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diff --git a/old/nealm10.txt b/old/nealm10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d60fd8b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nealm10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2153 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of Neal, the Miller +by James Otis + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before distributing this or any other +Project Gutenberg file. + +We encourage you to keep this file, exactly as it is, on your +own disk, thereby keeping an electronic path open for future +readers. Please do not remove this. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the etext. 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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + + + +Produced by John Kaler. + +NEAL, THE MILLER + +A SON OF LIBERTY + + +BY JAMES OTIS + + + + +CHAPTER 1 THE PROJECT + +"I FEAR you are undertaking too much, Neal. When a fellow lacks two years +of his majority--" + +"You forget that I have been my own master more than a year. Father gave +me my time before he died, and that in the presence of Governor Wentworth +himself." + +"Why before him rather than 'Squire White?" + +"I don't know. My good friend Andrew McCleary attended to the business for +me, and to-day I may make contracts as legally as two years hence." + +"Even with that advantage I do not see how it will be possible for you to +build a grist-mill; or, if you should succeed in getting so far with the +project, how you can procure the machinery. It is such an undertaking as +Andrew McCleary himself would not venture." " Yet he has promised me +every assistance in his power." + +"And how much may that be? He has no friends at court who can--" + +"Neither does he wish for one there, Stephen Kidder. He is a man who has +the welfare of the colonists too much at heart to seek for friends near +the throne." + +"It is there he will need them if he hopes to benefit New Hampshire." + +"Perhaps not. The time is coming when it behooves each of us to observe +well the law regarding our arms." + +"You mean the statute which declares that' every male from sixteen to +sixty must have ready for use one musket and bayonet, a knapsack, +cartridge-box, one pound of powder, twenty bullets and twelve flints?' " + +"There is none other that I know of." + +"Then I shall not be a law-breaker, for I am provided in due form. But +what has that to do with your mill? I think you will find it difficult to +buy the stamped paper necessary for the lawful making of your contracts +unless you dispose of your outfit for war or hunting, which is the best to +be found in Portsmouth." + +"That I shall never do, even if I fail in getting the mill. Do you know, +Stephen, that I was admitted to the ranks of the Sons of Liberty last +night?" + +"The honours are being heaped high on the head of the would-be miller of +the Pascataqua," Kidder replied, with a laugh. " Do you expect the Sons of +Liberty will do away with the necessity for stamped paper?" + +"Who shall say? Much can--" + +Walter Neal did not conclude the sentence, for at that instant two men +passed, and a signal, so slight as not to be observed by his companion, +was given by one of the new-comers, causing the young man to hasten away +without so much as a word in explanation of his sudden departure, while +Stephen Kidder stood gazing after him in blank amazement. + +The two friends whose conversation was so suddenly interrupted were +natives of the town of Portsmouth, in the Province of New Hampshire; and, +had either had occasion to set down the date of this accidental meeting, +it would have been written, October 26th, 1765. + +As has been suggested, Walter Neal's ambition was to erect a grist-mill a +certain distance up the Pascataqua River, where was great need of one, +since land in that portion of the province was being rapidly settled; and, +although without capital, he believed it might be possible for him to +accomplish his desires. + +He was favourably known to the merchants of Portsmouth, and thanks to the +efforts of his friend, Andrew McCleary, -ten years his senior, -several +tradesmen had intimated that perhaps they might advance sufficient money +to start the enterprise in a limited way. + +Neal had inherited a small amount of property from his father; but, like +many of the farmers in the New World, he was sadly hampered by the lack of +ready money. During several weeks prior to this accidental meeting with +Stephen Kidder, he had been forced to temporarily abandon his scheming in +regard to the mill, that he might try to raise sufficient money with which +to pay the annual tax, already more than burdensome, upon his small +estate. + +As Neal hastened after the two men who had given him the signal to follow +them, the most engrossing thought in his mind was as to how the amount of +four pounds and seven shillings in cash could be raised without a +sacrifice of the cattle from the home farm. + +Ephraim Foulsham had partially agreed to advance the sum if he could be +secured by a chattel-mortgage, and when Neal overtook those in advance he +was speculating upon the possibility of getting the amount that day, lest +execution should be issued against him. + +That which he heard, however, speedily drove all thoughts of a personal +nature from his mind. "Master McCleary would be pleased to see you, and +quickly," one of the men said, in a low tone, when the three were where +there was no other to overhear