them; and +the rest will gather up clubs, pitchforks and anything else that we can +make a good fight with. If we can once get a footing on her deck, she is +ours." + +"Some of the officers will be coming off to church to-morrow," said Mr. +O'Brien. + +"That is just what I was thinking of, but I had not time to get that +far," said Zeke. "We can just go in after them and seize them in their +seats, and then go back and finish those fellows left on the vessel." + +"I don't believe in any killing," said one. + +"You don't!" exclaimed Zeke turning fiercely upon him. + +"No, sir, I don't. Piracy is bad enough, but when it comes to killing +folks that were put there by the king to look out for their vessel, I +say I don't believe in it." + +"Then you have no business here in this crowd," said Zeke, taking off +his hat and dashing it to the ground. A moment afterward he stepped +forward and seized the man by both wrists. He did not attempt to throw +him down, but he crossed his hands on his chest and held him there as if +he had been in a vise. "And you don't want to hear what our plans are +either. Get away from here." + +"Hold on," said the man, who was but an infant in Zeke's grasp. "Let me +get through with what I was going to say. I don't believe in killing +folks that are standing up for their rights, but if we are too many for +them, why, then they will give up." + +"Well, that is a little more sensible," said Zeke, releasing his hold +upon the man. "If they give up that is all we want. I did not mean to +hurt you, Zeb, but you don't want to talk that way in this crowd. Old +Zeke has got his dander riz now, and any one who does not want to do as +I say in this matter can just get right out." + +"But what will we do with the schooner after we get her?" said Mr. +O'Brien, who wanted to know just how the thing was coming out before he +went into it. + +"We will make a man-of-war out of her," said Zeke. "We will capture +those two sloops now loading up with lumber the first thing we do; then +we will go to sea and capture every one who floats the cross of St. +George at her peak." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted that enthusiastic auditor again. + +"I like your pluck, Jacob, because I know you will stand up to the rack +when the time comes; but I would a little rather you would keep still +now. All you fellows who want to go with me to capture that schooner +step over this way." + +Zeke walked away half a dozen paces, and when he turned about he found +the entire group at his heels. + +"I knew we were all true blue," said Zeke, striking his palms together. + +"I do not believe in killing men who are standing up for their rights," +said Zeb, who stepped over as promptly as the others did. "We must get +up a crowd that is bigger than theirs, and then she will give up to +us." + +"I believe in that, too," assented Zeke. "Now, as we have not got any +fife or drum to call us together, let every one who hears a cheer +sounded to-morrow come a-running to the wharf where that schooner lies, +and bring along everybody that you think will aid in capturing her; but +mind you, don't say a word to any of the Tories. Bring with you +everything that you can put your hands on that will do to knock a man +down with. We will have some small boats there ready to take us aboard +of her, and when the schooner is our own, we will see what we will do +next. That is about all we want to decide on to-day." + +"I declare, who would have thought there was so much in Zeke?" said one, +as he stood looking after him as he moved down the road. O'Brien and +Wheaton went with him, and they were talking earnestly about something. + +"I tell you I thought there was a good deal in him when he grabbed me by +the arms," said Zeb, who had not yet got through rubbing the place where +Zeke's sinewy hands had clasped. "I felt as if I had let a forty-foot +barn fall on me. If he deals with the schooner's crew as he dealt with +me, they are ours, sure enough." + +"And to think that that man would let his wife starve," said another. +"He has got something in him. It may be that young fellow they call +Wheaton is at the bottom of it." + +Caleb Young was there during the talk, and he was satisfied that war was +coming. He was well acquainted with most of the officers and crew +composing the company of the schooner, and he knew that they would never +surrender their vessel without making a desperate resistance. She was +armed, she had small arms aboard, and her crew were sufficiently trained +to stand by their captain. + +As for the men who had talked so bravely about capturing her--they had +no captain. Everything thus far was going along as Zeke had planned it; +but when it come to a clash of arms, Caleb wanted somebody on hand who +knew what he was about to take command of him. He was bound to go for he +had been one of the first to follow Zeke when he stepped off a few +paces; but he really wished he knew who was going to order the thing +when he stood before the schooner's company. + +"If I am going into this thing Enoch Crosby has got to go too," said he +as he bent his steps toward his friend's house. "He is a good boy, and I +know he will fight if the worst comes. I want to know what he thinks +about this piracy business." + +When Caleb had almost reached Enoch's house he began looking around for +a stick with which to attract the boy's attention by rattling between +the pickets. After a short search he found one, and Enoch was prompt to +answer the summons. They had but fairly got started on the subject of +seizing the schooner when the two young Tories, which were the objects +of especial hatred to them, came in sight. They would rather have seen +almost any one else than James Howard and Emerson Miller. The sober look +on the latter's face showed that they were not much elated, and the +reason was because they did not like to believe that British regulars +had been whipped by minute-men. Young Howard, who was always the first +to speak wherever he might be, opened the conversation. + +"Well, what do you fellows think of that fight?" said he. + +"We came out on purpose to hear you express an opinion," said Enoch. +"What do you think of it?" + +"I can tell you that in short order," said James. "Every one of those +men who had guns in their hands at Lexington are going to be hung." + +"You will catch them first, will you not?" + +"Oh, that is easy enough," said Emerson. "When the regulars get to +running around with ropes in their hands and calling for the men who +were engaged in that massacre, everybody will be willing to tell on his +neighbor. If Caleb was in the fight you would say, 'Here's one of +them.'" + +"Don't you wish you were there?" asked James, with a grin. + +"Yes, I do," said Caleb, promptly. "But I would have been on the side of +the minute-men." + +"That may be a Britisher's way of doing business, to tell on all those +who were in the fight, but it is not our way," said Enoch, quietly. +"This thing has gone too far to admit of hanging. You will need an army +to take them." + +"Well, have we not got one, I would like to know?" asked James. "There +will be more men here in a little while, and then you fellows will want +to keep dark. What were those fellows talking about that were gathered +on the corner so long? We wanted to go over there but did not dare." + +"It is just as well that you did not go over," said Caleb. "You would +not have heard anything anyway." + +"We heard somebody howling 'Hear, hear!' at the top of his voice," said +Emerson. "I guess we would have heard something from him." + +"No, we would not," said James. "Don't you know that they do not talk +when Tories are around? They are afraid we will tell of them." + +"And it is a mighty fine reputation for you to have," said Enoch, in +disgust. "If I could not keep still in regard to what my neighbors do, I +would go out and hang myself." + +"Oh, you will hang easy enough," said James, with a laugh. "Don't you +worry about that. I will be one of the first to grab the rope and pull +you up." + +Just how it happened Enoch could not have told to save his life. The +place whereon James was standing became suddenly vacant and the spot +where his face was occupied by his heels. He fell like a tree struck +by a whirlwind, and his head came in violent contact with the ground. He +lay there for a second or two as if he did not have his wits about him, +and Caleb stood over him ready to receive him when he got up. Seeing no +move on his part, he turned to face Emerson. + +[Illustration: Caleb stood over him ready to receive him when he got +up.] + +"Let us hear one word out of your head and I will put you down, too," +said he. + +"Go away," said Emerson, tremblingly. "I have not done anything to you, +and I want you to let me alone. There is a magistrate in this town----" + +"Go on," said Caleb. "You can get to the magistrate as soon as you +please and tell him for me----" + +By this time Enoch began to recover himself. He unlatched the gate, and +seizing Caleb around the waist fairly lifted him from the ground and +carried him inside. Then he shut the gate and looked over at Emerson. + +"You had better go on your way," said he. "Pick up your comrade and go +about your business." + +"But I would like first to hear him say that he would like to haul Enoch +up with a rope," said Caleb, trying hard to get on his feet. "I will +knock him down as often as he can say it." + +These words Caleb was obliged to shout over his shoulder, for Enoch, +still retaining his hold upon him, was carrying him along the walk +toward the entrance of the kitchen. He pushed him into the house, and +then closed the door behind him. + +Having seen his enemy disposed of Emerson bent over James Howard to see +if he was still alive. To his joy the prostrate boy opened his eyes and +stared about him in a vacant manner. + +"That cowardly provincial is gone now," said Emerson. "Enoch took him +into the house with him." + +"I never will put up with such a blow from a boy who is down on the +king," said James, sitting up on the ground. "The young rebel strikes an +awful whack, does he not? We will go and see the magistrate about it at +once. I am all dirt, I suppose?" + +"No, but your queue is full of it," said Emerson, brushing it off as +well as he could. "I wish we dared lick him." + +"So do I, but we can't touch him now. Wait until those reinforcements +come up here that father was talking about last night, and I will have +revenge for all that boy's actions. Help me up. Now we will go and see +father about it the first thing we do. These rebels are coming to a high +pitch when they can strike a gentleman for something he has said." + +The young Tories had started out for a walk but they did not take it. +They turned about and went back the same way they came, and in a few +minutes drew up at Mr. Howard's gate. The old gentleman was at home, +sitting in his easy-chair, but he was not taking life pleasantly. There +was a scowl on his forehead, for he was thinking about the battle of +Lexington. There was one thing about it he said to his wife: Those +rebels had got to be whipped into submission, or he and his family must +go back to England. How he wished he possessed the power to wipe all +those who were in rebellion from the face of the earth! Would not he +make a scattering among them before the sun set? While he was thinking +about it the boys came up to the gate. If such a thing were possible his +son James' face presented a worse appearance than his own. In addition +to the scowl which it wore, there was a lump under his eye which now +began to grow black. Mr. Howard knew well enough what was the matter. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A REBELLION IN THE COURT-ROOM. + + +"Father, look at my face," said James, who was the first to begin the +conversation. "Just look at it." + +"Yes, I see it," said the old gentleman, angrily. "You have been having +an argument with some of those young rebels and you have got the +knock-down end of it. I will wager that Caleb Young and Enoch Crosby +know something about it." + +"They were both there," said James, seating himself on the steps, "but +Caleb was the only one who struck me. Now, father, what am I going to do +about it? I can't go around with my face this way." + +"Do you mean to say that you gave up to Caleb and that he struck you +only once?" exclaimed Mr. Howard. "You would make a pretty fight, you +would." + +"But, father, you don't know anything about the strength in that +fellow's arms," whined James. "I would just as soon have a horse kick +me. I want to see the magistrate about this." + +"Let us go up there at once," said Mr. Howard, putting on his hat. "We +don't want to let the grass grow under our feet until this thing is +settled. These young rebels are getting altogether too brash. They want +to be shut up for a while. I wish I had them in England. When they were +there, they would find themselves among gentlemen, and they could not +talk as they pleased." + +"Do you believe you can put him under lock and key for hitting me?" said +James. He began to be all excitement now. To see Caleb Young put in jail +for what he had done would be ample recompense for him. + +"I assure you that I am going to try it. How did the argument begin in +the first place?" + +James hesitated when his father propounded this question. When he came +to think the matter over he found that he had given Caleb good reason +for knocking him down. He might have to make the complaint under oath +when he came before the magistrate, and he concluded that it was best +to tell the truth while he was about it. + +"I said that all those who were in that massacre would be hung some +day," began James. + +"Good enough. You told him the truth." + +"And I told him that if he were there I would be one of the first to +grab the rope and haul him up," continued James. "Caleb or Enoch, I have +forgotten which one, replied that if he went and talked that way about +his neighbors, he ought to be hanged." + +"And he knocked you down for that?" exclaimed Mr. Howard. "You did +perfectly right in saying what you did, and if I were magistrate I would +shut him up for two or three days at least." + +These last words were spoken as they were passing along the streets +toward the magistrate's office. There were many people loitering about, +for the news of the battle of Lexington had not been thoroughly +discussed, and the inhabitants of Machias could not get over it. Every +one knew what was the matter with James without any telling. The +provincials smiled and nodded their heads in a way that showed young +Howard that he was served just right, while the Tories grew angrier than +ever, and insisted on hearing all about it. Before reaching the +magistrate's office James began to think that he was something of a hero +in town, and fully expected to see Caleb shut up for a long time. + +When they arrived at their journey's end they found the magistrate there +as well as two constables, who were hanging around for a chance to serve +some papers which were slowly being made out for them. The magistrate +was surprised when he saw such a company of men coming into his office, +for be it known that a good many people, both Tories and provincials, +had turned about and gone with them. They wanted to see what was going +to be done in regard to it. + +"Bless us!" he exclaimed, when he saw James' battered face. "What have +you been doing?" + +"I have not been doing anything," said James, in an injured tone. "A +young rebel got mad at me for something I had said and knocked me down." + +"Aha! A young rebel!" said the magistrate, the scowl deepening upon his +forehead; for he was one of those "aggressive" Tories who believed in +making war upon all those people who did not hold to his own opinions. +"Do you want to make out a complaint against him? I will fine him a +pound at least. These rebels have got to be kept within bounds. I will +make out the papers right away. Here are two constables ready to serve +them," he added, speaking in a low tone to Mr. Howard. "You had better +have two go with them, for there are some rebels around here and maybe +they will stand by to protect him." + +The magistrate made a great flourish and prepared to go on with his +warrant, while James and his father took time to look about upon the +crowd that had followed them in. There were more rebels than Tories in +the party, and that was easy enough to be seen. Some of the former +exchanged a few words in whispered consultation and then went out, but +the Tories stood their ground. + +"There!" said the magistrate, who at last turned about with the +completed document in his hand. "Kelly, take this, go up to Young's +house and arrest Caleb in the name of the king. I need not add that if +he does not come you will call upon any man present to help you." + +"I don't know as I had better go up there alone," whispered the +constable. "The rebels are out in full force." + +"Then take Nolton with you. You surely do not need two constables to +arrest a boy! Take notice of the way he acts and I will fine him for +that, too." + +The constables went out reluctantly, for they were about to undertake +something which the magistrate himself would have shrunk from if he had +been in their place. After thinking a moment Mr. Howard drew nearer to +the judge. + +"You spoke of fining that boy just now," said he. "What is there to +hinder you from shutting him up for three or four days? If the rebels +are to be held within bounds, I don't know of a better way of doing than +that." + +"That is what I think," whispered the magistrate. "But you can't do that +for assault and battery. If you could prove that he tried to kill James, +why then----" + +"How do we know that he did not try to kill him?" asked Mr. Howard. "He +knocked him down and there he let him lie." + +"Well, we will see about it when he comes. I will shut him up if I can." + +Meanwhile the two constables had gone on toward Caleb Young's house, +where they found his mother, who was overcome with alarm when they told +her that they had come for the purpose of arresting her son. Caleb was +not at home, she said; she had not seen him since that man brought the +news of the battle of Lexington. She guessed he was down at Crosby's +house; but what did they want to arrest him for? The constables gave her +no satisfaction on this point, but came out and hurried toward Enoch's. +They entered without ceremony[5] and found Caleb seated at the table +with his friend enjoying breakfast. He had left home before breakfast +was ready. + +[Footnote 5: The constables were not in the habit of knocking at a +private house. They heralded their approach by the command: "Open in the +name of the King!" and then went in and did their business.] + +"Ah! Here you are," said Kelly. "Come on. We want you." + +It was just what Caleb expected. The boys had been obliged to tell Mrs. +Crosby that they had a skirmish with James Howard in front of the +house, because she knew it all along. The tussle that Enoch made in +getting Caleb into the house had told her that there was something +unusual going on, and she was anxious to know all about it. + +"I am ready," said Caleb, "at any time you are." + +"Caleb, you did not kill him?" exclaimed Mrs. Crosby. + +"Oh no," replied Caleb, with a laugh. "I told you that I just knocked +him down. It will teach him better than to talk of hauling honest boys +up with a rope." + +Enoch had sat there talking with Caleb while the latter was eating his +breakfast, and had never thought of saying a word; but when he saw his +friend rise to his feet and pick up his hat, he took it as a signal that +it was high time he was doing something. He jumped up and ran out of the +house bareheaded and hurried off to find Zeke Lewis. He burst open the +door without waiting to knock, and caught Zeke in the act of picking his +teeth after enjoying a comfortable breakfast. + +"Say, Zeke, the Tories have come to arrest Caleb!" said he, so +impatient to tell what he knew that he could scarcely speak the words +plainly. + +"Do tell!" exclaimed Zeke. "What has he been a-doing of?" + +"He knocked down James Howard," said Enoch. + +"Serves him right. He has been saying something that he had no business +to say. What did he get out this time." + +Enoch repeated the conversation that his friend had with James, and Zeke +all the time nodded his head as if he knew all about it. When Enoch had +finished Zeke wanted to know how he could assist him. + +"They are going to fine him for hitting that cowardly Tory, and Caleb +has not got any money," said he. "He will have to go to jail, and I will +wager that that is where James wants him to be." + +"He ain't got no money, ain't he? Well, I have been that way myself, and +we will see what we can do to help him out." + +It was strange what an uproar the giving of a warrant for the arrest of +Caleb Young made in the village. Those "rebels" who had pushed their way +out of the court-room while James was making his complaint had found +plenty of friends to tell it to, and by the time they reached the street +they saw any number of people, all hastening with eager footsteps toward +the magistrate's office. When Zeke and Enoch arrived in front of the +store, in the back part of which the judge held his court, they found +the apartment jammed and the highway for twenty feet each way was packed +full. + +"Zeke," said a companion, "you don't get a show here." + +"I must," replied Zeke. "I have got to see that fellow out." + +"Well, get in if you can and if you want any help, just sing out." + +It was a matter of some difficulty for Zeke to work his way through the +crowd and up within sight of the magistrate's desk, but his size and +weight had a good deal to do with it, and Enoch kept close behind him. +When he got near enough to the desk he could hear that the magistrate +was talking to the prisoner. + +"And so you knocked James down?" was the question he heard. + +"Yes, sir, I did," answered Caleb. "He said that----" + +"I don't want to hear what he said," interrupted the magistrate. "I want +to know what you did. You knocked him down and left him lying there. You +did not care whether you killed him or not. I shall have to fine you one +pound and costs." + +If the magistrate had said that he would fine Caleb one hundred pounds +he would have stood just about as much chance of getting it as he did to +fine him one pound. Caleb had never seen so much money in his life, and +he wondered where in the world it was to come from. Seeing that he +hesitated, the magistrate went on. + +"If you cannot pay that one pound I shall have to shut you up for twenty +days," said he. "You will then pay it at the rate of one shilling a day. +I think if more of you rebels were shut up, we should have peace here in +the colonies." + +Zeke had heard all he wanted to hear. It was enough for him to know that +the magistrate wanted to shut up the rebels for a while, and that was +more than they had power to do. Working his way further toward the desk +he seized Caleb by the arm and pulled him back by his side; after which +he placed his arms on his hips and looked at the magistrate as if to ask +him what he was going to do about it. + +"What do you mean by such work as that?" demanded the judge. "We have +two constables here----" + +"I don't care if you have a dozen," replied Zeke, and his composure was +not in the least ruffled by what had happened. "That boy ain't a-going +to be shut up, and, furthermore, he has not money to pay his fine. You +know that as well as I do. The only thing you can do, judge, is to let +him go." + +"Hear, hear!" exclaimed one of Zeke's supporters. + +"Keep silence in the court-room," exclaimed the magistrate. "Kelly, you +and Norton arrest the first man who interrupts me. Zeke Lewis, I will +fine you ten pounds and----" + +"You will fine nobody nothing," said Zeke. "Come on, Caleb. Let us go +home." + +"C-C-Caleb, don't you stir one peg from where you are," stammered the +magistrate. "Norton, arrest him if he moves." + +He was evidently frightened, for it was all he could do to keep up a +steady tone of voice. On looking around he could see no Tories present +except the constables. The others had gone out as soon as Zeke made a +move, and there was no one left to help him. Zeke showed what he thought +of the magistrate's order by pulling Caleb's arm through his own and +starting for the door with him. The provincials moved on one side to let +him pass, and two or three of them gave him a cheer. The magistrate was +utterly confounded. He called upon the constables to do their duty, but +none of them moved from his place. A glance into the eyes of the +"rebels" standing around was enough to satisfy them that they had better +keep their hands off. That was the first rebellion that had ever taken +place in Machias. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +GETTING READY FOR THE FRAY. + + +"Three cheers for Zeke Lewis and Caleb Young!" shouted one of the +provincials, when they came out of the door and appeared upon the +street. + +"No, no, lads," said Zeke, raising his hand as if to stop the +demonstration. "We have got him out of being fined or going to jail, but +remember that we are not done with it yet. It will not be long before we +shall see some British regulars up here to ask us what we mean by it. We +have got to fight, and we may as well make up our minds to it first as +last." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted three or four of those who stood around him. "If +the regulars come at us, we'll serve them worse than they did at +Lexington. Three cheers for them!" + +The cheers were given in spite of what Zeke had said, and some of them +persisted in shaking Caleb by the hand. They passed on, and in a few +minutes were out of the crowd and started toward home. There were three +of them who kept Caleb company to see that he reached the presence of +his mother in safety, they were Mr. O'Brien, Joseph Wheaton and Enoch +Crosby. They did not have much to say about what had happened in the +court-room, but Caleb knew why they went with him. On their way to his +house they passed within plain sight of the harbor, and the first thing +that attracted their attention was the schooner Margaretta, riding +proudly at her anchorage, and flying the flag of England from her peak. +Zeke thought this a good time to exhibit his hostility to that flag, +which he did by shaking his fist at it. + +"If it had not been for Wheaton here, I would not have thought of taking +that schooner," said he. + +"I had an idea that somebody besides you thought of that," said O'Brien, +turning around and shaking Wheaton by the hand. "It did not sound like +you in the first place, but, when somebody else proposed it, you went in +strong for it. What was the reason you did not propose it yourself, +Wheaton?" + +"You see I have not lived here long enough to become acquainted with +everybody as Zeke has," replied Wheaton. "I lived in New York until a +few months ago, and I thought the proposition had better come from an +older inhabitant. They might think that I suggested it just to hear +myself talk; but it would be different coming from Zeke." + +"That is just what he told me," assented Zeke. "And I kept thinking what +a fool I was not to think of it long ago. Wheaton, when we get that +schooner, you must haul down that flag." + +"I will attend to that," said the young man, with a laugh. "If the flag +of England is going to wave over us as an emblem of tyranny, we want it +pulled down. But the fact of the matter is, we have not got any other +flag to be hoisted in the place of it." + +"No matter for that," said Mr. O'Brien. "We will have that flag hauled +down, and that is all we care for. Now, Caleb, go in and see your +mother." + +Caleb was not a boy who had been educated, but he knew enough to thank +Zeke for what he had done; but Zeke patted him on the back and said that +was all right, and pushed him through the gate that led into the yard. + +"Remember now, that when you hear the cheer to-morrow you are to come +down and help capture that schooner," said he. "And bring every friend +you see. We may get her without a fight." + +"No, we won't," replied Caleb. "I know the most of those men who belong +to her, and I know that they will stand by their captain. We shall not +have as many men when we get back as we have when we first go aboard +that schooner." + +"I know them, too," said Zeke, raising his left hand and slapping the +other with it with a report like that of a pistol. "But I would stick a +pitchfork into my own brother if he were there and should resist me. We +are bound to have that schooner." + +All were encouraged to hear Zeke talk in this way and Caleb said he +"hoped so" and went in to see his mother; while Enoch, who had left the +table bareheaded, started homeward on a rapid run. He did not find his +mother as excited as she ought to have been. She was sitting in her +easy-chair with her knitting before her, and looked at Enoch's flushed +face when he came in as calmly as though he had been to the store for +some groceries. + +"Well," she said, and her voice was as steady as usual, "you have had an +exciting scene there in the court-room." + +"What do you know about it?" asked Enoch in surprise. + +"I just judged by your face," replied his mother. "How did Caleb get the +fine that the judge imposed upon him?" + +"That old Tory did not get it," exclaimed the boy. "I tell you we have +got up a rebellion now, and we may have some soldiers to settle with +before we get through with it. It beats anything I ever heard of." + +Enoch then went on and told his mother as nearly as he could what had +happened there in the court-room. His mother's eyes flashed and she laid +down her knitting. He even told her about the plans that had been laid +for seizing the schooner, but did not neglect to caution her not to say +a word about it where the Tories could overhear it. + +"I have agreed to go too, mother," he added. + +"Well," she replied, glancing up at the old flint-lock over the +fireplace, "that rifle will have to be cleaned up. And you will need +some bullets, too. Remember that when your father drew on an Indian +after he came out of the service, he was always sure to bring him." + +"And if I pull on a redcoat with that gun I don't believe he will do any +more shooting at our side of the house," said Enoch, getting up in a +chair and taking the musket down. "It is awful heavy, is it not?" + +"Yes, and that's the kind it needs to bring an enemy down every time you +get a sight at him. Clean it up bright for the least little speck of +rust in it will throw your ball where you don't want it to go. I hope +the Britishers will give up before you have a chance to shoot at them." + +"But if they don't--then what?" + +"You must shoot to hit. Bear in mind that you had an uncle in that fight +at Lexington, and we don't know whether he was killed or not. He did not +miss, either. Every time he pulled on a redcoat he could tell right +where he hit him." + +"Of course I can't shoot with him; but, as Caleb said, I can make a +noise. I can handle the halyards of a sail better than I can handle this +thing." + +The cleaning of the gun occupied Enoch for the next hour, and finally he +got it so that the water came through clean and bright without a +particle of rust in it. He had been outside the kitchen door engaged in +his occupation, and when he came in to tell his mother what he had done, +he found her in front of the fireplace running bullets. + +"Mother, you have no business to do that," he exclaimed. + +"I want to get all the balls solid, for if you run them in haste you +will see little holes in them," she replied. "The bullets thus formed +always go wild, and you cannot do good shooting with them. Now, Enoch, +have you got some powder? That you have in the horn has been there for a +long time, and I fear that it has lost its strength. You had better go +down to the store and lay in a new supply." + +Enoch thought that his mother would have felt a little happier if she +had been a man, so that she could have taken part in seizing the +schooner. He wished that that cheer would sound out now, so that he +could go into danger with his comrades and see Wheaton haul that flag +down; but he checked himself with the thought that that cheer was not to +sound until to-morrow. He wanted to show something else that he had +done, so he continued: + +"I have picked the flint so that it will strike fire every time. Just +see how it works." + +He cocked the flint-lock several times and pulled the trigger, and each +time little sparks of fire shot down into the chamber. The gun was all +right. It only remained for him to hold it true so that the bullets +would reach their mark. + +"That is right, my lad," said his mother, approvingly. "Before we get +through we will show the redcoats that they are making war upon their +brothers. Send one shot, Enoch, to pay them for taxing that tea." + +Enoch accepted some money to pay for the powder he was to buy at the +store, and when he reached the street he saw Caleb coming along as if +somebody had sent for him. His face, whenever he met Enoch, was always +wrinkled up with smiles, and it proved on this occasion to be the news +of what Enoch had already passed through--the getting ready for the +assault upon the Margaretta. + +"I went out to clean the gun and when I came back my mother was running +bullets," said Caleb; and he rubbed his hands together as if he could +hardly wait for the cheer to sound. "She thinks that some of us are +going to get hurt." + +"I guess I have been through the same thing," said Enoch. "I'll wager +that if mother were in my place she would not sleep at all to-night. She +told me to give them one shot and think of the tea they have taxed +against her. Hallo! Here comes Zeke. He walks as though he was in a +hurry." + +"Bussin' on it!" exclaimed Zeke, when he came up. "I would like to know +what the magistrate and Jeems Howard has been aboard that boat for. You +see, we were watching that boat to find out whether or not she was going +to stay at anchorage until to-morrow, and that's the way we happened to +see them." + +"Let them go," said Enoch. "They have probably been telling the captain +about our rebellion there in the court-room." + +"Well, he can't do anything," said Zeke. "If he turns his guns loose on +the town----" + +"He can't do that," said Caleb. "War has not been declared yet." + +"There is no telling what these Britishers will do when once they get +their dander up. But I was just saying, suppose he did turn them loose; +we have got two four-pounders that we could bring to bear on the +schooner, and make her drop down away from there. But I hope that he +won't get away before morning. If he does, I shall be sorry that we did +not attack her to-night." + +"Where are you going in such a hurry, anyway?" asked Enoch. + +"I am going down to see Wheaton about it. If you hear that cheer sounded +to-night you will be on hand, won't you?" + +The boys said emphatically that they would, and then Caleb went on to +tell him what they had done to get ready for the assault, not forgetting +to give all the praise to their mothers. + +"That's right," said Zeke. "If all the boys were as plucky as their +mothers we would have easy times of it. I haven't got any gun to take; +but I have a pitchfork handy, and you will see some red dust on it +before this thing is over." + +"Oh, I hope they won't fight," said Enoch. "We will get a bigger crowd +than they can show----" + +"I don't care how big our crowd is, we are going to have a fight," +interrupted Caleb. "I will wager that you will see some mourning in +Machias before the sun gets where he is now." + +Zeke walked off laughing as if that was a story rather hard to believe, +and the boys kept on their way to the grocery store. They found Emerson +Miller there, but he was not so talkative as he was a little while ago. +The boys did not like the way the storekeeper acted. He was leaning over +the counter talking to Emerson, but when the two entered he straightened +up and moved back to the rear end of the store. + +"I guess you have got some powder, haven't you?" said Enoch. "Well, if +you have, I want a pound of it." + +"I would like to know what all you fellows are getting powder for," said +the man. "Do you expect the Britishers up here to-night?" + +"I don't know about that," said Enoch. "But we intend to be all ready +for them when they do come. We will serve them as badly as they were +served at Lexington." + +"You will, eh?" said the grocery keeper, turning fiercely upon the boys. +"What would you do if the Margaretta should cut loose on us and burn the +town?" + +"We would whip her, that's all," replied Caleb. "She can't do it. She +must wait until war is declared before she can do that." + +"I don't know whether I will give you any powder or not," said the man. +"You boys act almost too independent." + +"Just as you please, sir," retorted Enoch, while Caleb was angry in an +instant. "If you don't want to sell us any powder, you can say so." + +"I will give you some this time, but if you come in here any more you +don't want to be quite so bold in regard to what you would do and what +you would not," replied the man; but Enoch rightly concluded that this +was not his reason. If he refused to give him what he called for, how +long would it be before all the provincials in the village would hear +of it and come there to see him about it? And if Zeke came he was sure +that he would not escape without a whipping. He went and got the powder, +while the two boys stood looking at each other in amazement. When the +article was done up Enoch paid for it and the two left the store. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +THE BUCKET OF YEAST. + + +"Say," whispered Caleb, as soon as they were out of hearing of the +store, "that Ledyard Barrow is a Tory." + +"That is just what I have been thinking myself," replied Enoch, who was +so surprised that he hardly knew what he said. "We have got to be awful +careful about this thing or it will get out on us in spite of all we can +do. I did not say anything wrong while I was talking to him, did I?" + +"No, indeed, you did not. The first thing you know we will have Tories +all around us, and the next thing will be for that vessel to trip her +anchor and go farther off down the bay. Say, Enoch, I shall have to +borrow a little of that powder of you until I can have--" + +"You may have it," interrupted Enoch. "There is more here than I want. +But to think that we have unearthed another Tory. That is what gets to +me." + +"It looks to me as though every neighbor was going to have to fight the +man who lives next to him," said Caleb, taking off his hat and +scratching his head furiously. + +"Well, I would rather they would make themselves known so that we may +know just what we have to expect. I wish Zeke would happen along here +just now. I would like to know what he thinks about it." + +But Zeke had business to attend to where he was, and the boys did not +get a chance to speak to him that night. When they came to Caleb's +house, Enoch turned in with him to give him what he thought he should +want of the powder, and found Caleb's mother engaged in knitting with +her Bible open on her knee before her. The boys looked for success in +the size of their crowd to enable them to overcome the schooner's crew, +while Mrs. Young, like Enoch's mother, looked for it to a source from +which it was sure to come if she asked for it in the right spirit. Enoch +hastily took off his hat when he entered the house. The presence of that +open Book upon her lap called for all the reverence he was capable of. + +"Well, Enoch, are you one of the few who have agreed to take the +Margaretta?" said Mrs. Young, greeting him with a smile. "I hope you +have got your gun cleaned up, for Caleb thinks there is bound to be a +fight." + +"I don't _think_ so mother," answered Caleb. "I _know_ so. Machias is +all right now, that is, there is not any mourning here, but you will see +some when we get that schooner." + +"When it does come we shall have the satisfying knowledge that we tried +to do our duty," said Enoch. + +"You forget that there is a penalty for piracy," said Mrs. Young. + +"No, I don't," said Enoch, promptly. "They will have to capture every +provincial in town before they can begin hanging us. When they try that, +you will see a fuss here in Machias." + +"That is right, my boy," said the mother, reaching up with the endeavor +to pat Enoch on the head. "If you undertake this thing, I hope you will +come out safely." + +Caleb had by this time produced his powder-horn, and Enoch proceeded to +give him half the quantity he had purchased. When he had filled it half +full Caleb put in the stopper and slapped the horn into his open palm, +giving Enoch a mysterious wink as he did so. Enoch had no trouble at all +in interpreting that wink. By it Caleb said that when he was face to +face with the schooner's crew he would get at least one shot, if he did +not get any more; and Enoch knew what he meant by that. He was almost +sure of the redcoat he pulled on, and there would be one less for them +to encounter when the order was given to board her and clear her deck. + +"But, Caleb, we don't know who our captain is," said Enoch, giving +utterance to the thought that had been uppermost in his mind ever since +the capture of the schooner was proposed. + +"I don't care for that," said Caleb. "When we get to work everybody will +be captain. We all want the schooner, and the one that does the most is +the best man." + +Enoch was obliged to be satisfied with this, and as there was nothing +further to detain him he made his best bow and went out. The boys now +had nothing to do but various little jobs around the house until the +sun rose the next morning. Enoch did carpenter work, fitting some +chinking into the walls where the winter's cold came in during severe +weather, and Caleb cut some wood and brought it into the house for fear +that to-morrow night he might not be there to attend to it. + +"There is nobody except me that knows we are going to have a fight +before we can claim that schooner," said he, as he paused with his ax +raised in the air and glanced toward the place where the Margaretta was +lying at her anchorage. "Because we have always been friendly with those +boys it is no reason why they will not fight us when they see us coming. +I know what I should do if I was there." + +With this thought Caleb drove the ax into the log with all his force as +if he felt that there was some enemy in there and he wanted to get rid +of him, and then his mother called him to supper. He looked up and saw +that it was getting dark. He put his ax away in the woodshed and went +into the house, and when he was through with his meal his mother said to +him-- + +"Caleb, I wish you would take that little tin bucket from the third nail +behind the door in the buttery and go over to Mrs. Crosby's, and ask her +if she can spare me some yeast for to-night. I want to bake some bread +early on Monday morning, and I should thank her for a little." + +Caleb at once put on his hat, took the bucket from the third nail in the +pantry, bid his mother good-by, and went out. What a difference there +was between him and the boys who flourish in our time! Boys in our day +would say "yes, ma'am," and loaf around and wait until they got a good +ready to start; but to Caleb, his mother's command had to be obeyed +right away. He struck up a whistle when he went out, one of those +old-fashioned songs that boys do not know in our day, telling himself in +the meantime that it was about as dark as he ever saw it. But Caleb knew +the way, and he went on his road without a misstep. He arrived at Mrs. +Crosby's house, made known his errand and came away again, not +forgetting to exchange ideas with his friend Enoch about the cheer that +was to sound on the morrow. + +"I have not heard anything like a cheer since I have been out of the +house," said Caleb. "If I had heard it, you would not have seen me here. +The fun will begin to-morrow when we follow them into the church. I hope +we shall not do anything wrong by arresting them in their seats." + +"Mother has not said a word about it, so I guess it is all right," said +Enoch. "It will show them that we are in earnest." + +Caleb struck up another whistle and went on his way, and he had almost +reached his home when something startling occurred to him. A man +suddenly appeared before him and barred his way. Caleb stopped and +waited for him to make known his object, but seeing that the man did not +speak, he turned out to go by him when the man suddenly reached out his +arm and brought him to another standstill. + +"Don't be in too big a hurry, my lad," said he, and it shot through +Caleb's mind on the instant that he must be a seafaring man, for the +tone of his voice indicated it. + +"You don't know where Caleb Young lives about here, do you?" + +"Well, if I do, that is my own business," replied Caleb, once more +making an effort to leave the man behind. "Why don't you go to some +house and inquire?" + +"Because I think you are the man we want to see," was the reply. "Come +on, boys. Keep still now, or it will be worse for you." + +In an instant three other men appeared as if they had risen from the +ground, and Caleb became aware that he was in the hands of the Tories. +It was too dark to see whether or not the men were armed, but something +that stuck out by their sides made him think that each of them had a +cutlass strapped to him. + +"Look here," said he, backing off a pace or two. "Do you mean to arrest +me?" + +"We will tell you about that when we get you aboard the vessel," said +the man who stood in front of him. "You rebels--Head him off, lads. +Knock him down." + +The words "rebels" seemed to quicken Caleb's ideas. He saw it all now. +He was to be arrested and taken on board the Margaretta and be taken off +somewhere so that the magistrate could collect the fine he had imposed +upon him. To think with him was to go to work. As quick as thought he +ducked his head, not forgetting to throw his bucket loaded with yeast +full into the face of the officer, for such Caleb took him to be, and +dodging the grasp the man made at him he ran furiously toward his own +gate. But he had to deal with men who were as cunning as he was. A +fourth man, who stood a little distance behind the officer, clasped him +in his strong arms before he had made a dozen steps and threw him to the +ground. + +"Help!" shouted Caleb, with all the power of his lungs. + +"Stop that noise; quick!" exclaimed the officer. "Choke him down." + +Caleb did not have time to say all he meant to say when he lifted up his +voice in shouting for help, for at that moment the man who had thrown +him down changed his grasp from his arms to his throat, and the boy was +rendered powerless. It was but the work of a few seconds to tie his +hands, and scarcely more to jerk him to his feet and start him down the +road toward the harbor. Caleb went because he could not help himself. +Two Tories followed close behind him. Each one had hold of his collar, +which was drawn so tight that he could not utter a sound. A boat that +was drawn up on the beach was ready waiting for them, and Caleb was +thrown into it and dragged aft until he was brought up by the +stern-sheets. The man whom he took to be an officer turned out to be one +sure enough, for he took his seat beside Caleb and went on brushing his +coat with his handkerchief to wipe off the yeast. + +"I will get even with you, my lad, before we get to New York to pay you +for throwing that stuff at me," said he, with something that sounded +like an oath. "What was it, you rebel?" + +"It is something that won't hurt you any," replied the prisoner, +striving to get his throat in order so that he could speak plainly. + +"What was it, I ask you!" said the officer, kicking Caleb with his foot. +"Do you hear?" + +"It is nothing but yeast," said Caleb. "I hope it will _raise_ you up so +that it will put a little sense into your head." + +It was evident that the rough treatment to which he had been subjected +had not taken all the pluck out of Caleb Young. The officer was +astonished and gave him three or four kicks in the ribs to show that he +did not admire such talk; but the position in which he lay, together +with the narrow limits of the boat, rendered the kicks comparatively +harmless. + +"Shove off," commanded the officer. "Give-away strong and let us get rid +of this rebel as soon as we can." + +In a few minutes the boat was alongside the schooner, where they found +Captain Moore and the other officers waiting for them. A lantern held +over the side showed them that the officer had not come back +empty-handed. + +"You got him, did you?" said the captain, and his voice sounded very +unlike the polite tones in which he was accustomed to greet the +villagers who came there to see him. He did not live in Machias, but he +had been there so often that he was pretty well known to all the +towns-people. + +"Yes, sir, I have got him," said the officer, touching his hat. "And the +rebel threw a bucket of yeast on me when I took him." + +"Well, you will pay him for that when we get him to New York," said the +captain. "Hoist him up here." + +This was the worst part of the treatment to which Caleb had thus far +been subjected since his capture. Two of the boat's crew seized him, one +at the head and the other at the feet, trying to take him by the clothes +but not being particular if they caught up flesh with them, and raised +him over their heads, from which position he was received by two more +aboard the schooner, who hauled him over the rail and deposited him on +the deck as if he had been a log of wood. + +"You have got his hands tied, have you not?" said the captain. "Well, +release them, and bo'son bring up a set of bracelets and put them on +him." + +"Do you treat all your prisoners this way, captain?" asked Caleb. + +"We treat all rebels this way," was the answer. "The next time you do +anything to bring you a fine, be sure you can pay it." + +"But, captain--" began Caleb. + +"That's enough," said the captain, fiercely. "I know what you have done +and so do you. If you talk any more to me I will put a gag in your +mouth." + +Caleb did not know what a "gag" was, but he came to the conclusion that +it was something to add to his punishment, and so he did not say +anything more. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +UNDER WAY. + + +The boatswain speedily returned with the "bracelets" which he had been +sent to bring, and by that time some of the crew had untied his hands. +They proved to be irons, one for his wrists and another for his feet. In +less time than it takes to tell it the irons had been put on and now +Caleb was a prisoner, sure enough. + +"Now, then, take him down and put him in the brig,"[6] said the captain. +"See to it that he does not get anything to eat or a drop of water to +drink to pay him for insulting his Majesty's officer by throwing a +bucket of yeast at him." + +[Footnote 6: The brig is a small, dark apartment on board a vessel in +which culprits are confined.] + +Captain Moore acted as if he were mad about something, and for fear of +the "gag" with which he had been threatened Caleb was unable to say a +word to him. The boatswain took him by the arm and hurried him forward. +The prisoner was pushed rather than led down the gangway to the brig, +which was ready to receive him. He saw that the grated door was open, +and when he came opposite to it he was shoved headlong into the dark, +not knowing where he was going to bring up. But the brig was not deep +enough to permit him to fall. By putting his manacled hands in front of +him he brought up against the bulkhead with stunning force, and for a +moment he stood there not knowing where he was or what to do. + +[Illustration: He was shoved headlong into the dark.] + +"There, you rebel," said the boatswain, "I guess you will stay there." + +The door was closed and locked behind him, and then Caleb turned about. +There was a lantern outside which threw its beams into the brig, and by +their aid Caleb was enabled to take a view of his prison. It was about +six feet square, large enough to hold all the members of the schooner's +company who were liable to be put there for various misdemeanors, and +there was not a thing in the way of furniture in it--no stool to sit +down on and no bed to sleep on. Caleb drew a contrast between that +room and his plainly furnished little apartment at home and drew a +long-drawn sigh. + +"Yes, I guess I will stay here," said he, as he seated himself opposite +the door so that he could see all that was going on on deck. "Am I a +rebel because Zeke Lewis would not let that magistrate fine me? The +magistrate did not care what James said, he wanted to know what I did; +and if that is justice I don't want to see any more of it. And I must go +to New York. And what is going to become of mother in the meantime? I +tell you, I hope that the boys' attempt on this schooner to-morrow will +be successful. How I can pass the night waiting for them I don't know." + +The first thing that attracted Caleb's attention was that his irons were +too tight. They pinched him in every way that he could place them, and +he first tried to get them off; but his hands were too big. He did not +think he could live that way until he got to New York, and he appealed +to the first sailor that came along to take the irons off and replace +them with some others; but the sailor smiled grimly and shook his head. + +"You threw some yeast at the officer, did you not?" said he. + +"He tried to take me while I was minding my own business," said Caleb. +"You would have done the same thing if you had been in my place." + +"Well, you had better let the irons alone. They don't pinch half as hard +as the rope will when you get it around your neck." + +Here the sailor turned his head on one side and made a motion with his +right hand as if he were pulling something up with it. + +"I will not be hanged for that, I tell you," said Caleb. "If the officer +wanted me, why did he not come up to the house and arrest me?" + +"You have insulted one of his Majesty's officers by throwing that stuff +on him, and you don't get anything to eat for a day," said the sailor as +he turned away. "You will be hungry before you get your next meal." + +"Then I have nothing left for it but to go to sleep," said the prisoner +to himself. "That is, if I can go to sleep. If I was master of a vessel +I would not treat a captive in this way." + +That was a long night to Caleb, but he picked out as comfortable a +position as he could on the brig's floor and fell asleep while thinking +of his mother and Enoch Crosby. He was as certain as he wanted to be +that Enoch and Zeke would turn the village up side-down to find what had +become of him, and when they had made up their minds that he was on +board the schooner, they