the conversation. + +"Is it important I should go at once?" + +"Yes; unless you would break the oath. you took last night." + +Neal waited to ask no more questions. Ten minutes later he was at Samuel +Leavitt's store, where he knew McCleary would be found at this time of the +day. + +Before Neal could speak, his friend walked quickly out of the building +toward the shore of the harbour, giving the would-be mill-owner an +expressive look, which plainly told that he was to follow. + +Not until McCleary was at a point where no one could approach him without +being seen did he halt, and then Neal was by his side. + +"A messenger must be sent to Boston at once," the elder man said, in a low +tone. "It is not generally known that you have been admitted to our +association, therefore you are the one to go." + +"When shall I start?" + +"At once; there is no time to be lost. Will you ride my horse? " + +"My Own will serve me better; suspicions might be aroused if I should be +seen on yours." + +"Very true; I had not thought of that. You are to make all speed, and go +direct to Master Revere's. Say to him that George Messerve, who has been +appointed distributor of the tax stamps for New Hampshire, will arrive in +Boston shortly, if, indeed, he is not already there. Tell Master Revere +that the feeling in our section grows stronger against this last +imposition every day, until there is danger lest the excesses which marked +the 26th of August in Boston may be repeated here. He will understand what +it is we want him to do." + +"Shall I have time -" + +"You will not have time for delay. Start at once, and as you perform this +mission, so will you be benefiting yourself in the project of the mill." + +"It does not require I should know that in order to be faithful to the +trust imposed upon me. I was about to ask if I should have time to attend +to raising the amount of my taxes, for I have twice been warned that they +are due". + +"I will see to it that you do not suffer by the delay. Go at once, and let +nothing detain you; we expect the message will be delivered early to- +morrow morning." Neal's home lay two miles west of Portsmouth, and +without waiting to attend to the business for which he had visited the +town, he hastened toward it at a rapid pace. His mind was easy in regard +to the payment of the taxes, for McCleary would keep every promise made, +and when he returned it should be possible to make the necessary +arrangements with Ephraim Foulsham within twenty-four hours. + +When he arrived in view of the log-house which his father had built twenty +years previous, Walter understood that something out of the ordinary +course of events had happened. The doors of the barn were open, and his +mother stood in front of the building, as if in deepest distress. A +portion of the rail-fence which enclosed the buildings was torn down, and +the cart that had been left by the side of the road was no longer to be +seen. + +"You could not borrow the money? " his mother said, interrogatively, while +he was yet some distance away. + +"I haven't had an opportunity to see Master Foulsham. What has happened?" + +"The worst, my son, that could befall us at this time. The officers have +attached the cattle and the horse. Even if you can borrow money, the costs +of the action will eat up all we had to live on this coming winter." + +"The horse gone!" Walter exclaimed, as if in bewilderment. + +"We could better spare him just now than the cattle, because of the work +yet to be done." + +Neal was not at that moment thinking of the farm duties, nor yet of the +mill, which was more distant in the future than before, but only of the +fact that it was necessary he should be in Boston on the following +morning. + +Hurriedly he explained to his mother why it was he must leave home, and +added in conclusion,- + +"Master McCleary has promised that I shall not suffer because of the delay +in paying the tax, and I am certain he will keep faith with me." + +"And do you intend to leave home now?" + +"I must; there are those who depend upon me, and they shall not be +disappointed." + +"I am afraid, Walter, you are pursuing the wrong course. It is best that +wiser and older heads than yours should be concerned in the struggle which +must come, if the people resist this new tax." + +"Father would have done as I am doing; and, since I am to fill his place, +it is fit I should do what I can." + +"But how will you reach Boston without a horse or money?" + +Walter hesitated. By returning to Portsmouth he could get the animal which +McCleary had proposed he should ride, and yet to do so would delay him +greatly, in addition to the possibility of arousing suspicion against his +friend. + +By leaving the main road six miles farther on, and striking across a tract +of wooded country, the distance could be reduced materially; but even then +there would remain at least fifty miles to be traversed. + +"I can walk to Salem," he said, at length; "and there, William Cotton will +provide me with a horse." + +"It is a desperate journey, and dangerous, if some should learn why you +had undertaken it. I--" + +"You would not bid me stay, mother, but rather urge me forward. I have no +time to lose." + +"You will at least wait until I can put up some food." + +"Yes; it will be necessary to eat, I suppose. Bread and cheese will be +enough, and even that must be got together quickly." + +Mrs. Neal made no attempt to dissuade her son from his purpose. That which +he had said concerning his father had been sufficient to silence her on +the score of danger; and, when the small store of provisions were wrapped +in a stout piece of cloth and placed in the pocket of his coat, she kissed +him, but did not dare trust her voice to speak. + +With a stout hickory stick as a walking-cane, Walter set out, and there +was sufficient in his mind to provide ample food for thought during the +first two hours of the journey. He was not at all certain that, now that +the cost of making an attachment of his property was to be added to the +amount of his tax, Ephraim Foulsham would be willing to advance the money; +and, even if the sum could be raised in such a manner, it was so much +increased that he could not hope to see the wished-for mill under erection +until another season at the earliest. + +At the end of the second hour he had accomplished at least nine miles of +the distance, and could well afford to indulge in a brief halt while +partaking of his food. + +"Nine miles from home means eleven from Portsmouth," he said aloud, as if +the sound of his own voice gave him encouragement. "By this path Salem +cannot be more than twenty-four miles away, and I must make it in five +hours in order to reach Boston by sunrise. It can be done if I do not +allow myself too much time in which to rest my legs, and-" + +He ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that instant, as if they had +descended from the clouds, two horsemen stood before him. + +The moss-covered path had deadened the sound of the animals' approach as +they came up from the rear. + +Walter recognized both the new-comers. The foremost was Samuel Haines, a +man who had made an unsuccessful attempt to get the appointment to +distribute stamped paper in New Hampshire, and the other James Albert, a +half-breed Indian, who was well known in Portsmouth as a quarrelsome +fellow, ready to take part in any business, however disreputable, so long +as he was provided with an ample supply of rum. + +Walter nodded familiarly to Haines, but paid no attention to the Indian. + +"Wait a moment, Master Neal," the former said, gravely, as Walter +attempted to pass him. "Where are you going that you cannot stop for a +short converse? " + +"On business which admits of no delay." + +"Do you expect to walk from here to Boston before daylight?" + +"Who said I was going to Boston?" + +"Perhaps I guessed as much." + +"Then kindly guess that I can't wait here simply for the pleasure of +talking with Master Haines." + +"I shan't try to do that, my rebellious friend. When Jim gets ready---" + +Walter half turned to see what part the Indian was to play in this +interview, and as he did so the fellow's arms were around him, pinioning +his own to his side. + +"What is the meaning of this?" he cried, angrily, as he tried in vain to +release himself. + +"It means, Master Neal, that I wish to see the message you carry," and +Haines, dismounting, hastily searched the prisoner's pockets. + +"You have found yourself mistaken as sadly as when you believed the king +would give you the dirty work of selling stamped paper," Walter said, with +a laugh, noting the look of disappointment on Haines's face when he failed +to find any document. + +"You have been intrusted to deliver the message by word of mouth, and it +will serve my purpose as well if I prevent you from calling on that +seditious Revere. Here, Jim, tie him to a tree with this," and Haines drew +from his saddle-bags a piece of stout rope. + +It was in vain Walter struggled; taken at a disadvantage as he had been, +he was powerless, and in a few moments was bound securely to a tree, while +his captors threw themselves on the ground in front of him, as if to make +a long stay. + +"If you repeat what you were told to say to Revere, I will see to it that +you are made more comfortable," Haines said, after a long pause. + +"And what then? " + +"We shall make certain you don't return to Portsmouth for two or three +days, that is all." + +"If I have a message to deliver, I will keep it to myself, instead of +intrusting it to you," Walter said, grimly; but his mind was sorely +troubled, for he realized that if he should be delayed here no more than +four hours the information he was to give might arrive too late. + +CHAPTER 2 THE ESCAPE + +During the hour which followed Walter's capture the two men remained close +at hand, while their horses were allowed to stroll along the path, eating +grass, and at the expiration of that time the animals could no longer +either be seen or heard. + +"Go and bring them back, Jim!" Haines said, in a peremptory tone. "It +would be a hard job for us if they should stray too far." + +The half-breed hesitated an instant, as if undecided whether to obey this +command, and then, rising slowly to his feet, he slouched down the path +lazily. + +After the brief conversation which had followed the capture of Walter, +neither of the men had spoken until this moment; but as soon as his +comrade disappeared among the bushes, Haines said, in what he intended +should sound like a friendly tone,- + +"I am sorry to see a promising young man like you, Neal, led astray by +these fanatics, who dream of opposing his majesty's just and wise laws. +You have too much solid sense to train in any such company." + +"You seem to have a remarkably good opinion of me," Walter said, grimly. + +"So I have, lad, so I have. I know you have been hoping to build a mill of +your own on the Pascataqua, and am interested in the project, for it is a +sensible one: there is plenty of money