would not rest easy until they had rescued him. +He was aroused by the changing of watches, and then he did not know +anything more until the boatswain called all hands in the morning. He +straightened up and took his position opposite the door where he could +see the crew as they passed to and fro engaged in their duties of the +ship. He knew when the decks were washed down, and when they went to +breakfast. There was a mess chest standing on the deck right where he +could see it, and the Tories took no little delight in biting off their +hard-tack and eating their corned beef before him. But Caleb knew that +there was no breakfast waiting for him, although he was as hungry as he +ever had been. + +After breakfast the decks were swept down, and then an order was passed +which Caleb could not understand; but he soon became aware that the crew +were getting ready to go ashore. It was Sunday, and of course the men +dressed in white on that day. Pretty soon an officer passed, and he was +got up with all the gold lace that the law allows, but he paid no +attention to the prisoner. Presently a boat was called away, and then +another, and Caleb could hear the men scrambling down the side in order +to get into them, and he knew that the crew had left barely enough men +on board to look out for the safety of the vessel. What a time that +would be for the men on shore to capture her! While he was thinking +about it a sailor came up alongside the grating which formed the door, +and after looking all around to make sure that no one was watching him, +he put his hand into his bosom and slipped a small package in to the +prisoner. + +"There you are," said he. "Eat your fill." + +The sailor moved away as quickly as he had come, and Caleb was not long +in taking care of the bundle. He took it back out of sight, so that if +any one chanced to look in to see what the prisoner was doing, he would +not have seen him eating the contents of the package. For there was a +good breakfast in there, and how the man had managed to steal it was +something that Caleb could not understand. + +"I wish I had taken a good look at him," said Caleb, with his mouth full +of hard-tack and meat. "I believe that when the attack is made, and it +will not be long now, I can do him a favor. He is not a Tory. He belongs +on our side easy enough." + +Caleb did not want as much to eat as he thought he did, for he stopped +every few minutes to listen. But he did not hear any sound to indicate +that an attack had been made on the schooner's crew, nor any cheer to +tell him that all was ready. An hour passed--such an hour as that was, +Caleb hoped he should never live over again--and then hoarse commands +were heard on the deck and then a commotion arose which was greater, if +possible, than when the boats were called away. The prisoner arose +hastily to his feet and pressed his face close to the grating to see if +he could discover anything that created such a hubbub; but he could not +see anything. But the men were all on deck, and pretty soon he heard +the dropping of hand-spikes and the dash of ropes above him as if the +crew were getting ready to train a gun upon the town. + +"Bussin' on it!" whispered Caleb, who was so excited by what he heard +that he repeated Zeke's favorite expression before he knew what he was +doing. "It has come. The boys have made the attack and I shall soon be +free. There are two persons I want to remember; one is the boatswain who +threw me into this brig, and the other is the man who gave me my +breakfast. It is coming sure enough." + +After the men had got their gun trained, for Caleb was certain that was +what they were doing, there was silence for a few minutes, and then he +heard the splash of oars in the water. He heard Captain Moore's voice +pitched in a loud key, and then he was sure that all of the crew who had +gone off in the boats came aboard. That was something for which he could +not account. If the attack was made it had failed, and the crew were on +the lookout. + +"Now, it is mighty strange how those men came aboard," said Caleb, to +himself. "And what was the reason they did not arrest them there in the +church?" + +If Caleb had been in the habit of using strong language he would have +used it now, but he did nothing but stand there and wait. The men had +taken the alarm, there could be no doubt about that, for presently he +heard the vessel moving a little as if springs had been got out to her +cables, and she was being moored broadside to the town. + +"I wonder if they are going to fire on the village?" said Caleb in great +alarm. "If she does, I wonder what will become of my mother? Why can I +not escape?" + +He seized the grating with both hands and exerted all his strength upon +it, but, although he could make the gate rattle, the locks still held +firmly in their place. Fifteen minutes passed in this way, and then he +heard a roar over his head as if heaven and earth were coming together. +Another followed it, and the prisoner, firmly believing that the +schooner had opened on the town, for the purpose of setting it on fire, +left the grating and seated himself once more in the further end of the +brig. The firing continued--how long Caleb did not know; but he realized +that he was shutting his ears to all sound of the guns. + +"This thing has commenced war with me at any rate," said he, to himself, +"and if I ever get free and have a gun in my hands that I can use, I +will kill a person for every person in Machias that has been struck by +their shells." + +Finally the firing ceased, and a sound was heard like a man's steps +coming down the companion ladder. When he came nearer Caleb saw that it +was the man who had given him his breakfast. + +"Say," said he, in a low tone. "How many of them did you kill?" + +The man looked around to make sure that there was no one in sight and +then replied-- + +"None of them. We just fired a shot or two over the town to show them +that we are on guard. Have you got some relatives there?" he added, +noticing that Caleb drew a long breath of relief. + +"I should say so. My mother is out there." + +The prisoner was about to ask him what was the reason the attack on the +schooner had failed, but he happened to think that by so doing he would +let out some things that Zeke had cautioned him particularly to guard +against; and another thing was, the sailor passed on about his business. +He did not have time to exchange another word with him. + +"It is lucky that I did not have time to ask him about the attack on the +schooner," said Caleb, once more returning to his seat. "He is not a +Tory, but I don't know that he is friendly enough to us to keep still +about it. Now I want to know what is the reason I did not hear that +cheer." + +Caleb did not have more than two minutes to turn this matter over in his +mind, when some more sailors were heard coming down the ladder. They +proved to be the watch who had been granted shore liberty that day, and +their business was to change their holiday clothes for their working +suits. They worked as if they were in a hurry, paying no attention at +all to the prisoner, and as fast as they put on their working clothes +they ran on deck. Some more hoarse orders greeted them, and this time +they were followed by the creaking of halyards and the singing of men, +which told Caleb that they were getting the ship under way. In a few +minutes the rattling of the windlass joined in, and by listening +intently Caleb heard a man ordered to the wheel. This was as much as he +cared to know. He covered his face with his hands and for a moment +groaned aloud. He was off for New York, he would be put in jail there +for not paying his fine and there was no telling what treatment he would +receive after he got there. And his mother too, who was wondering all +this time what had become of him! He did not know what to think about +her. Enoch and Zeke would have to look out for her, for the chances were +that he would never come back. While he was thinking about it, a sailor +passed by so close to the grating that Caleb put out his hand and +stopped him. + +"Are we going to New York now?" he asked. + +At this moment an officer, who had stood a little back out of his sight, +stepped into view. It was the boatswain--the very man of all others of +whom he had learned to stand in fear. + +"Look here, you rebel," said he, shaking his brawny fist so close to the +grating that Caleb instinctively drew back. "If I hear another word out +of you I will start you in a way that will make you open your eyes." + +The prisoner released his hold on the door and retreated to the opposite +end of his cell. He knew what the boatswain meant by saying that he +would "start" him. If he had taken pains to cast his eye about the +schooner's deck when he was brought below, he would have seen the +dreaded "cat" suspended from the main-mast. Its thongs were all knotted +to render the blows more severe, and they were covered with blood. The +"cat" had evidently been used upon somebody's bare back, and Caleb did +not want to bring it into further use. The only thing he could do was to +keep still and let time show him what was coming. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE "AGGRESSIVE" TORY. + + +To say that the magistrate was intensely surprised by the rebellion that +had taken place in his office, would be putting it very mildly. He was +completely taken aback, so much so, that, when he saw the coat tails of +the last provincial disappearing through the door, he settled back in +his chair, let his hands fall helplessly by his side, and looked at Mr. +Howard with eyes that seemed ready to start from their sockets. Mr. +Howard was equally astonished. He looked around for a chair and sank +into it. + +"This beats me," were the first words that he uttered. + +"It is a--a--revolution," said the magistrate, pulling his handkerchief +from his pocket and wiping his face with it. "The spirit that animated +those fellows at Lexington has got up here, has it not? Nolton, you are +not worth your salt. Why did you not arrest Zeke when he started to move +away with that boy?" + +"You told me to do my duty," said the constable, "and I thought it my +duty to remain quiet in my place. I wish you had been in my shoes. If I +had touched that man I would not have known what hurt me." + +"If I was a constable and sent here to preserve order, I would have +arrested that man in spite of everything the provincials could do to +stop me," exclaimed the magistrate, doubling up his huge fist and +pounding the desk with it. "It is all owing to you that this rebellion, +or whatever you call it, has got to such a pass. Now what are we going +to do? Must we stand by and let those rebels run things to suit +themselves?" + +"By no means," said Mr. Howard hastily. "There must be some place in the +colonies where our men are strong enough to collect that fine of Caleb. +What is the use of the Margaretta here?" + +"Do you want to send Caleb off to New York?" whispered the magistrate, +bending toward Mr. Howard, while his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "I +never once thought of that." + +"I mean just that and nothing else," said Mr. Howard, in the same +cautious tone. "I would like to see those men get up a rebellion in the +face of Captain Moore. He would blow the town out of sight." + +"I don't know whether I want him to try that or not," said the +magistrate, doubtfully. "I have a house up here and I don't want him to +put any shells through that." + +"It would be very easy for him to send his shells wherever he wanted +them to go. I believe in going down and calling upon him right away. You +may rest assured that you will not do any more court business while this +thing is hanging over you. Besides, the Governor may hear of it and put +another man in your place." + +"Let us go down and see him the first thing we do," said the magistrate, +getting upon his feet. "You men stay here until we come back," he added, +turning to the constables. "We may have more work for you." + +"Well, you just wager that you can do it yourself," said Kelly +mentally, as he helped himself to a chair. "I am not going around where +Zeke is any more." + +Kelly looked toward Nolton as these thoughts passed through his mind, +and from something he saw there he made up his mind that he was not +alone in deciding this way. It was very easy for the magistrate to send +men into danger, but he took good care to keep out of it himself. + +The magistrate put on his hat and led the way toward the door, and Mr. +Howard and the two boys followed close at his heels. They stopped when +they got to the door and held a consultation as to whether or not they +should let the boys go with them, but after a little talk they decided +that James should go on board the schooner to show the captain the lump +on his eye, which grew bigger and blacker all the while, and Emerson, +who saw the assault, should be a witness to it. + +"I want to let the captain see that I fined him one pound and costs for +a reason," said the magistrate. "Then he will think that I was doing my +duty." + +They found a boat at the wharf just preparing to go off to the schooner, +and the parties all got down into it. The sailors looked at James with +surprise and something very like a grin overspread their faces; but they +were too well-trained to ask any news. They found Captain Moore in his +quarters, and he had his coat off and was lying at his ease on a lounge +reading a book. He got up and looked his astonishment when he shook +James by the hand. + +"A rebel did that," said the boy. + +"What makes you call him a rebel?" asked the captain. "Has that affair +of Lexington got up here?" + +"Yes, sir," said the magistrate. "And thereby hangs a tale as long as +your arm. I fined Caleb Young for striking James, but the rebels got +around him and took him home." + +"And did he not pay his fine at all?" said the captain in surprise. + +"No, sir. One rebel told me that the boy had no money to pay his fine, +and I should not be allowed to shut him up either, so the only thing I +could do was to let him go. The spirit of rebellion is bigger than one +would think for." + +"Well, I should think it was," said the captain, angrily. "When they +begin to interfere with a magistrate for the work he does on his bench, +it is time they were being hanged, the last one of them. What did you do +then?" + +The magistrate began his story at once and told it through without +interruption. At last he came to the point which brought him there. He +wanted Caleb arrested, taken on board the schooner, and carried to New +York and given to some power that could enforce the law. And Captain +Moore was the only man they knew who could help them in the matter. + +"Do you want my men to arrest him?" asked the captain. + +"Yes; and you will have to be pretty quiet while you are about it. Don't +let him shout for help or anything else, for, if you do, you will have +the village on you before you can think twice." + +"Well, things have come to a pretty pass," said Captain Moore, rising to +his feet and walking up and down the narrow limits of his quarters. "Do +you know that you have given me something hard to do? If I can catch him +outside the house all would be well; but suppose I should have to go in +after him? Then what will happen?" + +"You will have to take your chances on that," said Mr. Howard, who was +more in favor of his scheme than he was before. The captain seemed +willing to undertake it, and he determined that he should undertake it +if he could bring any arguments to make him think that way. + +"It all rests with you," said the magistrate. "I have tried to enforce +the law and could not do it, and now I leave it to yourself to determine +whether or not you have any authority in the matter." + +"I don't suppose I have, if you really come down to it," said the +captain, gazing thoughtfully at the floor. "But I shall depend a good +deal upon those magistrates in New York. They are not very lenient with +any one who tries to get up a rebellion here in the colonies, and the +news of that battle at Lexington will urge them to be severe on all who +try it. I will do it, but you must keep still about it until after I get +away." + +"You may depend upon us for keeping still about it," said Mr. Howard. "I +want that boy fined, and I shall not spoil the thing by saying a word +to anybody. At what time do you think the sloops will get loaded up?" + +"I shall be ready to start on Tuesday. If I can once get him on board my +vessel I will risk anybody's getting him away." + +"I knew I would some day get even with that fellow," said James, as he +arose to his feet and put on his hat. "I think he will learn that a +gentleman has a right to say what he pleases without being knocked down +by some rebel." + +"I guess he will too, James," said the captain, laying his hand +confidentially on the boy's shoulder. "Let me get my hands on him once +and I will teach him a lesson." + +Captain Moore put on his coat and accompanied them to the deck, and in +obedience to his order the cutter was called away for them. The captain +watched them until they had gotten ashore, and then intimated to his +first lieutenant (he is called the executive officer in our day) that he +had something of importance to say to him in his cabin. The lieutenant +went, and was thrown into as great a rage as the captain had been when +he heard of the rebellion in the magistrate's office. + +"Now, Hobson, I want you to capture that fellow to-night," said Captain +Moore, in conclusion. "Do you think you can do it?" + +"Yes, sir," was the reply. "If those constables are afraid to attend to +their business on account of the rebels I am not." + +"My advice to you would be that you go ashore and walk twice by that +house and see how things are located there. You may have to go in in +order to get him. I need not tell you that you have got to be very +careful about it. You know the boy when you see him?" + +"Oh, yes, sir. And I will take particular pains that he does not call +for help, either." + +The lieutenant was placed ashore, and walking with his hands behind him, +as if he were out for the air and nothing else, he bent his steps toward +Caleb Young's home. When he came within sight of it he found Caleb +standing in front of the woodshed door, cleaning up the old flint-lock. +He was evidently getting ready for another Lexington affair if the +British troops came near Machias. At least, that was what the officer +thought. + +"But you will be safe in jail, paying that fine of yours," soliloquized +the first lieutenant, as he walked on his way. "I know now how I am +going to work it. As soon as it comes dark I will go to his house and +demand admittance in the name of the king, and when I once get my hands +on him I will choke him so that he can't holler." + +The officer returned on board the schooner in less than an hour, +reported what he had seen and the way he was going to get around it. He +noticed that his shoes were covered with dust during his walk, and he +pulled out his handkerchief and dusted them with it. His brand-new +uniform was somewhat dusty, too, and that came in for a share of his +attention. He was a good deal of a "dude," this first lieutenant was, +and he took pride in looking as neat as if he had just come out of a +lady's band-box. He did not think how his uniform would look when he +brought it into the presence of the captain all spattered with yeast. + +There were some hours of daylight still left, but all the lieutenant had +to do was to pick out the men he wanted to accompany him and give them +their instructions in regard to arresting Caleb Young. One, to have +heard his orders in regard to being quick and still about it, would have +thought that Caleb was a big and powerful man, and that it was as much +as all of them could do to manage him. But the trouble was the officer +was not so much afraid of Caleb as he was of the people who would come +to the rescue if he succeeded in giving the alarm. + +Supper over the foremast hands enjoyed their hour given to smoking and +song, and then the lieutenant came up from below with his side-arms on. +This was a signal to his men, who promptly armed themselves, and in a +few minutes they were pulling across the narrow bay toward a place where +boats did not often land. It was to be a secret expedition all the way +through, and when they got back aboard their vessel with their prisoner, +they did not want anybody to be the wiser for it. + +"Keep as silent as possible," said the officer. "You know Caleb Young +better than I do, and if you see him close with him at once. We will +give these rebels a lesson that they will remember." + +It so happened that the lieutenant drew up behind a tree in front of +Caleb's gate just as the boy came out with a pail in his hand to go +after the yeast. It was so dark that Caleb could not see anything, and +he struck up a whistle and went on all unconscious of the danger that +threatened him. As soon as he was out of hearing one of the men +whispered-- + +"That's him, sir." + +"I know it," replied the lieutenant. "He has gone off on an errand for +his mother, but he will soon be back. That's the time we will catch +him." + +We have already told how desperately Caleb fought for his freedom and +how he called lustily for help; but it was rather chilly in the evening, +being in the month of May, the people were gathered about the fires in +their kitchens with the doors closed, and Caleb's yell did not reach any +of them. He knew that he was in the hands of the Tories, but to save his +life he could not imagine what he had been captured for. He was choked +so violently that he could not utter a sound until he got into the +boat, and then he did make out to reply to a question by the officer who +was wiping the contents of his bucket off his uniform. In a very few +minutes Caleb had been lifted out of the boat to the schooner's deck, +the irons had been put on and he was safely in the brig. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +A VISIT TO THE JAIL. + + +For a wonder the evening following the day on which the news of the +battle of Lexington was received, was an evening of "do-nothing" with +Enoch Crosby. He could not perform any of the odd jobs about the house, +he could not read, and under almost any other circumstances he would +have regarded the time as wasted. The next day was Sunday, and Enoch and +his mother were very much opposed to doing any work of their own on that +day; but they remembered the parable of the sheep who fell into a pit on +that day, and the owner had pulled him out and carried him home on his +shoulder. So they took that parable to themselves, and thought Enoch +would not be doing any wrong by attempting to seize the officers of the +schooner when they came ashore to attend divine service. + +"I tell you, mother, we are already standing on the edge of a much worse +pit than the sheep of old fell into," said Enoch. "If the king does not +wake up and do something very soon, we are going to see a war here." + +His mother did not attempt to deny it. She nodded her head and went on +with her knitting, while Enoch got down in front of the fire as close as +he could, rested his elbows on his knees, and gazed thoughtfully at the +floor. His mother thought he was growing down-hearted, and that would +not do for a provincial; so she began and related some adventures of +which his father had been the hero after he resigned his commission and +came out of the service. Enoch listened intently, and now and then he +heard something that made his eyes flash, and he really wished he could +have stood beside his father with another flint-lock in his hand. + +When Caleb came over after the yeast Enoch detained him as long as he +could, but that was not very long, for Caleb was on an errand for his +mother. He got the yeast, promised that he would be on hand when that +cheer was sounded on the morrow, and went out. Something, we don't know +what it was, prevented Enoch from taking up his hat and accompanying +Caleb to his home. If he had done so, we should have had two boys in +that brig instead of one. + +The hands on the old-fashioned clock that stood on the mantle were +beginning to come around toward nine o'clock, the hour when all good +persons ought to be in bed, when there came a timid knock at the kitchen +door. Wondering who could want to see any of his family at that hour +Enoch opened it and found Mrs. Young on the threshold. Enoch thought she +looked uneasy about something, and without saying a word she stepped +into the kitchen and ran her eyes all around it. She was looking for +Caleb, but she failed to find him there. + +"Has my boy been here to-night?" she asked, in a trembling voice. "I +sent him over to borrow some yeast of you----" + +"He got the yeast and went home," said Mrs. Crosby. "Have you not seen +anything of him?" + +"No, I have not," said Mrs. Young, groping for the nearest chair and +sinking into it. "He has not been near our house since he came over +here." + +"Where do you suppose he is?" said Enoch. + +"If I knew where he was I should have gone after him," replied Mrs. +Young. "He does not generally perform errands in this way." + +"No," said Enoch, who grew angry when anything was said against his +companion. "He generally does your bidding right up to the handle; and +he would have been at your house unless something has happened to him." + +"Happened to Caleb!" exclaimed Mrs. Young. "Why--what----" + +"I don't know," replied Enoch. "But you will remember that he did not +pay his fine to-day." + +The women looked at each other but did not say anything. + +"Now it has just occurred to me all on a sudden that that magistrate is +going to collect that pound and costs of Caleb in some way," began +Enoch. + +"And has he arrested him for it?" stammered Mrs. Young. + +"I don't know, but I can soon find out," replied Enoch. "I will go down +and see Zeke about it." + +"Be careful, my son, that you don't fall into the hands of the Tories +yourself," said Mrs. Crosby, when she saw Enoch taking down his hat. + +"They have not got anything against me," said Enoch, as he opened the +door. "I don't know what sort of stories James has told about me, but I +know that I took Caleb away from him when he had him down. He can't say +anything hard against me for that." + +"But you are not a Tory, and that will go against you." + +Enoch went out, making no reply, and he left two very uneasy women +behind him. They were not frightened, for in those days it took more +than a supposition to alarm them. Mrs. Young felt uneasy in regard to +Caleb, and Mrs. Crosby felt that Way when she considered that Enoch was +going out there in the dark and perhaps would run into the very trap +that had been set for his friend. + +"I can't help it," said Enoch, as he closed the gate behind him and set +off at a rapid run for Zeke's house. "He must be in jail, but I kept my +mouth silent in the presence of his mother." + +Enoch took to the middle of the street, for he concluded that he would +be safer there than on the sidewalk. It was dark, but Enoch knew the +way, and presently was standing on Zeke's back steps. It was all dark in +the house and that proved that the man he wanted to see had gone to bed; +but this was too serious a matter to admit of delay. "With his fist he +pounded loudly upon the door, and a voice from the inside immediately +asked-- + +"Who is that out there?" + +"It is I--Enoch Crosby," replied the boy. "You'll have to get up and +help us again. Caleb is in trouble." + +It did not need any second call to bring Zeke out of bed and to his +feet. He opened the door, saying as he did so-- + +"That Caleb beats all the boys in the world that I ever heard of. What +has he been doing now?" + +Enoch replied that he did not know. Caleb had come over to his house to +borrow something of his mother, and he had never gone home with it. His +mother was at Mrs. Crosby's now looking for him. + +"Beyond a doubt he is in jail," said Enoch. "You know he did not pay his +fine to-day, and I will bet that that magistrate has arrested him and +locked him up." + +"Bussin' on it, I believe you are right," said Zeke, hurrying on his +clothes. "If he is in jail I wager that he will come out. Come in." + +"I guess I had better stay out here. You will have to take a lantern +with you, for it is awful dark." + +In much less time than it takes to tell it Zeke presented himself at the +door arrayed in his usual costume, but he had something else that he did +not carry in the daytime. It was a huge club, and he had fashioned it +after a style of his own. The club looked too heavy for one man to +manage, but Zeke handled it as though it were a walking-cane. In his +left hand he carried a lantern which he handed to Enoch. + +"You don't think there is going to be a fight, do you?" asked the boy. +"If you do I had better go home and get my flint-lock." + +"There is no knowing what will happen," returned Zeke, with a peculiar +twist of his head. "Suppose he is in jail, and the magistrate has +brought up some of them fellows from the Margaretta to act as his +guards. I don't know that he has done it, but it is well enough to be on +the safe side. Now let us go and see the place where Caleb was arrested. +We may be able to find out something from that." + +"Now, Zeke, do be careful of yourself," said his wife, who was sitting +up in bed. + +"You never heard of Zeke being captured yet, did you?" asked Zeke. +"Well, you never will." + +Enoch, being provided with the lantern, took the lead down the sidewalk +toward the place where Caleb had struggled so hard for his freedom. +Almost the first thing he saw was the bucket which had contained the +yeast. It was thrown up on one side near the fence, and was jammed in +the side; but it was empty. + +"Here is the place where he was caught," said Zeke, taking the lantern +from Enoch's hand and carefully examining all the footprints in the soft +earth. "Now, are these constables' tracks or Tories' tracks?" + +Enoch did not know. He was all in the dark in more respects than one, +and he forbore to express an opinion. + +"Now, we will visit the jail," said Zeke, starting off with one of his +long strides which compelled Enoch to strike a trot in order to keep up +with him. "If he is in there he will come out." + +"Where are you going to get some help?" asked Enoch. + +"I do not want help. That old Tory knows me, and as soon as he knows my +voice he will open that door. Now you mind what I tell you." + +In a few minutes they ascended the steps that led to the jail, but all +was dark inside. Zeke lifted his club and pounded loudly upon the door. +It seemed as if the echoes would arouse everybody within hearing. An +answer came from the inside, but it was not such a one that suited Zeke. + +"Go away from there!" shouted a voice that was full of rage. "You are +not a constable, I know, for they do not make such a noise when they +come here. Go away, now, or I will shut you up." + +So soon as this answer was received the club fell heavier than before; +whereupon there was the creaking of a bed and the sound of bare +footsteps on the other side of the door. + +"Who's that on the outside there?" came the inquiry this time; and it +was not nearly so full of rage as it was before. + +"It is me," answered Zeke. "And if you want to see this door stay where +it is, you will open it up pretty quick." + +"Oh, Zeke, is it you? I'll open the door directly. Why didn't you tell +me who you were?" + +"Didn't I say he would open the door?" said Zeke, hitting Enoch in the +ribs with his elbow. "He knows me." + +In process of time the door came open and Zeke and Enoch stepped inside +of it. The Tory was frightened, and he grew more so as he glanced at the +club which Zeke carried in his hand. + +"What do you want here at this time of night?" asked the jailer. "I +haven't got but one with me here to-night----" + +"Give me your keys," interrupted Zeke. + +"Now, Zeke, is not that going pretty far?" asked the Tory, who was +really frightened now. "You know I haven't any right to give you my +keys----." + +"Give me your keys," said Zeke in a louder tone, at the same time +seizing the jailer by the collar with one hand while with the other he +raised his club and held it over his head. "This is the last time I +shall ask you." + +[Illustration: "Give me your keys," said Zeke.] + +"Of course if you are bound to have the keys there they are," said the +jailer, going to his bed and feeling under his pillow. "You will +remember that I give them up to you because I had to----" + +"That is all right," said Zeke, who had kept close by his side. He threw +the pillow off as the jailer felt under it, and there lay two heavy +horse pistols, of which he took immediate possession. "I will leave +these things on the other side of the way and you can easily get them +after we go away," he added, as he pushed the weapons into his pocket. +"Now let us see if our man is in here." + +"Who are you looking for?" asked the jailer. "There is not but one man +in here, and he was put in for being drunk." + +Zeke did not delay his search for what the jailer had said. He might be +telling him the truth and then again he might not. He found the key +which gave entrance into the cell-room, the doors of which were all +open with one exception, and that one confined a prisoner. Enoch and +Zeke were so surprised that they could not express themselves in fitting +language. They looked at each other for a minute or two and then Zeke +said: + +"Bussin' on it, Caleb is not here." + +"Are you speaking of Caleb Young?" asked the jailer. "I have not seen +him. I did hear that he would be here to keep company with me to-night +because he could not pay his fine which the magistrate imposed upon him, +but I have not seen him or the constable either." + +"Well, he is gone, if it will do you any good to know it," said Zeke, +thoroughly at his wits' end. "And now the next question is, Where is he? +I got that boy in a scrape, and I am bound to find him and give him up +to his mother before I quit looking for him. Enoch, where is he?" + +"Have you got through with your business here?" asked Enoch in reply. +"If you have let us go. I will tell you what I think of Caleb's +disappearance when we get outside." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A PLAN THAT DID NOT WORK. + + +"Good riddance to bad rubbish," soliloquized the jailer, as he stood in +his door and saw Enoch and Zeke cross the way and place his horse +pistols close against the fence. "I kinder reckoned on seeing Caleb here +to-night, but I am glad he didn't come. That magistrate has arrested him +for not paying his fine, but where is he? Go your way," he added, +shaking his fist at Zeke, who was hurrying down the street engaged in an +earnest conversation with his young friend. "It won't be long before I +will have you here, too." + +"Now, Enoch, where is he?" said Zeke, after he had placed the horse +pistols where their owner could easily find them. "He is not in jail; we +know that for a fact." + +"No, but he is shut up all the same," replied Enoch. "If we don't find +him to-morrow the next thing we shall hear of him he will be safe in New +York." + +"Bussin' on it, what do you mean?" inquired Zeke, profoundly astonished. +"Who is going to take him to New York?" + +"The Margaretta." + +"Whoop!" yelled Zeke. "I can't make head nor tail of what you are +saying." + +"The magistrate and Mr. Howard have gone to work and had him arrested," +said Enoch, confidently. "They know he would be rescued if he was put in +jail, and so they have taken him aboard that schooner." + +Zeke stopped in his walk and held the lantern up and looked searchingly +into Enoch's face. He saw nothing there but an expression of pain, and +he knew that Enoch was in earnest in all that he said. + +"And when they get him to New York are they going to put him in jail +until that fine is paid?" asked Zeke. + +"I believe that is what they mean to do. I wonder why they don't take +him to Boston; but then I suppose the schooner is not going that way." + +Zeke lowered his lantern and resumed his walk with his eyes fastened on +the ground. Enoch did not interrupt him, for he knew that he was +meditating on something. + +"Well, then, there is not anything more that we can do to-night," said +he. "I believe you have hit the truth on the head. Now you go home and +let your mother see that you did not run into any traps while you were +gone. I'll go and see Mrs. Young, and tell her that her boy will be all +right to-morrow. You will be on hand when you hear that cheer?" + +"Yes, and I will be on hand no matter whether I hear it or not. If Caleb +goes to New York I am going to go, too. I will be around when you take +those men out of their seats in church." + +Zeke did not say anything in reply. He was thinking too busily. He +raised and lowered his lantern three times in succession, just as a +man-of-war does when she meets one of our vessels at sea, and hurried +off. Enoch watched him until he saw him go into Mrs. Young's gate, and +then turned toward his home. + +"It come onto me all of a sudden and so I spoke it out," said he, to +himself. "It is the neatest thing I ever heard of. If he had been in +jail we would have had him sure, for I never saw Zeke so mad as he was +when he held that club over that jailer's head. I wish I could get just +one word to Caleb. He would know that folks were suffering here on +account of his long absence." + +It did not take long for Enoch to explain the situation to his mother +when he got home. Mrs. Young had gone away before he came, for she kept +thinking that Caleb would get away somehow and that he would come home +and find her gone. + +"She need not have worried on that score," said Enoch, when his mother +explained this to him. "He is in the brig on board that schooner, and he +will stay there until we capture the officers to-morrow. Good night, +mother, I guess I will go to bed." + +This was all an excuse on Enoch's part. He went to bed, but not to +sleep. He felt as many an old soldier feels on the night preceding a +heavy battle. He knew that he had to take chances of coming out +uninjured, and the thought of what those dear to him might say and feel +if he should fall, effectually banished sleep from his eyes. Not once +did he close his eyes in slumber, but he was up at the first peep of day +and engaged in building a fire. It might be the last fire that he would +ever set to cook his own breakfast with, but his mother did not see any +traces of misgiving on his part. He greeted her with his regular morning +kiss, and went about his duties as he always did; but his ears were +sharply tuned to catch that cheer which he knew would be sounded before +night. + +"Now, mother," said Enoch, when nine o'clock was drawing near and the +dishes had all been washed and put away, "I guess I will go down to the +wharf and see what is going on there. If Caleb is aboard that boat he +has got to come off. What would I do if that fellow was in a New York +jail? The magistrate fined him that much on purpose. It is more money +than Caleb ever saw." + +"Be careful, my son, that you don't get into trouble yourself," said his +mother. + +This was all the parting that took place between them. Enoch went +without his gun, for he did not want to attract attention, as he would +have done if he had had the piece on his shoulder. More than that, Zeke +had not told him to bring anything with him, and he concluded that +there would be enough men on hand to arrest all the officers who came +ashore to church. Before he had left his home fairly out of sight he +found Zeke loafing about on a corner. It was not often that Zeke spent +his time in that way. He was generally going ahead as if he had some +business to attend to. + +"Good morning," said Enoch, as soon as he came within speaking distance. +"You see I have not brought my gun with me." + +"That's all right," said Zeke. "Are you going to help take those fellows +out of the church? All right again. Now I am here, and O'Brien and +Wheaton are on the other corners, to stop everybody that is on our side +and tell them not to show themselves about the church until after the +officers get safely in. Then when you see us three moving up, you can +come too." + +"Have you heard anything about Caleb?" + +"No, sir, not a thing. You hit it right last night the first time +trying. He is aboard that boat." + +"Now, Zeke, you must capture that boat the first thing you do," said +Enoch, earnestly. "I did not go near his house this morning because I +did not want to see his mother." + +"I have been up there, and she had her book open and was reading it. She +seems to find a great deal of comfort in that book. Now you slip around +behind some of these houses, but be sure that you keep me in sight. I +will tell you when the proper time comes." + +"And when that time does come remember that you don't stop for anything. +My friend is on board that boat." + +Zeke smiled but said nothing. He did not have his club in his hand, but +he felt as confident as though he had it. Enoch obeyed orders and +sauntered out on a street which led him away from all sight of the +church and the Margaretta; but he took care to keep Zeke's figure in +sight. He found some other men there, too, who were there with the same +object that he was, and one and all knew that Caleb was a prisoner on +board the Margaretta. They were highly indignant over it, too, and Enoch +told himself that if they acted that way when they made the attack on +the vessel, Caleb would not remain a prisoner much longer. + +It seemed hard that, after taking so much pains to have their plans work +correctly, they should turn out a failure at last. It all happened +through the enthusiasm of that man, Zeb Short, who had been taken to +task for saying that he did not believe in fighting the schooner's +company. Zeb was true blue; there was no doubt about that. But he did +not obey the orders he had received and keep out of sight of the church. +He sauntered around through the back streets, but he came back to the +church as soon as possible, and loafed around there, watching all the +people who went in. Nobody had ever seen him go near a church before, +and consequently their curiosity was excited. But Zeb paid no attention +to that. He was going to capture those officers if it lay within his +power to do it, and if it came to a fight, why, he would be there to +lend a hand in it. + +At last the captain was seen, with his white knee-breeches, velvet coat +all covered with gold lace and his queue neatly done up behind. The +captain saw Zeb there, and for a moment stopped as if he wanted to speak +to him, but he thought better of it and passed on into the church. He +was gone but a minute and then looked cautiously out again. Where was +Zeb Short? He was some distance up the road going with all the speed he +could command toward the place where he had left O'Brien a few minutes +before. At the same time three or four other men, whom the captain knew +to be provincials, came toward the church from in front, and they were +walking as though they had business on hand. + +"It has come, and much sooner than I had expected," said the captain. +"We have got to get out of here now." + +Captain Moore stepped back into the church and closed the door behind +him. He looked in vain for the key, but it was not there, so he was +obliged to let it go unlocked. He went into the body of the church with +a quick step, and bending down he whispered some words to each officer +he came to. In an instant the officers arose and followed him. The +captain spoke to every man who belonged to his schooner, and when they +had all gotten upon their feet, he moved down the aisle toward the +preacher's desk. The latter had just gotten up to read a hymn, but he +stopped when he saw all those men coming toward him. The captain knew +his man, and forthwith stepped up and said some words to him, while an +officer who belonged to the schooner kept on ahead and hoisted one of +the windows. Then he stepped out lively, and hanging by his hands +dropped to the ground. The other members of the schooner's company +followed close behind him, the captain coming last, and the minister +closed the window after them. + +"Here we are, O'Brien," panted Zeb Short, breathing hard after his rapid +run. "They are all in. I saw the captain go in just now. Hurry up." + +"Where were you?" asked O'Brien. + +"I was down there in front of the church," said Zeb. "I wanted to be +sure that they all went in and that they did not leave anybody outside +to keep watch." + +"Were you not ordered to keep out of the way of that church?" asked +O'Brien hotly. + +"Course I was. Zeke told me to go around the back way, but I did not +stay there. We have got seven men to capture, and since Zeke told me +that there is fifteen in our party, I conclude that we are going to +take them very easily." + +"Well, you have raised a fight by your heedlessness," said O'Brien, +starting for the church. "Those men are armed, and of course they will +not give way to us. You have got to fight now whether you want to or +not." + +"I am there," said Zeb, drawing himself up to his full height. "It might +as well be on shore as on the deck of the vessel." + +"There is Zeke now, and he has got Wheaton with him," said O'Brien. "Do +not say anything to him about what you have seen, for if you do, you +will have a fight on your hands before you bargained for it." + +"For doing my duty?" exclaimed Zeb. + +"You did not do your duty. It was your place to keep out of the way of +that church, and you ought to have done it. Here comes Zeke now, and he +has got most of the fellows with him." + +"Are you all ready?" asked Zeke, as he came up. + +"All ready. We had better get into that church as soon as we can. There +are seven of them." + +Zeke raised his hand as if to intimate that that was his idea exactly, +and he started off with the full expectation that in less than five +minutes' time he and his party would have the most of the officers of +the schooner's company at their mercy. When he got within hearing of the +church he would not allow a single man to speak to him, but raised his +hand to enforce silence upon every one of them. He cast his eyes around +to see that they were all present, then with noiseless footfalls +ascended the steps and opened the door. Or, rather, he laid his hand +upon the latch and was about to turn and give his whispered +instructions: "Don't say a word to anybody but go about it quick and +still," when one of his followers happened to glance over his shoulder +and saw a sight that filled him with amazement and alarm. + +"Here, here, what's this?" he almost shouted. + +Zeke turned and about two hundred yards away he saw the officers of the +schooner, running close together so as to protect each other and going +their level best to reach the wharf. They were going at a rapid rate, +too. Zeke saw at a glance that pursuit was useless. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +DIFFERENT OPINIONS. + + +"Bussin' on it, they are gone!" exclaimed Zeke, with a disconsolate air. +"Now some one of you is a traitor. He told him what we were up to, and +he went in to get his other officers and got out of one of the windows. +Now which one of you is it?" + +If there had been a traitor in that little company who had come out to +capture the officers of the schooner's crew, Zeke did not take the +proper way to find him. He was about as angry as he could well get. He +took off his hat, slammed it down upon the ground, and glared from one +to the other of his band as if he were just aching for one of them to +declare that he was to blame for it. + +"Never mind, Zeke," said O'Brien, who was as much cut up as anybody to +find that the officers had escaped them. "There is another day coming. +Remember that we have not given that cheer yet." + +"I know that," said Zeke, picking up his hat. "But we don't want a +traitor among us when we go off to capture that schooner. No doubt he +will go to the captain and tip him the wink, and the first thing we know +she will be out at sea." + +"Let us go down and see what they are going to do," said O'Brien, +walking toward the wharf. "Perhaps they are going to stay right there." + +"I will bet you a shilling that that isn't what you would do if you was +commander of the vessel," said Zeke, falling in by the side of O'Brien +and moving along with him. "You would let the sloops go." + +"No, I would not. If I were sent here to protect them I would stay with +them until we were all captured. If the captain pulls up his anchor and +drops down the bay, he will stay there until the sloops are loaded and +ready to start." + +Zeke made no reply; he was too indignant to talk. He walked along by the +side of O'Brien, and when they came within sight of the Margaretta they +found that there was something of a commotion on board. The men were +running everywhere about the vessel in obedience to the harsh orders +which came faintly to their ears, and presently the sound of dropping +hand-spikes was heard, and a group of sailors were seen gathering about +a gun which was pointed over the town. + +"They are going to shoot at us!" shouted three or four of the men in +Zeke's company. + +"Let them shoot!" replied Zeb Short. "If we don't leave men enough +behind us to make them pay for every drop of our blood that they will +spill here to-day, we ought to be killed." + +Not a man was seen who showed a disposition to run and find a safe place +from the ball in the cannon which they knew would come flying toward +them in a minute more. They all stood up, and although there were some +pale faces among them, they waited with a dogged determination to see if +the captain was going to shoot them down. Another minute passed, and +then there was a roar aboard the schooner and something passed above +their heads so close that they felt the wind of it. Another and another +followed it, and during all this time Zeke and his men stood there on +the wharf in plain sight, resolved that they would not go until the +schooner got through firing. But not one of the balls entered the +village. They all went over it and were intended, as the sailor had +informed Caleb Young, to let the citizens of Machias see that the crew +of the Margaretta were on the alert. Finally the guns ceased firing and +the crew proceeded to secure them; and when this was done they turned +their attention to something else. The schooner was too far off for them +to hear the orders that were issued, but they saw the motions, and knew +that the vessel was getting under way. She was not going to wait for the +sloops after all. + +"Bussin' on it!" exclaimed Zeke, taking off his hat and throwing it on +the ground beside him. It seemed as if Zeke's hat was the first thing to +stand his exhibition of fury whenever he got that way. He plucked it off +and threw it as far from him as he could, and then was ready to go on +with his grievance. + +"Are they going to get under way sure enough?" stammered Enoch. + +"You have been to sea often enough to know what 'stand by the capstan' +means," retorted Zeke. "Of course she is going to get under way and let +these sloops take care of themselves. You have seen Caleb Young for the +last time." + +"Don't put too much faith in what Zeke says," said Mr. O'Brien. "That +schooner is going to get under way, but she is only going to drop down a +few miles where she can have more sea-room. Do you know that Caleb is on +board that schooner?" + +"No, sir; but he is not in jail, and I don't know where else he could +be. I believe Mr. Howard had him taken on board, too." + +"Let us go with her and see where she is going to bring up," said Zeb +Short, who felt very uneasy every time he looked at Zeke. "Perhaps we +can make her surrender." + +"Yes, you will make her surrender," said Zeke, in accents of disgust; +but all the same he arose, as the others did, and walked along toward +the point which was about three miles off. The schooner fairly beat them +in the race because she had her mainsail up by this time, and was going +ahead as fast as a four-knot breeze could send her. The men kept her in +sight until she rounded to under the point and cast anchor about a +quarter of a mile from shore. + +"Do you see that, Zeke?" said Mr. O'Brien, cheerfully. "She is going to +wait for the sloops. When they come down all ready to sail she will go +on with them to New York." + +"I am in favor of going up and getting one of the sloops and attacking +her," said Enoch, whose eyes brightened wonderfully when he saw the +Margaretta come to anchor. "We can't get her in any other way." + +"I believe the boy is right there," said Wheaton. "If we are going to +take that schooner at all, we must go out to her in some way." + +A long discussion followed on this point, some were decidedly in favor +of Wheaton's proposition and some were not. Every man had something to +say, but without coming to the point, and before long the sun began to +sink out of sight behind the hills. + +"Well," said O'Brien, jumping up and turning his face toward home, "you +have settled the matter for one day at least; but when to-morrow morning +comes you will surely hear that cheer. We will take a sloop and come +down here and capture that schooner." + +"Hear! Hear!" shouted one of the men. + +"All of you who are in favor of going with us we shall expect to see +down here," continued O'Brien. "Those of you who don't favor it, stay at +home." + +"Of course if you are going to fight the schooner, we shall go too," +said another, who could not see the beauty of taking a sloop to go out +where the schooner was and be licked. "When you give that cheer you will +find us all ready." + +"I wish you had been as ready to-day as you say you will be to-morrow +for we would have had that schooner in an hour from now," said O'Brien. +"I hope you will come prepared to do your duty." + +Zeke and his friends walked home, but they did not say much during their +journey. He and Enoch were very much disappointed, and they began to +think that the enthusiasm that some of their party had displayed was all +put on for the occasion. They had the best of reasons for believing that +Caleb was a prisoner on board that vessel, and that a few more hours +would find him safe in New York and that they would never see him again. +They were more anxious to fight now than they had ever been before; and +when Enoch parted from him at his gate, Zeke said: + +"That's what comes of postponing a dangerous thing like this. Those +fellows yesterday were all eager to fight, and you saw how some of them +backed out down there at the point." + +"You are going to take that schooner, are you not?" asked Enoch. + +"To be sure we are," said Zeke, striking his palms together. "If there +is one man left of our party, he is going to sail that boat into the +harbor." + +"I am glad to hear you say that," said Enoch, smiling and rubbing his +hands together. "The only brother