to be made in that section." + +"According to appearances now I shan't reap any very large harvest this +year." + +"It depends upon yourself. If you had kept proper company there would have +been no attachment made to-day. + +"How did you know anything about that?" Walter asked, sharply. + +"I heard the matter discussed, and feel certain you would have been given +more time but for your own very unwise move last night." + +"Then you know-" + +Walter stopped suddenly on realizing that he was about to betray a secret, +but Haines finished the remark. + +"That you enrolled yourself among that rabble who call themselves the Sons +of Liberty? Yes; I know it, and so do others." + +"It seems I am of more importance than I fancied. I never supposed +anything I did could make any difference to the good people of Portsmouth; +but I was mistaken." + +"It concerns right-minded people anywhere when a boy who stands on the +threshold of manhood makes a grievous mistake." + +"That remains to be proven." + +"And it will be speedily, as you must learn to your cost. If you really +want a mill on the Pascataqua, I will show you how it can be built at +once." + +"I should like to learn the secret." + +"Abandon the evil companions you have chosen, reveal such of their plots +against his majesty's officers as you are acquainted with, and I guarantee +that a sufficient sum of money to put up the buildings and purchase the +machinery shall be loaned you within twenty-four hours." + +"I am a fool not to have understood the drift of your conversation before +it reached this point," Walter said, hotly. " I had rather never own a +mill than get it as you propose; and as for evil companions,' I am proud +to have been allowed to join them." + +"You will soon regret it." + +"So you have said before; but since I have little faith in such +predictions, suppose you change the subject by explaining why you hold me +prisoner, and how long I am to be kept in this uncomfortable position? " + +"There is no reason why both questions should not be answered. You are to +remain in my custody till George Messerve arrives in Portsmouth, in order +that your friends may not intimidate him, and it will be necessary to stay +exactly as you are several hours longer." + +Walter asked no more questions. He understood it was the purpose of his +captors to keep him out of sight, that McCleary might believe his +messenger had gotten through to Boston in safety; and, in the meanwhile, +someone else would be sent to warn the newly-appointed distributor of +stamped paper of something - Walter could not divine what - which might be +attempted against him. + +Ten minutes passed in silence, and then the voice of the half-breed could +be heard far away in the distance, calling to his comrade. + +With an exclamation of impatience, Haines rose to his feet, gave a +careless glance at the rope which bound Walter, and then replied to the +Indian as he went quickly in the direction from which the hail had come. + +Left alone, Walter looked around, as if expecting to see some one who +might aid him, and then tugged and strained at his bonds, trying to wrench +free either hand or foot. + +The rope had been tied too securely to admit of his slipping a knot, but +it was nearly new, and the prisoner's heart beat fast as he realized that +by exerting all his strength it would be possible to stretch it a trifle. + +If he could succeed in making his escape immediately, all might yet be +well; but if he was forced to remain there until his captors returned, +there was little chance he would have another opportunity. + +Regardless of the pain, he writhed and twisted until bead-like drops of +perspiration stood out on his forehead, and at the instant when he was +convinced all efforts were useless, that portion of the rope which +confined his wrists suddenly loosened sufficiently to enable him to +withdraw one hand at the expense of no slight amount of skin from the +knuckles. + +Once he was thus far on the road to escape, the remainder was +comparatively simple. + +With the hand which was free he untied the knots, and in less than five +minutes from the time Haines disappeared among the foliage, he was at +liberty. + +The only thought in his mind now was to take such a course as would best +enable him to elude his pursuers, and he knew full well that the half- +breed could track him where the white man would be wholly at a loss to +find a trace of his movements. + +"Its hard to turn back, but it must be done," he said, half to himself, as +he hesitated the merest fraction of time, and then ran down the path in +the same direction from which he had come. + +He had hardly started when the sound of horse's hoofbeats caused his cheek +to grow pale. He had regained his liberty only to lose it! + +Involuntarily he glanced backward, and then a low cry of satisfaction +burst from his lips. + +The horse coming down the path was riderless. It was the animal Haines had +ridden, and apparently much the better steed of the two. + +Turning quickly, Walter ran toward the horse, seized him by the bridle +before he had time to wheel around, and in another second was in the +saddle. + +A short riding-whip hung from the pommel, and with this the fugitive +struck the animal sharply as he forced him directly into the underbrush +toward the south. + +Fortunately, Walter was well acquainted with this section of the country, +having been over it many times with his father, and knew exactly which +direction to take in order to gain that portion of