I have is aboard that boat, and I am +bound to get him out if I can." + +"You keep your ears open and you will surely hear the sign," said Zeke, +impressively. "Then you come a running." + +Enoch replied that he would be there as soon as any of them, and +continued on his way toward home. On the way he was obliged to pass Mr. +Howard's house, and he saw somebody sitting on the porch whom he hoped +he might never see again. It was the boy whose father had placed Caleb a +prisoner aboard the schooner. He was sitting on the porch with his +wounded eye done up, and when he saw Enoch approaching he got up and +came down to the gate; but Enoch noticed that he did not come within +reach of it. He stopped just outside of the touch of Enoch's arm. + +"Well, Enoch, you did not get them, did you?" said he. + +"Get what?" said Enoch in reply. + +"Oh, I don't suppose you know that there was fifteen or twenty men who +went down to the church this morning to arrest the officers of the +schooner," said James, with a laugh. "I know all about it. You did not +guard the windows as well as the door, and so they slipped out. You will +have to be sharper than that if you hope to gobble Britishers." + +Enoch thought he had got all he wanted to know out of James, and turned +to go on again, but before he had made many steps James called after +him. + +"I have got something more that I want to tell you," said he. "How many +of you did they kill when they opened fire on you?" + +"They did not kill any of us. They shot over our heads just to let us +know that they were on the watch." + +"Yes; and they could have wiped you all out if they had had a mind to. +You want to go easy around that schooner, for they have got one of you +boys there in irons." + +"You know that, do you?" said Enoch. He drew cautiously up to the gate, +but James was on the watch and he stepped back a pace or two. + +"Yes, sir, I know it. The captain said he would arrest him, and he was +not with you fellows down to the church; so he must be on board the +schooner. He is going to New York, and he will find men there who are +strong enough to make him pay his fine." + +"If you will just step outside that gate for one minute I will put your +other eye in mourning, and then you will have two eyes just alike," said +Enoch, who was almost beside himself with fury. + +"No, I thank you," said James, with a laugh. "My other eye suits me +exactly. You will get yourself arrested, too, if you don't look out. +Caleb will pay his fine at the rate of a shilling a day, and that will +take him thirty days to square it all up. Thirty days shut up away from +home and friends and surrounded with men who don't like you, will teach +him a lesson." + +"Well, I will tell you one thing," said Enoch, whose pale face showed +how angry he was. "Don't let me catch you outside this gate again. And +when Caleb gets back--he will be out before the thirty days are up----" + +"He will, eh? How is he going to get out?" + +"He will get out; don't you forget it. And when he comes back, you had +better stay in the house unless you want your other eye tied up too." + +James did not say any more, for something Enoch had said had started a +serious train of reflections in his mind. He looked sharply at Enoch for +a second or two, and then turned and walked into the house, while Enoch +kept on toward home. + +"If Caleb won't lick him I will lick him myself," soliloquized the boy, +who was so excited that he could scarcely keep from going back and +assaulting James in his own dooryard. "I don't know now how I kept my +hands off him." + +"Well, what did that young rebel have to say to you?" said Mr. Howard, +as James entered the sitting-room where his father was. "Did you tell +him about Caleb?" + +"I did, and he was as saucy about it as you please," said James. "He +says that Caleb won't stay in prison for thirty days, and when he comes +out he will fix my other eye to be tied up, too." + +"He won't stay there for thirty days!" said his father. "What does he +mean by that? They can't capture the schooner, for if she sees a boat +coming out with a lot of men on board, she will slip her anchor and put +out to sea. I guess he will stay there thirty days." + +"I guess I had better stay in the house altogether," said James, with an +air of disgust. "I have made Enoch mad at me, and he will beat me if he +sees me on the streets." + +"Why don't you let him punch you?" said Mr. Howard. "Then we will have +him shut up too." + +James did not see fit to answer this question. He looked at his father +with surprise and then walked out on the porch again. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE CHEER. + + +When Enoch reached home it was pretty near night. He found his mother +there, engaged in her usual occupation of reading the book, and without +saying a word she put it down and got up and embraced her boy as though +she had not seen him for long months. + +"Why, mother, you must have thought I was in some danger," said Enoch. + +"You failed, did you not?" asked his mother in reply. + +"We failed from not surrounding the church as we ought to have done," +said Enoch, in a discouraged tone. "They went straight through the +house, hoisted the windows behind the preacher and so got away; and we +never saw them at all until they were so far away that we could not +catch them. There were seven of them there." + +"I wanted to go out when they were firing at you but I did not dare. +They must have hit some of you, of course?" + +"They did not try to hit us. They just fired over our heads, and then +got the schooner under way and dropped three miles down the bay. I +wanted that the fellows should capture one of the sloops and go out +there and take her, but they would not agree to it. Caleb is on that +boat and he is in irons, too." + +"How do you know that?" + +"James Howard told me so, and it was all I could do to keep my hands to +myself. If those men are not any braver to-morrow than they were to-day, +we will not capture the schooner." + +Enoch said this with a despairing air, as if he did not much care +whether or not the schooner were captured, and then asked his mother if +she had anything to eat. He had not had a mouthful since early that +morning and he felt the need of something nourishing. His mother replied +by serving up the dinner which she had kept warm for him, and Enoch sat +down to it with an appetite which not even the discouragements of the +day could wholly interfere with. He told his mother everything that had +happened to him since he took leave of her in the morning, including his +conversation with James Howard, and by the time he got through Mrs. +Crosby was as disgusted as he was. + +"It seems to me that by the time that schooner got under way to drop +down the bay would have been a good season to have followed her up," +said she, picking up the book again. "I am afraid that some of you are +going to get hurt to-morrow." + +"Do you believe that they will make an attack on her?" exclaimed Enoch. + +"Of course I do. Such men as Zeke and O'Brien will not let this thing go +by default." + +"I hope to goodness you're right. The first thing I do when I find +myself aboard that schooner will be to keep my eyes and ears open for +Caleb Young. I tell you I will be glad to see him." + +His mother's words put a little encouragement into his heart, but still +Enoch did not feel inclined to talk. He kept thinking of Caleb all the +while, but bedtime came at length, and he kissed his mother good night +and went off to his room. He slept, too, for you will remember that he +didn't get any slumber on the previous night. He did not know anything +more until his mother opened his door and called him to breakfast. + +"I declare, mother, I do not often let you get up and build a fire," +said Enoch, as he opened the door and walked out on the porch to wash +his hands and face. "You see--what's that?" + +Enoch paused with his hands full of soap, which he had been on the point +of rubbing on his face, and straightened up. Faint and far off, but +still distinct, came the sound for which he had been so long waiting. +Clear and loud above all came the voice of Zeke, so penetrating that +there was not another voice in the company of men that he had gathered +that could imitate him. + +"Mother, mother!" exclaimed Enoch, drying his face upon the towel. "The +cheer has come. I must be off at once." + +"You will not have time to eat any breakfast, so I will fix up a snack +for you to eat as you go along," said his mother, walking briskly to the +table. "There is a gun, my boy, that never misses its mark," she +continued, as Enoch mounted into a chair and took the old flint-lock +down from its place. "Don't you get it into any bad habits. May heaven +send you back to me safe and sound." + +There were no tears shed on either side. Enoch was going to do his duty +as any Union-loving boy might, his mother was encouraging him in it, and +both of them hoped for the best. Enoch slung on his powder-horn and +bullet-pouch, seized the bite which his mother had put up for him, and +rushed out to the gate; but he had not made many steps when he saw Mrs. +Young coming toward him. Her face was pale, but she did not act as +though she had been crying. + +"The next time you see me you will see Caleb," said Enoch, never once +slackening his pace. "He is aboard that boat and I know it. Good-by." + +"Oh, Enoch, be sure and release Caleb for me," said Mrs. Young. +"Remember he is all I have." + +"When you see me you will see Caleb, too. I shall not return without +him." + +Enoch ran along, not going half as fast as he might, for he had his +breakfast to eat on the way, and when he arrived opposite Mr. Howard's +house he saw all of the family out on the porch listening to the cheer +which every few minutes came as long and as loud as ever. Enoch was +going by without speaking to them, but hearing the sound of his +footsteps James came out to the gate and stopped him. + +"What is your hurry?" said he. "Where are you going?" + +"I have business on hand, and I can't stop to talk you," was the reply. + +"That cheer must amount to something, or you would not be in such haste +to answer it," said James. "Does it mean that all you rebels are to go +down there? There goes another," he added, pointing to a man who just +then came out of a house and started toward the wharf, carrying a +pitchfork in his hand. "You men are going to get into trouble." + +"Well, we are not the only ones who will be there," said Enoch, shouting +the words over his shoulder. + +"You think you are going to get that schooner, don't you?" yelled James, +for the rapid pace at which Enoch was traveling took him almost out of +the reach of his (James') voice. "Wait until you come back. The last +one of you will be in irons." + +We do not know whether these words reached Enoch, but if they did they +had no effect upon him. Having crowded all his breakfast into his mouth, +he carried his gun at "arms port" and ran with all speed toward the +wharf. When he came within sight of it he found that the good work was +already going on. There were thirty men there at work at one of the +sloops throwing her deck-load overboard, and on the shore were the crew, +standing motionless with their arms folded as if they were prisoners. +The first man to discover Enoch was O'Brien, who, with his coat and hat +off, was busily engaged with the others in unloading the sloop. + +"Here you are," said he. "Go up there and take the place of one of those +men as guards of the prisoners, while the man you relieve comes here and +helps throw off this lumber. You have got a gun. Is it loaded?" + +"No, sir; but I can very soon put a load in," replied Enoch. "I will +wager that it will stop any Tory inside of two hundred yards," he added, +stepping up alongside of a man who stood there with a club in his hand. +"How long has this thing been going on?" + +"We have but just commenced," said the man. "When I came down here they +were just bringing these men off as prisoners." + +"Are we going to take the sloop and go out and capture that schooner?" + +"That is the intention." + +"Well, Mr. O'Brien told me to take your place here now, and you go and +help unload that lumber. I have got a gun, and there's a bullet that +will hit anything that tries to get away from me." + +He held up the bullet so that all the sailors could see it, and then +pushed it home. Then he took up his powder-horn and proceeded to "cap" +his piece, which he did by pouring a lot of powder into the chamber. +Then he brought down the slide, pushed his hat back and was ready for +some prisoner to try to escape. + +"You fellows are going to get licked as sure as the world," said one of +the captives. "You can't take that schooner." + +"What makes you think we are going to try?" asked Enoch. + +"That is where you are going with that sloop. There will be some troops +up here directly, and then you will all go in jail." + +"Well, you won't have to go with us to keep us company," said Enoch, +with a laugh. + +"You are mighty right I won't," said the man, with something that +savored of a threat in his tones. "I am on the side of England every day +in the week. She will brush you rebels off on one side----" + +"Hold on!" exclaimed Enoch, bringing his gun to a "ready." "You must not +talk that way while I am about. When we come back we will be on board +that schooner." + +The man muttered something under his breath and then relapsed into +silence; while Enoch turned his eyes toward the sloop to see how far +they had progressed toward unloading her. The lumber was tumbled off any +way, some going overboard into the bay and the rest being piled up +helter-skelter on the wharf, and finally Zeke raised his voice and +shouted-- + +"All you men who are going off with us to capture that schooner come on +board here." + +"Does that mean me?" asked Enoch. + +"Yes, everybody. Come on." + +"What shall we do with the prisoners?" + +"Let them go where they please," answered Mr. O'Brien. "They can't +hinder us." + +"Now mark my words, sonny," said the man who had been talking to him a +few moments before. "I haven't got anything against you, but I really +wish you would not go off with that sloop. You are going to be killed, +the last one of you." + +"We will not be the first men who have fallen before British bullets," +said Enoch, shouldering his gun and starting for the sloop. "Look at the +ones the redcoats killed at Lexington. We are going to have revenge for +that." + +When Enoch got aboard the sloop he found O'Brien at the wheel and Zeke +was ordering the lines hauled in. After that the mainsail and jib were +hoisted--that was the only two sails she had--a shove was given at the +bow while the stern-line held on, and as soon as the wind took the +canvas she moved silently away from the wharf. She seemed to know that +she was going on a dangerous mission, for not even her blocks creaked +as the sailors pulled at the ropes. + +"Well, Enoch, you are here, are you not?" exclaimed a voice at his +elbow. "You have got your gun all handy, too." + +"Yes, but where is yours, Zeke?" said the boy. "You haven't got +anything." + +"Yes, I have," said the man, pulling out his club from behind him. "If +ever this falls on a Tory's head it is my opinion that he will see +stars." + +By this time the sloop was squared around with her bow pointed toward +the sea and, contrary to the expectation of her company, she took a bone +in her teeth and settled down to an exhibition of speed that surprised +everybody. They were sure of one thing: The schooner must go faster than +they had ever seen her go before in order to escape. + +"But perhaps she won't depend on her speed," said Enoch, when somebody +made use of this remark close at his elbow. "Perhaps she will stay and +fight it out." + +"I hope she will," was the reply; and the man showed a pitchfork which +he had brought to assist in whipping the schooner's company. "If one of +them gets a prod with this he will know what hurt him." + +"Now I want all you men to gather here amidships where I can see you. I +have something to say to you." + +He spoke in a loud voice, and when Enoch turned to see who it was, he +found Wheaton standing near the main-mast with his hat off. None of the +men knew what there was pending, and one of them inquired, as he moved +over to Wheaton's side-- + +"What's up?" + +"I will tell you right away," said he. "Thus far in this business we +have got along without a leader. We have agreed to everything that +anybody had to propose, because we thought his proposition the best; but +now we are coming to a point where we need a single mind to direct us. +There is one man I have in mind who has done more to assist us in a +quiet way than anybody else, and if you don't care I will propose him +for our captain from this time on. I will nominate Mr. O'Brien. Those in +favor of it will manifest it by saying 'Aye!'" + +"Aye!" burst from a score of throats. + +There was no need of calling for the nays on this question. As soon as +Zeke heard the vote, he elbowed his way through the crowd and took off +his hat and made a very low bow to his newly appointed commander. Then +he laid his hand on the wheel, which O'Brien readily gave up to him. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE CHASE. + + +When O'Brien gave up his wheel to Zeke he also took off his hat and +moved a step or two nearer to his men. Then followed an outcry from the +crew which anybody has heard who has been tempted to attend a political +meeting in America, to-wit-- + +"Speech, speech!" chorused all hands! + +"I have not much to say to you beyond this," said the captain. "We have +come out here to capture that schooner, and we are not going back with +that flag flying at her peak." + +"Hear, hear!" shouted Zeb Short. + +"We haven't got any guns, so we will run afoul of her and board her the +first good chance we get," continued the captain. "If any man tells you +that he surrenders--I never expect to hear any such cry from any man now +before me--let him go and help him up and treat him as you would like +to be treated if you were a prisoner. When we get aboard that boat, if +none of her company pull down her flag, Wheaton is the man to attend to +it. He proposed this thing, has suggested me for captain and he ought to +have the privilege of handling the flag. That ensign has floated the +'mistress of the sea' and I don't believe that any body of men has ever +pulled it down before. We will show them before we get through with them +that it can't stand up before a 'flock of Yankees.'" + +The cheers which greeted this little speech seemed to have raised the +sloop fairly out of the water. When she came down again she settled to +her work and went ahead faster than ever. By this time she had rounded +the point of land behind which the schooner had run for safety the day +before, but to the surprise of everybody her berth was empty. The +schooner during the night had pulled out and chosen another place of +refuge. It looked as though she had abandoned the sloops and left them +to watch out for themselves. + +"Well, Zeke, what do you think of this?" asked Captain O'Brien, seeking +advice of his steersman. That was not exactly the proper thing to do, +but this was a household matter, everybody in the village was bent on +capturing the schooner, every man in his crew knew as much about +handling a vessel as he knew himself, and he did not see why he +shouldn't go for help where he was most likely to get it. + +"They are afraid of us, Cap," replied Zeke. "There isn't any other place +that I know of where she can run for refuge, except it is that little +harbor about five miles up the bay. She may have gone in there." + +"Why, she could not get in," replied the captain. "She draws too much +water." + +"She can go in there if the tide is up, and she will have to come out +pretty soon or we will catch her, sure," said Zeke. "If I was you I +would go up and take a look at that place." + +The crew had by this time found out that the schooner's berth was empty, +and they all crowded around their captain to see what he thought about +it. Contrary to the custom in these days, the captain explained his +movements when he brought the sloop about and headed her up the bay, +and the men all agreed that that was the place to find her. + +Up to this time Enoch had found so much else to occupy his mind that he +had not thought to take notice of the crew, but he proceeded to do it +now; and the conclusion he came to was that the schooner was never in so +dangerous a position as she was at that moment. There were thirty of the +company, as we have said, and upon the face of every one Enoch saw an +expression of calmness, not unmixed with firmness, which showed that +they were fully alive to a sense of the peril they were about to +encounter. There were no signs of giving up. They had come out there +with a purpose in view, and that purpose must be accomplished before +they went back. Everybody expected, to quote from Caleb Young, that +there would be mourning in Machias when they got through, but every one +hoped that _he_ would get through. Remember that they had no discipline, +they knew nothing of that 'shoulder to shoulder' drill which caused men +to do their duty wherever they may be, but they simply went into it to +let those men, who had been engaged at Lexington, see that they were +not the only ones who believed in nipping British tyranny in the bud. + +"I believe we are going to capture that schooner," said Enoch, moving +aft till he could talk to the man at the wheel. + +"Oh, you do, do you?" said Zeke, letting go of the wheel with one hand +and pushing his hat on the back of his head. "Course we are. If you see +anybody in this crew who dares to say that we ain't a-going to capture +her, just take him by the scuff of the neck and drop him overboard. He +ain't got any business to travel in this party." + +When they had accomplished about two miles and a half of the distance +they had to sail, an electric spark seemed to shoot through all the +company when somebody descried the schooner coming out of that harbor +and drawing a bee-line for sea. Captain Moore had not neglected to take +particular pains to insure the safety of his vessel. The tops of her +masts were higher than the surrounding headlands, and the first thing he +did when he came to an anchor there, was to send a man up to the +mast-head to act as lookout. He saw the sloop when she was coming out +of the harbor of Machias, and forthwith informed the deck; whereupon an +officer ascended to his side, and with a glass distinctly made out the +company of hostile men on board of her, and he could even see the guns +and pitchforks with which they were armed. Captain Moore instantly saw +that he must not be caught in that narrow harbor, for if he was, his +capture was certain. He must slip his anchor and get to sea; and the +sloop's company saw her when she was two miles and a half away. A cheer +long and loud greeted her appearance, and Zeke, who had been crowding +the sloop all along so that a man standing in her lee rail could have +dipped up a cup of water at any time, strove, if possible, to crowd her +still more. The sloop responded nobly, and seemed to have reserved some +of her speed for just this occasion, for she went ahead faster than +ever. + +"I tell you, boy, it is coming now," said Zeke, and for fear that his +hat might bother him he took it off and pitched it overboard. "We will +soon see how much pluck they have got." + +To Enoch, had the contest been a friendly one, it would have been worth +going miles to see the race between those two vessels. It seemed +strange, too, for an armed boat to run away from a vessel that had +nothing bigger than a flint-lock aboard of her, but the thought of what +was in store for them should they succeed in coming up with the schooner +brought many an anxious face. But there was no sign of backing out. The +men having had their cheer out began stripping themselves, and in a +little while Enoch could see nothing but sailors with a pair of overalls +on. Everything else had been discarded, and the men lay along the rail +and waited for Zeke to lay her alongside. + +"I just wish we had another sail," said Captain O'Brien, closely +watching the distance between the two vessels. "I am afraid she is going +to get away from us, but I will follow her clear to England before I +will give her up." + +"No need of doing that," said Zeke, crowding the sloop until a wave came +in over the starboard bow. "She is gaining a little--a little, to be +sure, but you will be aboard of her in less than two hours." + +For an hour the schooner and sloop remained about the same, one trying +her best to escape, and the other striving by every means in her power +to lessen the distance between the two. Captain O'Brien kept a close +lookout with his glass, and finally uttered an exclamation indicative of +surprise and joy. + +"Captain Moore knows that the jig is nearly up," said he, passing his +glass to one of his men. "He is going to cut away his boats." + +Another cheer broke out from the men who heard this, but they kept watch +of the schooner, and very shortly saw, one of her boats fall into the +sea. Another and another followed it, until four boats, which were just +so much dead weight on the schooner, were following in her wake behind +her. Up to this time the sloop had gained half a mile, but before she +had gained a mile, Captain O'Brien, who had the glass again, told his +men something else. + +"They are going to shoot," said he. "All you men forward lie down." + +This was what the captain was afraid of. The schooner could bring one +gun to bear upon her, and if she kept up the shooting long enough, she +might hit the sloop's mast and that would end the chase in a hurry. But +the schooner did not shoot right away. She wanted to be sure that her +pursuer was in good range before she expended a shot upon her, and so +beyond training the gun the crew stood about awaiting the order from the +captain to fire. + +"He is going to make sure work of us when he does shoot," remarked Zeke, +as he looked up at the sails to see that they were kept full. "I wish he +would go a little bit faster--Hal--lo! That's in our favor." + +While Zeke was talking there came a sudden gust of wind, stronger than +any that had preceded it, and the schooner's main-topsail went by the +board. Of course that did away with two sails, the main gaff-topsail and +the main trysail, and her speed was lessened materially. The sloop began +to gain at once, and while a portion of the schooner's crew went aloft +to clear away the wreck, the rest gathered about the gun and seemed +disposed to risk a shot at the sloop. + +"Lie down forward!" said Captain O'Brien, sharply. "You don't obey +orders any better than a merchantman's crew. Some of you will have your +heads blown off directly." + +Some of the company obeyed and some did not; but the moment there was a +puff of smoke from the schooner's stern they laid themselves out flat on +deck. + +"It is no use telling us to lie down for such shooting as that," said +one of the crew, raising himself on his knees and looking aft to see +where the shell exploded. "I would stand in front of a barn door and let +them shoot at me all day." + +"They have not got the range yet," said Captain O'Brien. "And besides +they want to scare us." + +"There is some men in this party who don't scare," replied Zeke, trying +to crowd his vessel a little more. + +"I know that. I should be sorry to think that any of us would scare; but +they will get the range pretty soon, and you will see blood on this +deck." + +Shot after shot continued to pour upon the sloop from the stern gun of +the schooner, and every one exploded nearer her than the preceding one. +Finally a shot passed through her mainsail, leaving a big rent behind +it, and before the crew had fairly comprehended it, another came, +passed through the port rail and exploded just as it got on deck. What a +moment that was for Enoch! He lay right where he could see the effect of +the shell, and two of the men jumped to their feet, gasped for a moment +or two and then fell prostrate back again, and one other man set up a +shriek. + +"I have got it, boys, and we have not got a doctor aboard," said he, in +a voice that sounded as though there were tears behind it. "Now what am +I going to do?" + +"Hold your jaw for one thing," said another, sitting up and beginning to +pull up his overalls. "Do you think there is no body hurt but yourself? +Look at that." + +This man was much more to be pitied than the other one, for a piece of +shell had cut his calf entirely away; while the one that made so much +fuss about it had simply a crease on the top of his head. The second one +made all haste to get below, while the other accepted some pieces of the +shirt which Captain O'Brien speedily took off for him and coolly +proceeded to tie up his wound. + +"Say, Cap, I can stop that fellow shooting that gun," said one of the +crew. "I can take his head off easy enough." + +"Take it off then," said the captain. + +All became silent expectation as the sailor crept up to a convenient +place behind the bulwarks, rested his long flint-lock over it and drew a +bead on several men who were working about the gun on the schooner's +deck. One man was engaged in swabbing out the gun. He had run the swab +in, took it out and was rapping it on the edge of a bucket to get off +any particles of fire that might adhere to it, when the flint-lock +spoke. The man stood for an instant as if overcome with astonishment, +then dropped his swab, threw his arms over his head and sank out of +sight. + +"I did it, Cap, didn't I?" shouted the sailor, who, like all the rest, +was surprised at the accuracy of his discharge. + +Enoch was greatly excited at the outcome of this shot, so much so that +he got upon his feet. He told himself that if one flint-lock would +strike a man at that distance another might do it, too, and when the man +fell he ran forward and knelt beside the sailor who had performed such a +wonderful exploit. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +HAULING DOWN THE FLAG OF ENGLAND. + + +"Ah! you have come with an old flint-lock, have you?" said the +sharpshooter as Enoch knelt beside him. "Do you think you can hit one of +those Britishers working about that gun? Now look here: Sight your gun +right there," he continued, making a mark with his thumb nail across the +barrel. "Of course if they were in any reasonable distance that would +throw the ball away over their heads; but we don't want to kill them so +much as we want to scare them. Now try it at that." + +Enoch drew up his flint-lock and one to have seen him would have thought +that he meant to shoot at the cross-trees. Just then a Britisher ran +forward with a cartridge in his hand to insert in the gun, but Enoch was +waiting for him. The flint-lock roared, and the man stopped, dropped his +cartridge to the deck and hurried aft holding his right hand as if he +were very tender of it. The old sailor had made his sights just right. + +"That's the way to do it," he exclaimed, stopping in his progress of +driving a ball home long enough to pat Enoch on the head. "Throw the +balls about their ears. That will frighten them even if it does not hurt +them, and what we want is to keep them from firing that gun. Now let me +see if I will have as good luck as I did before." + +"That is to pay him for capturing Caleb," said Enoch. "I wish I knew +where he is now. I don't want to send my bullets into the hull for fear +that I will hit him." + +The sailor tried it again and with just as good fortune as he had the +previous time. Another Britisher caught up the cartridge and was going +to put it into the gun, but he also dropped it and lay on the deck where +he had stood. By this time all the sloop's men who had guns were +congregated in the bow, and before they had all fired one round the gun +was deserted. + +"I knew we would put a stop to that," said the man who had fired the +first shot. "Hold her to it, Zeke. We are gaining on her." + +But Captain Moore was not yet whipped. He had three guns on a broadside +which had not yet come into play, and all of a sudden his sails were let +out and the schooner veered around to bring them into action. Before he +had got fairly into position three flint-locks roared and two men +dropped, one dead and the other seriously wounded. But the captain took +up the position he wanted all the same, and the order to fire came +distinctly to Enoch's ears. He thought he had never heard such a roar +before as those little guns made when they were turned loose on the +sloop. He thought his time had come, and held his breath expecting every +instant to be his last. But the shells all flew wild. Not one of them +came near the sloop. The provincials straightened up and fired three +more bullets at the men who worked the guns, but the schooner was so +obscured by the smoke of her cannons that they could not see what havoc +they had made. + +During this maneuver on the part of the pursued, the sloop had gained +amazingly, and now they were within earshot of the Britishers. Thinking +to avoid the further effusion of blood by prolonging the fighting +Captain O'Brien called out-- + +"Do you surrender?" + +"No!" returned Captain Moore's voice. "We will surrender when the last +plank goes down." + +And Captain Moore showed that he was in earnest. Almost with the words +he lighted a hand-grenade which he carried in his arms, and threw it +toward O'Brien. It did not come half way to the sloop but it exploded +with stunning force and gave the provincials some idea of what was in +store for them. + +"Bring us alongside, Zeke," exclaimed Captain O'Brien, so impatient that +he could not stand still. "If you can not manage her let somebody else +go to the wheel." + +"Bussin' on it, captain, I am doing the best I can," replied Zeke, +working the wheel back and forth as if he hoped in that way to get some +more speed out of her. "She will be alongside in five minutes." + +But those five minutes were a long time to wait. The flint-locks were in +close range now, and every time one of them spoke some body on the +Britisher's side went down. It did not seem as though they had men +enough to stand such a fusilade. Captain O'Brien was standing there with +a rope in his hand, and when he had got it all coiled up he stepped over +and took his place among the men who had flint-locks in their hands. + +"Now, boys, protect me," said he. "Whenever our boat comes near enough I +am going to catch the schooner and lash them fast. Enoch, go back and +pick off the man at the wheel." + +The boy started at once and without making any reply. He kept along +close under the rail to be out of range of any one who was watching him +from the schooner's deck, and when he came within sight of Zeke he was +horrified to find him with his face all covered with blood. + +"Oh Zeke, they have hit you," exclaimed Enoch. + +"Don't I know that?" replied the wheelman, who stuck to his work as +though there was nothing the matter with him. "But as long as they do +not get me down I am going to stand up. Do you see that man alongside +the schooner's wheel? Well he is the one that shot me." + +Enoch took just one glance at the schooner and saw that the man referred +to had just loaded his pistol and was now engaged in priming it. He cast +frequent glances toward Zeke and grinned at him the while as if to tell +him that his second shot would go to the mark; but he did not take +notice of Enoch who, kneeling down behind the rail, brought his gun to +bear on him. It spoke almost immediately, and the man dropped his +pistol, turned part way around and sank down lifeless where he stood. + +"There!" exclaimed Zeke. "That was a good shot. Now see if you can get +that man at the wheel. That will leave her without any guiding hand, and +before she can bring another man to helm I may be able to come up with +her." + +"I was sent here for that purpose," said Enoch, rolling over on his back +and reaching for his powder-horn. "I am going to pick off every man they +send there." + +In a few minutes the gun was ready, after trying in vain to retain his +hold of the spokes, the steersman went down in a heap. Of course the +schooner came into the wind, and Zeke uttered a yell as she veered round +broadside to the sloop; and in a moment more there was a rush of men +from the deck and Enoch and Zeke were standing alone. + +"Boarders away!" shouted Captain O'Brien, as he made the two vessels +fast together. "Now, boys, show what you're are made of." + +Zeke released his hold of the wheel, and caught up his club which stood +beside him where he could get his hands upon it at a moment's warning; +he cleared the rails of the vessels without using his hands, and Enoch +lost sight of him in the fracas. Somehow, Enoch could not have told how +it happened, he was close at his heels when he reached the schooner's +deck, and between using his gun as a club to fell a man to the deck and +making use of it as a parry to ward off a blow that somebody aimed at +his head, he did not know anything more until he heard a voice exclaim +in piteous accents: + +"I surrender! I surrender!" + +"Who is that?" shouted Captain O'Brien. "Do you all surrender? If you +do, throw down your weapons." + +[Illustration: The Capture of the Schooner.] + +There was a sound of dropping hand-spikes and cutlasses, and in an +instant there was silence on the deck. The smoke of the hand-grenades +with which the boarders had been greeted floated away after a while, and +then the provincials were able to see what they had done and how great +was the number of men that they had to mourn. Enoch was astounded. It +did not seem possible for him to step in any direction without treading +upon the body of friend or foe. The two bodies of men opposed to each +other were about thirty on a side, and at least half that number were +lying on the deck dead, or wounded so badly that they could not get up. +He looked everywhere for Captain Moore, and finally found him with a +saber-cut in his side. His first action had proved his death. + +"Now the next thing is Caleb," said Enoch, starting toward the gangway +to go below. "I hope that nothing has happened to him." + +Enoch did not want to go on talking to himself in this way, for +something told him that he might find his friend Caleb cold in death. +He knew where the brig was and hurried down to it, and on the way he +found half a dozen men who were wounded and the doctor and his assistant +attending to their wants. It was a horrible sight, and Enoch turned away +his head that he might not see it. A few steps brought him to the brig, +and there was a hand stuck out to grasp his own. It was Caleb sure +enough, and no signs of a wound on him. He was as jolly and full of fun +as ever. + +"Enoch, old boy, I knew you would not rest easy until you had got me," +said Caleb. "Put it there." + +"Are you not hurt a bit?" asked Enoch. He almost dreaded to ask the +question for some how he seemed to think that no living boy could come +out of that fight without being desperately wounded. Enoch did not stop +to think of himself. He appeared to know that he was going to come out +all right. + +"Open the door and let me out," repeated Caleb, taking hold of the +grating in front of him and shaking it with all his strength. "I have +been in here long enough." + +"Who has got the key?" asked Enoch. "If I can't find the key I shall +have to chop the grating down." + +"Do you know the boatswain?" + +Enoch shook his head. + +"Well, he is the one that has the key, and you will have to find him in +order to get it. Say!" said Caleb, seizing his friend by the arm and +pulling him up close to him. "I ought to 'start' that fellow. He was +going to be awful mean to me if we had started for New York. Why don't +you go and get the key?" + +Enoch went but he did not know where he was going to find the boatswain. +At the head of the gangway he met a Britisher coming down with his arm +in a sling, and he asked him if he could show the man to him. + +"Yes, I can," said the sailor. "He has gone to Davy's locker sure. I'll +bet he won't start me any more. Come on and I will show him to you." + +Enoch followed him to the deck and there, where the British had gathered +to meet the boarders from the sloop and but a little way from his +captain, lay the boatswain with an ugly thrust from a cutlass near his +heart. By feeling of his pockets on the outside Enoch soon discovered +his bunch of keys, and he soon had possession of them. + +"You will not get a chance at that boatswain on this trip," said Enoch, +as he proceeded to open the door. "He has gone where he can't hurt you +nor anybody else by 'starting' him. He is killed." + +He opened the door and Caleb fairly jumped into his arms. After they had +embraced each other for a minute or two Caleb asked after his mother. + +"Of course she felt very bad to know that you had been taken prisoner, +but she did not cry," said Enoch. "I told her that when I came back +to-night I should fetch you with me, and I am going to keep my promise." + +"Let us go on deck and see how things look up there," said Caleb. "You +had a lively time taking this boat. I never heard such a roar as these +guns made." + +If Caleb, when he was down below, thought things were lively, what must +he have thought when he came out of the gangway and saw the number of +men that had been killed and wounded during the fight! Almost the first +man he saw was Captain Moore. + +"How many men did you have on each side?" he asked in astonishment. "Did +you shoot that old flint-lock of yours?" + +"I did, but I shot to maim, not to kill. I couldn't do it. No doubt they +would have used me worse than we will them, but you see they did not get +the chance. There's Wheaton pulling down the flag. Let us go up and hear +what he has to say." + +The flag was already down and Wheaton was folding it up tenderly to +carry it under his arm. Probably if it had been an American flag and the +victory had been the other way, there would not have been so much +attention shown it by the Britishers who pulled it down. Wheaton shook +Caleb by the hand, asked him how he had fared as a prisoner in the power +of the enemies of his country and said as he gathered up the flag-- + +"Captain O'Brien says that this is the first time this flag has ever +been hauled down by a foe to England. She has made everybody strike to +her, but _she_ has struck to nobody. It would not have been pulled down +now if she had treated us right. She will find before she gets through +with it that a little flock of Yankees, to which her troops came so near +to surrendering at Lexington, are as good as they make them. We have met +them, man for man, and whipped them all." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +AFTER THE BATTLE. + + +"There, sir," said Captain O'Brien, drawing a long breath of relief and +patting with his hand the British flag which Wheaton carried under his +arm, "the Yankees have done the work. But there will be mourning when we +get back to Machias. Who would have thought that those Britishers would +have fought so desperately." + +"Captain, they had guns, you know, and we had nothing heavier than +flint-locks. Who would have thought that our men would have fought so +desperately to accomplish an object? I tell you that each man deserves +three hearty cheers to pay him for what he has done." + +The fight was over, but now the dead and wounded had to be taken care +of. After a short consultation with Wheaton and Zeke the captain decided +that all the wounded men should be taken on board the schooner where +there was a doctor and his assistant to take care of them, and all the +prisoners were to go on board the sloop. + +"You will have to stay aboard here with me and let the doctor look after +your wound, Zeke," said the captain. "It is bleeding fearfully." + +"Bussin' on it, I won't do it," said Zeke, earnestly. "As soon as I get +some water to wash this blood off I will be all right. I stood at the +helm of that sloop when she overhauled the schooner, and I am going to +stand at her wheel when she goes into the harbor. That's a word with a +bark on it." + +Zeke turned away to hunt up a bucket to aid him in washing out his +wound. Zeb Short was there with a club in his hand, and it was covered +with blood, too. He had been listening to the words that passed between +the captain and Zeke, and was evidently waiting for a chance to put in a +word for himself. + +"Were you hit?" asked Wheaton. + +"Nary time," said Zeb, and his words and actions showed that it would +take a better man than was to be found in the schooner's company to lay +him up with a wound. "I don't believe in fighting, and for saying them +words Zeke came pretty near punching me; but when you are in for it, +why, you have got to do the best you can. How many men will you want to +guard the sloop on the way in?" + +"Let all the men who have flint-locks go aboard of her," answered the +captain, "and let them stay around the wheel with Zeke. But first you +must put all the unwounded prisoners in irons. Do you know where to find +them?" + +Zeb knew and dove down the hatchway out of sight. When he came back he +had but six pairs of irons in his hand--"not enough to go all the way +round," as he said. The prisoners who were still in a group on the +forecastle, were ordered aft, and obediently held out their hands for +the irons. Enoch and Caleb were close by watching the operation, and +when the latter came to run his eye over the men he found that there was +one of whom he had promised himself that he would say a good word if +chance ever threw it in his way. It was the man who had given him the +only bite to eat while he was in the brig. + +"There is one fellow that must not be put in irons if I can help it," +said he, making his way toward the captain. "He belongs on our side of +the house and I know it." + +Captain O'Brien listened with an amused expression on his face while +Caleb told his story, and presently beckoned to the man to come over to +where he was. + +"What business have you got to serve under the British flag?" said +Captain O'Brien. + +"I haven't got any business at all, sir," said the sailor. "I shipped on +board of that schooner because I wanted something to do. I belong on the +Hudson River a little ways from New York." + +"You are sure your sympathies are not with her?" + +"No, sir. When I saw that flag come down it was all I could do to keep +from cheering." + +"Well, you don't want any irons on you. Stand up here beside me and you +will be safe." + +Caleb and Enoch were overjoyed to hear this decision on the part of +their captain. When the sailor drew up a little behind O'Brien the boys +tipped him a wink to let him know that he was among friends. Giving +Caleb that mouthful of food was the best thing he ever did. + +When the prisoners had been ironed they were ordered aboard the sloop +and into the captain's cabin, where it was known they would be safe. To +make assurance doubly sure Enoch was stationed at the head of the +companion-way with his flint-lock for company, and Caleb stayed with +him. The wounded were then transferred on board the schooner, and her +new crew, without waiting orders to that effect, seized buckets and +brooms and went to work to clear the deck of the battle-stains. Of +course Caleb was anxious to know what had passed in the village during +his absence, and his friend took this opportunity to enlighten him. + +"I knew in a minute as soon as I found that tin bucket of yours all +jammed in, that you had been captured and taken aboard the schooner," +said Enoch. "Zeke knew it too, for I went and got him as soon as I +missed you." + +"Did you know that I was going off to New York?" asked Caleb. + +"Well, we suspected as much, but we was not sure of it until James +Howard told me of it. I wonder if there is not some way by which we can +get even with that fellow." + +"We will keep an eye on him when we get back," said Caleb, who somehow +grew angry every time James' name was mentioned in his hearing. "If he +conducts himself as any other boy would, we can't do anything with him. +They will think right away that we are down on him and anxious to be +revenged; but if he goes to cutting up those shines of his, why, then, +it will put a different look on the case." + +"Are you all ready, Zeke?" shouted Captain O'Brien, as he cast off the +rope with which the vessels were lashed together. + +"All ready, Cap," replied Zeke, hurrying aft and placing his hand upon +the wheel. + +"Then fill away in my wake. Zeb, go to the wheel. I am going as straight +into Machias as I can go." + +"I won't be far behind you. Fill away as soon as you please." + +The two little vessels were pushed apart, the wind gradually filled +their sails and they got under way for the harbor. Things looked +different to Enoch from what they did when he came out. Six of his men, +whom he had shaken by the hand every day, were dead, and nine were so +badly hurt that he did not know whether or not he was ever going to see +them again. He always thought that war was terrible, but now he was sure +of it. But there was one thing about it: He had helped save his friend +and if he had got hurt himself he would not have said a word. Every once +in a while he let go of his gun with one hand and placed his arm around +Caleb's neck as if he never meant to let him go again. + +"Say, Caleb, you don't seem to have much to do but just to stay here and +keep Enoch company," said Wheaton, who had been appointed commander of +the sloop. "I wish you would take a small rope with you and go up and +see if there is a block in that topmast. I am going to hoist this flag +there, and then our friends on shore can see how we come out." + +"Where's the rope?" said Caleb. + +The rope was passed to him and Caleb made it fast to one of his arms. +Then he settled his hat firmly on his head, went to the ratlines and in +a few moments more was at the cross-trees. From this upward he had no +ropes to assist him in climbing--nothing but twelve feet of a slippery +topmast to which he had to cling in much the same manner that a boy +would in climbing a tree. But this was no bar to Caleb; he had been sent +on such expeditions before. + +"On deck, there!" he shouted, when he had got up and placed his hand on +the mast-head. "There is a block here but no rope." + +"All right," shouted Wheaton in return. "Reeve that rope through that +you have got with you and bring it down here." + +To untie the rope from his arm, pass it through the block, twist it +securely about his hand and go down to the deck with it was easily done. +Then Wheaton began to fasten the flag to it, and presently it began to +go aloft. + +"I wish there was a union on it so that we could hoist it union down," +said Wheaton. "But it is nothing but a union jack. Whichever way you +hoist it, it is right side up." + +"Some of the people have glasses ashore and they can soon see the flag, +and they will notice that it is not on board the schooner but on board +the sloop," said Enoch. "That will show them that the vessels have +changed hands since we have been inside." + +"But I cannot get over the sorrow that will be occasioned among some of +the people when they come to hear how many men it took to make that +change," said Wheaton, who acted very different from what he did when +they went out. "I knew the Britishers would fight, but somehow I did not +think they would fight so hard." + +"I knew they would," said Caleb. "If you had been on board that schooner +you would have fought till you dropped before you would have given up." + +A loud cheer coming from the schooner's company interrupted their +conversation, and the three turned to see what was the occasion of it. +They were just entering the harbor. Captain O'Brien had taken his stand +upon the windward rail so that he could have a fair view of the shore, +and was waving his hat to the people on the wharf. The boys had no idea +that there was so great a number of folks in Machias as they saw at that +moment. They stood there, eager to find out which side had whipped, but +they dared not make a demonstration for fear that they might be cheering +the wrong persons. Even the schooner's flag at the mast-head of the +sloop did not fully remove their suspicions. They had heard the firing, +the sloop was badly cut up by the shells that had been rained upon her, +and they thought they would let the vessels come a little nearer before +they said anything. + +"You need not tell me anything about it," said James Howard, who had +come down there to hear all about the schooner's victory. "That sloop +had no cannon, and how could she be supposed to go into a fight with an +armed vessel? It is a great wonder to me that she did not sink the sloop +when she was in pursuit of her." + +"She may have run away from the sloop," said Emerson Miller. "The +schooner did not want to fight, for she knows that war hasn't been +declared yet. You let Captain Moore alone for keeping out of trouble." + +"Say!" whispered James, as with a pale face he passed his glass over to +his companion. "Just look at that man standing up there on the windward +rail. If that was Captain Moore he would have his uniform on, would he +not?" + +Emerson took the glass, and as he looked the expectant expression went +out of his face and it became as pale as death itself. The man standing +up there was Captain O'Brien, and as he watched him he took off his hat +and waved it over his head. + +"James, we are whipped!" he whispered. "That man is not Captain Moore." + +"That is just what I was afraid of. Let us go home." + +Emerson did not need any urging, but when James left the wharf he kept +him close company. They had made but a few steps when a cheer came from +the schooner, and James, glancing toward the boat, saw that that man was +still standing there and swinging his hat violently around his head. Not +satisfied with this, a cheer arose from the sloop, and there was a man +standing on her windward rail who, at that distance, looked exactly +like Wheaton. + +"We are whipped," repeated Emerson. "Now who in the world can account +for that?" James did not say anything, for he was so nearly overwhelmed +that he could not get his wits together. He hardly knew when he opened +the gate and ascended the stairs to the porch. + +Meanwhile the little vessels came gaily on. The people now were +satisfied while heretofore they had been lost in doubt, and the cheers +that went up were long and loud. The vessels were handled by +sailormen,--Zeke took command of the sloop when she approached the +wharf--and they rounded to and came up with a force that would not have +broken an egg-shell. Parties on shore caught the lines for them, and +shortly the gang-planks were pushed out so that the people could come on +board. And such a rush as there was! Caleb and Enoch wanted to get +ashore to see their mothers, but for a time there was no chance for +them. Zeke came up in the meantime, smiling and good-natured as usual, +and the boys were about to tell him to go ahead and they would follow +in his wake, when they saw him reach out his arm and stop a man who was +just coming aboard. It was the storekeeper who had acted so mean about +giving Enoch his powder a few nights ago. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +ZEKE'S EXHIBITION OF STRENGTH. + + +"Say, hold on, friend," said Zeke, reaching out his hand and laying a +grip on the storekeeper's collar. "We don't want any men like you aboard +here. That's the way ashore." + +"Who made you master of this vessel?" answered the man, thrusting Zeke's +arm aside. "The captain says the wounded men are on board this ship and +I want to see who they are. Just keep your hands to yourself." + +Zeke's whole appearance changed as if by magic. The good-natured smile +gave place to a frown, and the hand which the storekeeper had thrown +aside speedily caught its grip again, and this time it was there to +stay. With the other hand he caught the man below the waist-band, and a +moment afterward he gave a puff like a tired locomotive and the +storekeeper was swung clear of the deck. Lifting his victim until he +was at arm's length above his head he walked across the deck to the +other side, and sent him headlong into the water. It was an exhibition +of strength on Zeke's part that no one had ever seen before. He leaned +over the rail until the man's face appeared at the surface and then +shook his fist at him. + +"Now don't you wish you had gone back my way?" said he. "Swim around the +sloop and get somebody to help you out. You can't come aboard here." + +"There," said Enoch. "Ledyard is a Tory sure enough. Zeke knew it all +the time and took this way to wash some of his meanness out of him. I +will have to go to his store to get some more powder," he added, holding +up his horn so that he could see the inside of it. "I shot most of what +I had away at the Britishers who manned this schooner. Come on, Caleb. I +think we can get ashore now." + +The boys made another attempt this time and were successful. Every one +they saw on the wharf was a provincial and wanted to shake hands with +them. Of course, too, everybody wanted to know what sort of treatment +Caleb had met with at the hands of the Britishers, but the boys +answered in as few words as possible and as soon as they were out of the +crowd they broke into a run, headed for home. + +"Come in and let mother thank you for rescuing me," said Caleb, as they +stopped at his gate. "She can do it better than I can." + +"I did not have more to do with your rescue than a dozen other men who +were with me," replied Enoch. "Let me go home first and then I will come +back." + +Caleb reluctantly let his friend go, and Enoch kept on his way toward +home. He was thinking over the incidents that had happened during the +fight and which he wanted to tell for his mother's satisfaction, when he +came opposite the house in which James Howard lived. He kept on without +giving a thought to James except to wonder how he would feel to know +that the schooner, in which he had so much confidence, had been beaten +by an unarmed sloop, when he saw the boy at the gate waiting for him. +His face was very pale, but it gave place to a flush of anger when he +noticed the smile with which Enoch greeted him. He backed away from the +gate as our hero approached, and this showed that he did not mean to let +himself get within reach of a provincial's arm. + +"You think you are smart, don't you?" was the way in which he opened the +conversation. + +"Well--yes; almost anybody would think himself smart under the +circumstances," said Enoch. "We whipped them in a fair fight." + +"I do not believe it," returned James hotly. + +"I do not ask you to take my word for it, but the wharf is not but a +little way off, and you can go down and see for yourself," said Enoch. + +"We heard the firing, and we came to the conclusion that your sloop had +got sunk out of sight," said James. "But I see that the schooner brought +her back with her." + +Enoch made no reply. He wanted to see how much James knew about the +fight. + +"How many of the men were killed and wounded on your side?" continued +James, after a moment's pause. + +"About half." + +"I tell you the regulars fought, did they not? How many of them were hit +on their side?" + +"About half." + +"Do you mean to say that you killed as many of them as they did of you?" +asked James, who was plainly astonished to hear it. + +"That is what I mean to say. We boarded their vessel and pulled down her +flag----" + +"I tell you I don't believe any such stuff," shouted James, who was more +surprised the longer the story went on. "You will never get your hands +on that flag." + +"Go down and see. That is all you have got to do." + +"I will wager that Captain Moore laid some of you fellows out. Was that +he standing on the rail waving his hat to us?" + +"No, it could not have been Captain Moore. He is dead." + +"What!" James almost stammered. "Did one of you men dare to draw a +weapon on him?" + +"Yes, they did. He had weapons in his own hand----" + +"Of course he did. He was defending his vessel." + +"And we wanted to take it and we were stronger than he was." + +"If some of you don't get your necks stretched before long I shall miss +my guess," said James, walking up and down the path like a boy who had +been bereft of his senses. "You have committed piracy, every one of +you." + +"And you would be the first to grab a rope and haul us up, I suppose? +Look here, James, Caleb has got back now----" + +"Oh! Did you find him and turn him loose? Then he will not have to go to +New York to pay his fine?" + +"Not by a long shot. I found him locked in the brig and let him out." + +This news was more than James could stand. He pulled off his hat, dug +his fingers into his head and acted altogether like a boy who was almost +ready to go insane. + +"And if you are wise you and Emerson Miller will stay close about the +house," said Enoch, shifting his rifle to his other shoulder. "The first +time he catches you on the street he will have his pay for that. So you +want to watch out." + +Enoch walked on toward his home and James went into the house so +bewildered that he hardly knew which end he stood on. He found his +father in the dining-room, pacing up and down the floor with his hands +behind his back, but that terrible scowl that had come to his face when +he first heard that James had been whipped by a rebel, was not there. +His face was pale and his hands trembled. + +"Father," whispered James, as though he hardly knew how to communicate +to him the news he had just heard, "the dog is dead. Captain Moore has +been killed and the rebels have taken the schooner." + +His father fairly gasped for breath. He raised his hands above his head +as if to say that he did not want to hear any more, and then groped his +way to a lounge and sank down upon it. + +"I have just seen Enoch out there and he told me all about it," +continued James. "The firing that we heard did not hurt the sloop at +all. And the worst of it is, Caleb has been turned loose and now I have +got to stay about the house." + +"Oh Lord! Oh Lord!" groaned Mr. Howard. + +"Now have I got to stand that?" said James in a resolute tone. He was +always brave enough when he was in his own house and a perfect coward +when he got out of it. Perhaps his father could think of some other way +to get rid of Caleb and of Enoch, too. + +"Am I, a good, loyal friend of the King, and ready to go into a fight +for him this minute, to be shut up in the house just because I say that +those men, every one of them, had ought to have their necks stretched to +pay them for what they have done?" continued James. "There must be some +way in which we can get the start of those rebels." + +"I don't really see what you can do," said Mr. Howard. "The rebels are +stronger than we are, and I guess both of us will have to stay in the +house from this time on. Such a thing was never heard of before. +Thirteen little colonies getting up a rebellion in the face of the +King!" + +"But there must be some way out of it?" + +"Of course there is. Let the King send over an army to whip the rebels +into submission. But before that thing can happen they may work their +sweet will of us. I don't know any better way that we can do but to pack +up and go to New York." + +"And leave this beautiful place to the rebels?" exclaimed James. "I tell +you I should hate to do that." + +"I don't know what else we can do. We shall be among friends there, and +can say what we think without some paltry little rebel telling us that +we had better keep our mouths shut. But go away and leave me alone for a +while, James. The news you have brought to me almost drives me crazy. Do +you _know_ that Captain Moore has been killed?" + +"All I know about it is what Enoch told me. He said that the captain had +weapons in his hand, but that the attacking party was too strong for +him. He was the best man that ever lived, too, and I tell you it would +give me joy to have hold of one end of a rope while the other was fast +around the necks of those people." + +"Be careful that you don't say that where anybody can hear it," said his +father. "The rebels are in high feather now that they have got a +victory, and they would be right on hand for something desperate." + +Mr. Howard settled himself into a comfortable position on the lounge and +James, taking this as a hint that his presence was no longer desirable, +picked up his cap and walked out on the porch. + +"I wish I dared go down to the wharf," said he. "But if I do that Caleb +Young will be out, and there's no telling what he will do to me. I wish +somebody would come along and give me some news of that fight." + +But James waited a long time before he got it. Enoch and Caleb were at +home and holding their mothers spellbound with the various incidents +that transpired before their sight, while James walked up and down the +porch feeling as though he did not have a friend in the world. He looked +in vain for Emerson Miller, but that worthy, who probably knew or +suspected that Caleb Young had been found and released by this time, was +not at all anxious to be seen in James's company and wisely kept his +distance. + +"Well, mother, I have got back and there is not a mark on me," shouted +Enoch, as he burst open the kitchen door and sprang into the presence of +her who told him that she did not want him to get his gun into any bad +habits. "I shot away all my powder and lead, and I guess that some of +the Tories that I aimed at have something to remember me by. Why don't +you say that you are glad to see me?" + +"How about Caleb?" said his mother. "Is he all right?" + +"I did not ask him, but I don't think he heard a bullet while he was in +the brig." + +His mother had been knitting when he came in, and the Book lay in front +of her, open, on her knee. She put the Book and her knitting away and +got up, and folded Enoch to her breast. She made no remark, but the boy +was satisfied from the strength of her embrace that she was glad to +welcome him home. Enoch then sat down and told her everything connected +with the fight, not forgetting how Zeke had ducked the storekeeper in +the harbor. + +"I never saw such an exhibition of strength in my life," said he, with +enthusiasm. "He took the man this way"--here he got up and elevated his +arms straight above his head--"walked across the boat with him and +chucked him into the water. He would not let him come back aboard the +sloop either, but told him to swim around and get somebody to help him +out. I wish all the men we have were like Zeke." + +Of course there were many questions to be asked and answered on both +sides--Mrs. Crosby was anxious to learn how the different men with whom +she was acquainted had behaved during the fight, and Enoch was equally +desirous to know how the Tories they had left behind them conducted +themselves while they were at sea--and it was almost dark before they +had got through talking. + +"I was particularly anxious to know what the Tories would do when they +heard that firing," said Enoch. "I was afraid they would be excited and +do something that we would have to settle with them for." + +"Well, they did not," said Mrs. Crosby. "James and Emerson walked up and +down in front of our house when they heard the shooting going on, and +asked us to listen to it. 'Aha!' they said. 'The rebels are getting +their fill now. After Captain Moore sinks that sloop he will have all he +can do to pick up the dead and wounded ones.' It seems to me that they +must be utterly confounded by the victory of the sloop over an armed +vessel." + +"Not only that, but they utterly refused to believe it," said Enoch. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +WHAT TO DO WITH THE SCHOONER. + + +Enoch might have gone further and said that the Tories not only refused +to believe the evidence of their ears, but that they went to a greater +distance and declined to believe the evidence of their eyes when they +stood on the wharf and saw the dead and wounded taken off the two +vessels and laid carefully away, the former with sheets spread over +them. These were promptly taken care of by their friends, and in a short +time there was no one around the wharf except the provincials and a few +Tories who wanted to hear more about the fight. + +"They did not pull down their flag, did they?" said one who made this +inquiry of Zeke. + +"No, sir. We pulled it down for them. The only man who had the power to +strike it has just been carried away in that wagon," said Zeke. "There +is the man who pulled it down," he added, pointing to Wheaton. "We are +going to get a flag of our own to take its place when we haul the Cross +of England down." + +"Some of you will go up by the neck before that happens," said the man, +turning away and whispering the words to a Tory who stood at his side. +"And I will wager that Zeke will go up for one." + +"I just wish I knew something about history," continued Zeke, who, of +course, did not hear this whispered conversation on the part of the +Tories. "They say that that flag has never been hauled down by any +nation; but a 'flock of Yankees' was too much for them. Now, captain, +what are we going to do with these vessels? We don't want to leave them +alongside the wharf all night." + +Captain O'Brien had been thinking about this, and had already made up +his mind what to do. Of course the "rebels" had captured three +boats--the schooner and the two sloops that were engaged in taking +lumber on board for the New York market. He did not want to leave them +alongside the wharf for the simple reason that, if the Tories got up +courage enough, it would be easy work for them to come down there with +a party of men after it became dark, and recapture them. It would not be +so easy a matter if they were moored a little way from shore. Of course +Enoch and Caleb were there waiting to see what further work there was to +be done, and this time Caleb had his flint-lock on his shoulder. They +had remained at home until they had eaten a late dinner, and had then +come down to their prize to do whatever else there was to be done. Enoch +had kept a good lookout for James, but when he saw him coming he went +into the house. He did not want to hear another story of that victory. + +"Enoch," said the captain, after thinking a moment, "have you had +anything to eat?" + +"Yes, sir, and Caleb and I are out here for all night, if our services +are needed that long," replied Enoch. + +"All right. I will detail you two as guard to that schooner. You have +your flint-locks with you, and, Enoch, I know that you can shoot +tolerably straight," said the captain, patting the boy on the shoulder. +"Don't you let anybody, even if they are 'rebels,' come aboard that +boat. After the rest of us have had supper, I will appoint a commander +for her, and then you can take some of these small boats and tow her out +to her anchorage." + +The boys waited for Captain O'Brien to go on and tell them what else he +had to say, but he had evidently gotten through and turned on his heel; +whereupon the newly-appointed guards went on board the schooner and took +their place by the side of the gangplank which led up to it. They leaned +their guns against the rail, rested their elbows on the bulkhead before +them and proceeded to watch what was going on on the wharf as well as to +wait until some Tory took it into his head that he would like to come +aboard the boat. But no one came near them, and Caleb finally fell to +examining the bullet holes made by the rifles during the fight. While he +was walking about the vessel he happened to cast his eyes toward the +shore and saw two persons whom he had wished to see for a long time. +Enoch discovered them at the same moment, and when Caleb, after pushing +back his sleeves and settling his hat firmly on his head, was about to +step upon the gangplank, he found Enoch in his way. + +"What's to do here?" demanded Enoch. + +"Don't you see James Howard over there?" asked Caleb, in reply. "I have +a fine chance to punish him now. I will give him two black eyes, but +they will not make him suffer as I did while being shut up in that brig +waiting to be carried to New York. Stand out of the way here." + +"You have not been relieved yet," said Enoch. "You must get somebody to +take your place before you go ashore." + +"Well, I can easily do that. Oh, Captain!" he shouted to O'Brien, who +was but a little distance off. "I want to go ashore for just about two +minutes." + +"Go on," said the captain. "I don't know as I am hindering you." + +"Captain," said Enoch, pointing up the wharf toward the two persons who +were coming along, entirely ignorant of what was transpiring on board +the schooner. "He has not been relieved yet. I do not want to stay here +alone." + +The captain looked, and when he saw James coming toward the schooner he +knew why Enoch was standing in the way of Caleb. He knew that those two +boys must be kept apart or else there would be a fight; so he added +hastily: + +"That's so. You have not been relieved yet. You stay there until I can +send some one to take your place." + +"Yes; and that will never be," said Enoch, to himself. + +"Enoch, I didn't think this of you," said Caleb, leaving the gangplank +and settling back against the rail. "You are a friend of James Howard." + +"No, I am not, and nobody knows it better than you," said Enoch. "Why do +you not let him go until a proper time comes?" + +"A proper time!" repeated Caleb. "The proper time is whenever I can +catch him." + +"I don't believe you could catch him any way," said Enoch, pointing to +James and Emerson, who had stopped suddenly on discovering the boys, and +did not seem inclined to come any closer. "They are going back again." + +Once more Caleb rested his arms upon the rail and watched the two +Tories, who had stopped and were regarding them with eyes of +apprehension. They waited there for some minutes and not seeing any move +on Caleb's part they mustered up courage enough to come a little closer, +until they were talking with some of the provincials who were in the +fight. + +"Enoch, will you let me go ashore?" said Caleb. "I will never have a +chance like this to get even with him." + +"The captain has not sent anybody to relieve you yet," said Enoch. + +"Don't I know that? He isn't looking for anybody. There they come," he +added, when the two resumed their walk and came up to the shore end of +the gangplank. "Well, what do you think of it? We sent the bullets +around her pretty lively, did we not?" + +The two boys did not say anything. They had probably come down there to +use their eyes and not their tongues, and in that way escaped getting +into argument with Enoch and Caleb which they were sure would end in +something else. They looked all around the schooner and up at her sails, +and finally having seen enough turned to go away; but Caleb who was +watching them told them to wait a minute. + +"James, I want you to remember that you put me in trouble through that +tongue of yours, and that I shall bear it in mind," said he. "The only +thing that saves you now is my being on guard on board this vessel." + +James waited until he thought Caleb was through, and then hurried away +without making any reply, and they blessed their lucky stars that they +had got off so easily; but there was a threat contained under Caleb's +last words which rankled uneasily in James's mind. + +"I guess my father's way is the best," said the latter. "Will you come, +too?" + +"I hope so," replied Emerson. "It is a beautiful thing to give up to the +rebels, that place of ours, but it won't be forever. They will soon be +whipped and then we can come back." + +The boys waited a long time for the rest of their friends to get through +with their supper and come back to the wharf, and then they saw that +Captain O'Brien had something on his mind, for he was going first to one +man and then to another and having a talk with each. They were all in +favor of it, too, for each one shook the captain's hand and patted him +on the back as if they wanted to go at it right away. Zeke appeared at +last, and he was wild over what the captain said to him. He pulled off +his hat--he had been home and got another one by this time--and swung it +around his head, but he did not hurrah until he was red in the face as +he usually did. He seemed to take his enthusiasm out in the violence of +his motions. Then he put his hat on his head and walked briskly toward +the schooner. + +"Now, boys," said he as he came up the gangplank. + +"Say, Zeke, what was it that the captain had to say to you?" asked +Caleb. "It must have been something patriotic, for you swung your hat +and never hurrahed at all." + +"Enoch, you jump down there and cast off the bow and stern lines," said +Zeke, looking all around as if to see what else ought to be done. +"Caleb, you go round on the wharf and find a small boat that you think +will do to pull the boat out to her moorings. I will go to the wheel, +and when all that is done I will tell you what the captain said to me." + +Zeke never said a thing like this without meaning to be obeyed, and the +boys knew that it was useless to argue the point with him. The sooner +the work he had set for them to do was done, the sooner would they find +out the captain's secret; so without hesitation they placed their guns +where they would not be in anybody's way and went about their duties in +earnest. Enoch speedily cast off the lines, Zeke staying on board to +haul them in, Caleb made his appearance sculling a boat that was to pull +the little vessel out to her anchorage, and a line was passed down to +him. + +"Now, Enoch, tumble in there and pull for all you are worth," said Zeke. +"You see the schooner's buoy over there? Well, when you come up with it +make this line fast to it and come aboard." + +Of course these orders were quickly delivered, but it took longer to +carry them out. The schooner moved but slowly in the water. The boys had +to turn her around and pull her against the tide, which was coming in at +about five miles an hour; but after a long siege they got the line fast +and pulled back to the schooner pretty nearly exhausted. + +"That's all right," said Zeke. "The next time the captain wants such +work done he will have to send more men to do it." + +"Go on now, and tell us what the captain had to say," said Caleb, +backing up against the rail and using his hat as a fan. "It did not +amount to much, any way." + +"Didn't, hey? Then I guess you don't want to ship aboard this vessel." + +"What is she going to do?" asked Enoch. + +"We lucky fellows will be coming ashore every month or so, and when you +see us spending more money than you ever heard of----" + +"Where are you going to get it?" interrupted Caleb. + +"Prizes, my boy; prizes," replied Zeke, poking Caleb in the ribs with +his long finger. "We are not going to let the Cross of St. George float +out there alone, are we?" + +"No; but when we take the prizes what will we do with them?" + +"Sell them to the highest bidder. You see the captain was thinking +about this thing while he was eating his supper, and he came to the +conclusion that since we have a fine vessel with guns and small arms for +a crew of thirty men, we ought to use them. There are plenty of ships +going by that are loaded up with stores for the King, and what is there +to hinder our going out and capturing some of them?" + +"Whoop!" yelled Enoch. + +"That is what I thought, although I did not say it out quite so loud," +said Zeke, laughing all over. "We want to keep it as still as we can, +for there are a good many Tories around, and we want to keep them in +ignorance of it. Now you boys stay here and talk it over and I will go +ashore and bring off the rest of our guard." + +"Do you think your mother will let you go on this vessel?" said Caleb, +as he and Enoch leaned upon the rail and watched Zeke as he sculled the +boat ashore. + +"Let me go to fight against tyranny? Of course she will." + +"You will be a pirate if you do." + +"No more than I am now." + +"And if they catch you----" + +Here Caleb drew his head on one side and straightened his left arm above +his head as if he were pulling on a rope. + +"It is a good plan to catch your rabbit before you cook him," said +Enoch. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +CONCLUSION. + + +Captain O'Brien and the rest of the leaders who took part in that fight +with the schooner, had plenty to do that night. Among other things they +were selecting the crew for their privateer, and they wanted to be sure +that they got none but the best men. Zeke was ashore for an hour or two +before he sent the cutter back, and then he did not come with it but +sent Zeb Short to scull the boat. There were nine men in the party, and +each one brought with him a large bundle which contained some changes of +linen and his bedclothes. + +"Where is the mate?" asked Enoch, as the men threw their bundles aboard +and then proceeded to climb aboard themselves. + +"The mate!" exclaimed Zeb Short, as if he did not catch the boy's +meaning. + +"Yes; Zeke told us to stay here until he came back." + +"Oh. Well, Zeke is ashore helping the captain; and he told me to inform +you boys that if you want to ship on board this vessel you had better go +home and get some duds, for we are going to sail with the turn of the +tide which takes place about four o'clock. Of course you boys are +going?" + +"You wager we are," said Caleb. + +"Take your guns with you," continued Zeb. "We shall not want them any +more. When we board the next Britisher you will have a cutlass or pike +in your hands." + +The boys clambered down into the boat with Zeb Short and were slowly +sculled toward the shore. It looked to them as if they were in for +fighting and nothing else. They did not stop to speak to the captain or +any of the other men standing around but went straight for home as fast +as they could go. There was one place where they were tempted to stop +and exchange a few words with the inmates, and that was at James +Howard's house. The boys were sitting on the porch and were talking +about what they had seen at the wharf. + +"There go a couple of those rebels now," said James, as Enoch and Caleb +hurried by. "I hope I will be here to see them hung up." + +"Enoch, I have the best notion to go back and whip him in his own +dooryard," said Caleb, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. "If you +will keep the other off me, I can punish James in two whacks." + +"Come on, now, and don't mind them," said Enoch, taking Caleb by the +arm. "You may have some other fellows to fight some day, some that have +weapons in their hands, and you can take revenge upon James in that way. +Come along." + +Caleb reluctantly allowed himself to be led away, and presently he was +dropped at his own gate. Enoch broke into a run and entered the kitchen +where his mother was busy with her usual vocations. He seized a chair, +moved it up under the hooks on which his flint-lock belonged, placed it +there with his bullet-pouch and powder-horn, and Mrs. Crosby looked at +him with surprise. + +"What's to do, Enoch?" she said at length. + +"Mother, I want my bedclothes and a change of underwear to go out to +sea," said Enoch. "You see----" + +Here the boy began and told his story in as few words as possible, and +to his joy his mother did not say one word to oppose him. + +"There is one thing that does not look exactly right," he continued, +"and that is I don't know what I am going to get for my trouble. I do +not know that I am going to get a cent." + +"That is all in the future," said his mother. "Do your duty faithfully +and I will take care of myself." + +Enoch said no more, but somehow he could not help wishing that he had +some of his mother's pluck. When the things had been bundled up he +kissed his mother good-by and went out of the house, wondering if he was +ever going inside of it again. He found Caleb at his gate with his +bundle on his shoulder, and in half an hour from that time they were +safe on board the schooner. + +"If no one has spoken for this bunk I guess I will put my things in +here," said Enoch, looking around upon the men who were busy at work +making up their own beds. + +"There is a bunk for every man in the crew," said one. "Put your things +in there and say nothing to nobody." + +"All below, there!" shouted Zeke. "Come on deck, everybody." + +"We are going to choose our officers the first thing we do," said Zeb +Short, who proved that he was a good sailor by leaving his bunk half +made up and hurrying to obey the order. "My captain is O'Brien, every +time." + +The men hastened aft, and there stood O'Brien with his hat off. The crew +removed theirs out of respect, and the captain began a little speech to +them. He repeated at greater length what he had told them ashore--that +they now took their lives in their own hands and were about to go out to +sea to do battle with the flag they had that day hauled down, and that +if captured they could not expect but one thing, death at the yard-arm. +If any of the men had time to think the matter over and wanted to back +out-- + +"We don't," shouted Zeke, in a voice that must have been heard on shore. +"There is no one in this crew that thinks of backing out." + +"Zeke speaks for all of us," said Zeb Short. + +"Then we will proceed to elect officers," said Captain O'Brien. "You +are, most of you, sailors, and I need not tell you that it is necessary +that you select good men and those whose orders you are willing to +obey." + +It did not take over ten minutes for the crew to select the men who were +to command them. They had evidently made up their minds just whom they +wanted, and each one proposed was accepted by acclamation. O'Brien was +chosen captain; no one could do better than he did in the fight with the +schooner, and the men were sure that he could do equally well in a +contest with another vessel. Zeke was chosen first mate, Zeb Short +second, and Wheaton, who did not know the first thing about a ship, was +appointed captain's steward. + +"What will I have to do?" asked Wheaton; whereupon all the crew broke +out into a hearty laugh. + +"You will have to see that I get enough to eat," said the captain. "I +will wager that I do not go hungry while you are in office." + +"Well, if it is all the same to you, Captain, I won't take it," said +Wheaton. "Let me be a foremast hand. I shipped to fight----" + +"You will have all the fighting you want to do as steward," said Captain +O'Brien. "Everybody will be on deck then." + +After a little more argument Wheaton was induced to take the position, +and the election of officers went on. The last one that was chosen was +the man who had fed Enoch while he was a prisoner in the brig; Ezra +Norton was his name, and he was told to look out for the ammunition. He +had served on board the schooner and knew pretty nearly where to go to +find the charges for the guns. After that the crew were divided into +watches, and in obedience to Zeke's order: "All you starbo'lins below!" +went down to their bunks to sleep until twelve o'clock. + +Just at daylight the next morning--it was Enoch's watch on deck +now--there was great commotion on the schooner, for the lookout who was +sitting on the cross-trees shouted down two words that sent a thrill to +every heart. It did not create a hubbub or take the form of words, but +it set them to scanning the horizon and exchanging whisperings with one +another-- + +"Sail ho!" + +"Where away?" shouted Zeke, who happened to be the only officer on deck. + +"Straight ahead," was the answer. + +"Can you make her out?" + +"I can see nothing but her top-hamper, but I think she is a schooner +bound for New York." + +Presently the hail came down again--another ship four points off the lee +bow, and headed the same way that the other one was. The captain, on +being summoned, came on deck and mounted to the cross-trees with a glass +in his hand. He stayed there an hour, and when he came down again the +vessels were in sight. + +"I will wager my hat against yours that those are two of the boats that +we want," said he to Zeke. "We will soon make them show their colors +whatever they are." + +"Wheaton, have you your flag here?" asked Zeb Short, turning to the +steward who at that moment came on deck. + +"No, no; don't try that," said the captain, hastily. "We will approach +her without any flag. We will not attempt to make her think we are +friendly when we are not." + +The two vessels continued to approach each other, and finally the +stranger, thinking that the schooner had some business with her, ran up +the very flag they wanted to see--the flag of England. In answer to the +question, "What schooner is that?" she replied that she was the +Spitfire, bound from Halifax for New York with a cargo of supplies for +the British government. + +"Now, Zeke, it all depends upon you," said the captain, jumping down +from the rail on which he had stood while making his hail. "Crowd all +the men you can into a boat and go off and take possession of that +schooner. Send the officers to me and put the rest down below. Fill away +in my wake when I start for Watertown. But first I must capture that +other schooner." + +"I will send a boat aboard of you," said the captain, seeing that the +Spitfire was not decreasing her pace. + +To man the boat did not take very long on the part of the schooner's +crew, for every one knew just what he had to do. To seize cutlasses and +pistols from the rack, buckle them on and tumble over the side was but +the work of a minute, and in hardly more time than we have taken to +describe it, they had boarded the Spitfire and a man was sent to her +wheel. Zeke pulled down the flag and waved it over his head. + +Of course her officers were full of questions when they were brought +aboard the schooner, and could not understand the matter at all; but the +captain did not stop to enlighten them until the other vessel was +captured. He ordered them down into his cabin, and there they remained +while the schooner speeded on to make a prize of the other vessel which +was found to be the Storm King, bound to the same port and loaded with +supplies. When the officers were all on board his vessel and prisoners +in his cabin, the captain went down and explained matters to them. They +did not know anything of the battle at Lexington, and when they heard it +their surprise knew no bounds. They plainly saw that their cruise had +ended, and with that they were obliged to be satisfied until they were +turned over to the authorities at Watertown. + +Captain O'Brien's bravery did not pass unrewarded. His appearance in +Watertown with his prizes created a great commotion there, and he was +appointed captain in the marine of the colony and sent to sea to capture +some more vessels. His work in the Revolutionary War was just begun, and +those who went with him from Machias stayed by him to the end. Zeke +Lewis and Zeb Short were promoted to gunners, because it was necessary +that they should have better educated men for first and second officers; +at any rate they received thirteen dollars in their new position whereas +in their old, they received only eight. + +Enoch and Caleb were not forgotten. By strict attention to their duties +they received promotion one after the other, one to assistant sailmaker +at twelve dollars a month and the other to yeoman at nine dollars. They +were on every voyage with their beloved captain. When he received +command of a privateer and had the whole ocean in which to search for +his prizes, the boys went with him and did their best to establish his +name. + +James and Emerson did not long remain in Machias. Things became too +unpleasant for them, and one morning their houses were not open as +usual. Of course their neighbors wanted to see what was the matter, and +an investigation proved that the families had gone in the night-time to +seek another haven of refuge. They brought up in New York and stayed +there until the place was evacuated by the British. Then they went to +England, and it is to be hoped that they could talk their sentiments +there without being threatened with a beating by a Yankee. + +During the course of the long and bloody struggle that followed there +was much depression in the provincial ranks. Even the great heart of +Washington was bowed down by sorrow, and when "famine was stalking +through the camp" and his enemies were hard at work to have a "new and a +better man" appointed in his place, the leader never lost sight of the +"justice of her cause or the sincerity of his country." Read the +following incident related by a man who was there and saw it all. It +proves that General Washington, in the troubles with which he was +surrounded, found that there was a stronger arm than man's to lean +upon.[7] + +[Footnote 7: Condensed from Lossing's Field Book.] + +Isaac Potts, at whose house Washington was quartered, relates that one +day while the Americans were encamped at Valley Forge, he strolled up a +creek that was not far from his house and heard a solemn voice. He +walked quietly in the direction of it and saw Washington's horse tied to +a sapling. In a thicket near by he saw his beloved chief in prayer, and +his cheeks suffused with tears. Like Moses at the Bush, Isaac Potts felt +that he was treading upon holy ground and withdrew unobserved. He was +much agitated upon entering the room where his wife was, and he burst +into tears. On inquiring the cause he informed his wife of what he had +seen, and added: + +"If there is any one on this earth whom the Lord will listen to, it is +George Washington; and I feel a presentment that under such a commander +there can be no doubt of our eventually establishing our independence, +and that God in His providence has willed it so." + + "Oh, who shall know the might + Of the words he uttered there? + The fate of nations that was turn'd + By the fervor of his prayer? + + "But would'st thou know his name + Who wandered there alone? + Go, read in Heaven's archives + The prayer of Washington." + +THE END + + * * * * * + +YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY + +A series of ten volumes, selected from the best works of the most +popular authors. + + +TITLES: + + +=THE STORY OF ELECTRICITY FOR AMATEURS AND STUDENTS= + +By JAMES W. STEELE. The greatest facts of the present civilization set +forth in a clear manner. Many illustrations and diagrams. + + +=THE ART OF GOOD MANNERS= + +By SHIRLEY DARE. Lessons in regard to etiquette taught by this little +book will be remembered long on account of the charming manner in which +they are presented. + + +=SOME QUEER AMERICANS= + +A gossipy sketch of the queer characters to be found in the Blue Ridge, +their costumes, manner of living, and speaking. + + +=MR. SWEET POTATOES= + +A story of a Chinese Milkman. + + +=A NIGHT WITH PAUL BOYTON= + +An interesting experience with this noted sailor on a Florida River, +with descriptions of the quaint costumes worn on this excursion. + + +=MILTON'S MULBERRY TREE= + +Near the College at Cambridge, and the care it receives. Also five +stories of Colonial life, "Murillo's Boy," etc. + + +=A QUEER LETTER-CARRIER= + +A Massachusetts letter-carrier whose route was between two forts during +the Revolutionary War. + + +=THE RAGAMUFFINS AND GENERAL WASHINGTON= + +An attractive story for young patriots. + + +=BUSINESS OPENINGS FOR GIRLS= + +By SALLIE JOY WHITE. A pure, earnest talk with girls. + + +=A BOY'S RACE WITH GENERAL GRANT= + +A glowing description of a race on the plains of Turkey between Gen. +Grant and the son of the American Consul. + + * * * * * + + +JOHN L. STODDARD'S POPULAR PICTORIALS + + +=GLIMPSES OF THE WORLD= + +Hundreds of full-page views portraying scenes all over the world, taken +from photographs collected by the celebrated traveler and lecturer, John +L. Stoddard, who has charmingly described each one. Unquestionably the +finest work of the kind ever published. + + +=FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC= + +A grand panorama of famous scenes and noted places on our own Continent. +Most interesting to the student of Art, Science, or literature. Read +this page of the world's history first; be familiar with your own +country. + + +=SUNNY LANDS OF THE EASTERN CONTINENT= + +A pictorial journey through the tropical countries of the Old World, +containing the choicest views from Italy, Greece, Turkey, India, Syria, +Palestine, China, Japan, Egypt, Africa, Australia, etc. People +interested in missionary work should possess this volume. + + +=FAMOUS PARKS AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS OF AMERICA= + +One hundred and twenty-eight full-page views of the marvelous works of +Nature in the New World. To those who have seen these grand originals, +these pictures will prove charming souvenirs, and cannot fail to be +interesting to all Americans. + + +=A TOUR THROUGH NORTHERN EUROPE= + +A rare and elaborate collection of 128 views in the historic countries +of Europe--a pictorial history of accomplished and fascinating races. A +book of inestimable value when used in connection with the studies of +History and Geography. + + * * * * * + + +CHILDREN'S BIBLE STORIES + +By JOSEPHINE POLLARD, one of the most charming and successful writers of +children's books, whose songs are used in all our Sunday Schools. + + +TITLES: + +=GOD MADE THE WORLD= + +=RUTH, A BIBLE HEROINE= + +=THE GOOD SAMARITAN= + +=THE BOYHOOD OF JESUS= + +=THE STORY OF JESUS TOLD IN PICTURES= + +A series of five volumes comprising the sweet stories of God's Word told +in simple language so the little ones themselves can read them and learn +to prize them as the best of all books. They combine entertainment and +moral instruction in the most fascinating manner, and will cultivate the +child's taste for that which is beautiful and ennobling. To the young +reader they make the Bible seem like a new book. Each volume is +complete; is illustrated with scores of magnificent engravings; is +printed on fine paper in large clear type, having words of more than one +syllable divided so they may be easily pronounced by children; bound in +cloth with emblematic cover designs, attractively stamped in three +bright colors. + + * * * * * + +YOUNG PEOPLE'S BIBLE STORIES + +By JOSEPHINE POLLARD. + + +TITLES: + +=HISTORY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT= + +=HISTORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT= + +=BIBLE STORIES FOR CHILDREN= + +=SWEET STORY OF GOD= + +A series of four volumes containing historic incidents from the Bible. +They make a continuous record of the Old and New Dispensations, omitting +all that is too abstract for young readers. The boys and girls reading +these volumes will not only obtain the religious truths they need, but +will also unconsciously derive invaluable lessons in the simplicity and +power of their English mother-tongue. All are works of untold interest, +and will prove a powerful influence for good in every home. + + * * * * * + +BOOKS BY THOMAS W. KNOX + +_Who, as a Juvenile Writer, has held a prominent place among the very +best writers of boys' books in the world_ + + +=BOYS' LIFE OF GENERAL GRANT= + +This account of our great General begins with the arrival of his +ancestors on American soil; follows him through his childhood; his +career at West Point, and active military career thereafter. It will +give the boy reader a clear idea of the Mexican War, and quite a full +account of the War of the Rebellion. The General's voyage around the +world also enlivens the narrative. Told in the spirited and absorbing +way that Mr. Knox has of writing for boy readers. + + +=THE LOST ARMY= + +A story illustrative of the camp and military life of the soldiers of +the Federal Army in the Civil War. + + "It is a stirring, well-told narrative of patriotic adventure and + service, and will kindle the love of Country and Humanity in the + young reader."--_Congregationalist._ + + "It is full of stirring incidents."--_San Francisco Chronicle._ + + +=CAPTAIN JOHN CRANE= + +The hero of this book tells his adventures on the sea from 1800 to 1815; +his experiences with the pirates; the dangers of our ships during the +trouble with France and Tripoli; how British war ships overhauled our +merchantmen; their manner of searching for deserters, etc., etc. +Sailors' superstitions are woven into the narrative in the most +admirable manner. The story is historically correct and entertainingly +related. + + +=A CLOSE SHAVE= + +Or how Major Flagg won his bet, and journeyed around the world in +seventy days. Modern aids to travel and communication; valuable +scientific discoveries and inventions brought to the reader's attention +in an attractive form. The routes, time-tables, monsoons, etc., +described in "A Close Shave" may be relied upon as being absolutely +correct. An excellent description of the country between New York and +San Francisco; a train robbery with one of the notorious Jesse James +gang as a leader; an exciting experience with a school of whales; a +typhoon and the wreck; the story about monsoons; Chinese and Malay +pirates; a train accident in Egypt, etc., etc. Will prove exceedingly +interesting to all boy readers. + + +=THE TALKING HANDKERCHIEF= + +Under this title, Colonel Knox, that inveterate globe-trotter and writer +of stories for boys, has gathered a collection of absorbing tales of +adventure in Russia, China, India, and elsewhere, which will prove of +deep interest to both young and old. + + * * * * * + +THE BOYS' AND GIRLS' LIBRARY + +A series of sixteen volumes, by the world's foremost juvenile writers. + + +TITLES: + +=Joe, the Chimpanzee.= An account of a lady's visit to the cage of the +famous Chimpanzee of London. Also stories of foreign countries. + + +=David Bushnell and His American Turtle.= The first submarine boat used +during the Revolutionary War. Dr. Franklin is one of the characters in +this interesting book. + + +=A Child in Florence.= Glowing descriptions of the beautiful paintings and +sculpture in this City of Art. + + +='Mandy's Quilting Party.= How a little Vermont girl invited her friends +to a quilting party without the consent of her mother. + + +=The Wonderful Cookie.= A true story of a German King, and the Cookie +which was baked especially for him. + + +=Aunt Polly Shedd's Brigade.= A story of Colonial times. + + +=Shetland Ponies=, with a description of the Shetland Isle, the home of +the famous pets. + + +=Choosing Abe Lincoln Captain.= An interesting account of how Abe's +friends elected him Captain during the Black Hawk War. Also "Sally's +Seven League Shoes." + + +=Indian Children and Their Pets.= + + +=Children of the Koppenberg.= A new version of the famous old legend of +the "Pied Piper of Hamelin." + + +=Babouscka.= A Russian Christmas Story. + + +=The Jewelled Tomb.= The grandest sepulchre in the world, built by a King +of India. + + +=A Hero.= A tale of Revolutionary times. + + +=Secrets of Success=--By REV. FRANCIS E. CLARK, "Father of the Christian +Endeavor." + + +=St. Botolph's Town.= Many interesting facts of the ancient city, which +was our Boston of to-day. + + +=A Hero in Peace and War.= A character sketch of Israel Putnam and his +bravery at Bunker Hill. Also "The Only Woman in the Town," a sweet old +lady of Boston, magnanimous enough to entertain her enemies during a +siege in Colonial times. + + * * * * * + +NAPOLEON, THE WORLD'S GREATEST HERO + + +=NAPOLEON, LOVER AND HUSBAND= + +By FREDERIC MASSON, translated by J. M. Howell. If there is any figure +in the world's history that the present age might suppose that it knew, +Napoleon Bonaparte would be taken as preeminently the best known; and +yet, the real Napoleon, the Lover and Husband, has been fairly left +untouched until to-day. Frederic Masson reveals the lover side of +Napoleon in the most fascinating manner, and shows that his greatest +enterprises have been to a grave extent influenced or modified by +feminine associations. + + +=NAPOLEON'S MILITARY CAREER= + +By MONTGOMERY B. GIBBS. A gossipy, anecdotal account of Napoleon as his +marshals and generals knew him on the battlefield and around the +camp-fire. Reveals something new on every page concerning this son of a +poor Corsican gentleman who "played in the world the parts of Alexander, +Hannibal, Cæsar, and Charlemagne." + + "The illustrations beginning with the famous 'snuff-box' portrait + are capital, and the book is a dignified adjunct to modern study of + a redoubtable giant."--_Chicago Herald._ + + +=NAPOLEON FROM CORSICA TO ST. HELENA= + +By JOHN L. STODDARD. A pictorial work illustrating the remarkable career +of the most famous military genius the world has ever known. It contains +pictures of all of Napoleon's marshals and generals, his relatives, the +famous places where Napoleon lived as Emperor, and the monuments erected +to perpetuate his brilliant achievements on the battlefields of Europe. +The pictures in themselves constitute a priceless collection, and the +descriptions by John L. Stoddard a truthful history of the great hero. + + +=RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PRIVATE LIFE OF NAPOLEON= + +By CONSTANT, Premier Valet de Chambre; translated by Walter Clark. Three +superb volumes, cloth, handsomely stamped in gold. Although first +published in 1830, it has just recently been translated into English. +Notes have been added by the translator, greatly enhancing the interest +of the original work of Constant. + +This man has been studied as a soldier, a statesman, an organizer, and a +politician, but, although he was undeniably great in all, men will +always seek to know something about Napoleon as a man. These volumes +will supply the desired information, for they are written by one who +joined him in 1800, and was with him constantly until he laid down the +sceptre fourteen years later. + +Napoleon's Foibles, Peculiarities, Vices, Kindness of Heart, Vast +Intellect, Knowledge of Men, Extraordinary Energy, and Public Spirit are +depicted without reserve. + + * * * * * + + +THE FAMOUS OTIS BOOKS FOR BOYS + +_James Otis, the Popular Juvenile Writer, needs no introduction to the +boys of to-day._ + + +=TELEGRAPH TOM'S VENTURE= + +A highly entertaining story of a boy who assisted a United States +officer of the law in working up a famous case. The narrative is both +interesting and instructive in that it shows what a bright boy can +accomplish when thrown upon his own resources. Throughout an intensely +interesting and exciting story. + + +=MESSENGER NO. 48= + +Relates the experiences of a faithful messenger boy in a large city, +who, in answering a call was the means of ferreting out a band of +criminals who for years had baffled the police and detectives. The story +tells of the many dangers and hardships these boys have to undergo; the +important services they often render by their clever movements; and how +by his fidelity to duty, Messenger Boy No. 48 rose to a most important +position of trust and honor. It teaches boys that self-reliance, pluck, +and the faithful performance of duties are the real secret of success. + + +=DOWN THE SLOPE= + +The hero of this story is a boy, who, in order to assist his mother, +works as "breaker" in a coal mine. The book tells how coal miners work; +their social condition; their hardships and privations; and the older +reader will get an excellent idea of the causes of labor troubles in +this industry, and will become more sympathetic toward this class of +people. The young readers will find in this book a high ideal of a boy's +devotion to his mother, and will learn how manly courage and a brave +heart will overcome great difficulties, and lead to success and honor. + + +=TEDDY= + +A captivating story of how Teddy, a village boy, helped to raise the +mortgage on his mother's home, and the means he took for doing so. The +obstacles his crabbed uncle placed in his way; his connection with the +fakirs at the county fair; his successful cane and knife board; his +queer lot of friends and how they aided him; and how he finally +outwitted his enemies, are all set forth so clearly and attractively in +this volume that we forget that the hero is not a real boy, and his +trials and successes real occurrences. The characters are taken from +life, Mr. Otis himself acting as "fakir" in order to become thoroughly +acquainted with the surroundings. "Teddy" is sure to win a warm place in +the hearts of all boy readers. + + * * * * * + + +MR. BUNNY, HIS BOOK + +By ADAH L. SUTTON. Illustrated by W. H. Fry. The finest juvenile on the +market. Just published. Far superior to anything of the kind ever before +presented to the little ones. Sure to attract and delight the children. + +The Quaint Characters, Comical Situations, Laughable Incidents, Queer +Episodes, Ridiculous Personages, Catchy Rhymes, Bright Sayings and +Brilliant Colors to be found in "Mr. Bunny, His Book," will bring forth +hearty laughter and attract and interest the little ones, proving an +unfailing source of enjoyment to them. + + +=LIVING PICTURES FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM= + +By DR. L. HECK. A superb pictorial, showing reproductions of photographs +of the rarest and finest specimens of the animal kingdom, _taken from +life_. Heretofore those interested in the study of animal life were +confined to dull descriptions with no object lessons whatsoever; +therefore this book, "LIVING PICTURES FROM THE ANIMAL KINGDOM," will +undoubtedly greatly enhance interest in this branch of science, proving +of inestimable value to the professor and student of zoölogy. + +Every member of the household will welcome this beautiful book, for +animal pictures of the size shown therein are a novelty. The foot-notes +describing the habits, etc., of the originals of the lifelike +illustrations will be found exceedingly interesting. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The First Capture, by Harry Castlemon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42113 *** |