the forest where it +would be possible to ride at a reasonably rapid gait before venturing on +the path again. + +His escape, however, was not to be as simple as at first seemed. Before he +was twenty yards from the starting point a loud cry in the rear told that +his departure had been discovered, and this was followed almost +immediately by the report of a pistol. + +"If you don't do anything worse than shoot, I shan't come to much grief," +he said, with a laugh. " Master Haines is not as wise a man as I have +supposed him to be if he thinks it is possible to bring his game down by +firing at random, for he surely can't see me." + +Walter failed to realize that his movements could be plainly heard, even +though he was hidden from view by the foliage, and soon the sounds of +pursuit reached his ear. + +"There is no need of the Indian while my horse is floundering among the +bushes," he muttered to himself. "Haines has mounted the other animal, - +was probably on his back before I started, and counts on riding me down. +He can do it, too!" Walter exclaimed, in a louder tone. "Once he is where +I can serve as a target, the chase will be brought to a speedy end." + +Now he understood that if he hoped to escape he must return to the path, +where the horse would have an Opportunity to show his speed, and he +wheeled him suddenly around, regardless of the risk of coming directly +upon Haines. + +Fortunately his pursuer was not as near as he had fancied, and soon he was +riding at the best possible pace over the narrow path. He had emerged +beyond the spot where the half-breed was stationed, and before him was +nothing to jeopardize safety; it only remained to distance the white man. + +Two miles were traversed in a remarkably short space of time, and then he +was on that portion of the road which ran in a straight line through a +sort of clearing. That it was possible for his pursuer to see him during a +certain time was shown, as a bullet whistled within an inch of the +fugitive's head. + +"That makes two shots, my friend," he said, as if to keep up his courage. +" Unless I am mistaken, you had only a couple of pistols, and by the time +they are reloaded I shall be screened by the bushes again." + +That his calculations were not correct was shown as a second ball passed +uncomfortably close, and a third tore through his coat-sleeve, causing the +warm blood to gush down over his hand. + +"Only a scratch, nothing more!" he shouted, and then he was among the +friendly shelter of the trees again. + +The horse upon which Haines rode could not hold the pace, and when half an +hour had elapsed no sound of pursuit was heard. + +It was time Walter gave the captured animal a breathing spell, if he hoped +to reach Salem as he had calculated, and he brought him to a standstill +while he pulled off his coat to examine the wound on his arm. + +It was rather deeper than a scratch, but yet nothing more serious than to +cause a goodly show of blood, and Walter put on his coat again without a +thought that any bandaging might be necessary. + +This done, he rode on at a more leisurely pace, but listening intently for +any sound betokening the approach of his enemy. + +Nothing occurred to cause him alarm, and it was not yet sunset when he +drew rein in front of William Cotton's store. + +That gentleman was in and disengaged, as was seen when he came to the door +for a view of the new arrival. + +"What! Is it you, Walter Neal?" + +"There is no doubt about it in my mind, although my joints are so stiff +from long riding that if I was less acquainted with myself I might believe +I was only a portion of the saddle," Walter said, laughingly, as he +dismounted, and added, in a graver tone, "I must speak with you alone, +Friend Cotton." + +"I am alone now. Take your horse to the stable, and come back at once." + +"I will leave him where he is; perhaps it will not be well for you to know +anything about him." And then hurriedly entering the store, Walter +explained why he must reach Boston without delay, after which he gave a +brief account of his misadventures. + +William Cotton, although a sympathizer with those who were about to offer +resistance to the commands of his most gracious majesty, was a prudent +man, and feared to be known as a disloyal citizen. + +The fact that Samuel Haines would probably soon arrive in search of his +horse caused Master Cotton no little disquietude of mind, and he said, +reprovingly,- + +"It is well to be zealous in a good cause, Walter; but it is wrong to +commit a crime in order to compass your own ends." + +"What crime have I committed?" + +"The theft of the horse will be charged against you, and those who are +intrusted with the execution of the law do not favour such an association +as that in which you have enlisted." + +"My getting possession of him was the fortune of war, not a theft. I was a +prisoner, made so unlawfully, and had the right to escape as best I +could." + +"That argument is good here; but will be of little avail to those who look +upon you as a disloyal youth, who should be deprived of his liberty.' + +"If I am to be charged with horse-stealing because of what has been done, +it cannot be avoided now. Before I am arrested I must carry the message +with which I have been entrusted, and to do so I need another horse. I had +believed I could get one from you without difficulty." + +"So you can, lad but at the same time you must not think hardly of me if I +use proper precaution to save myself from being caught in the meshes of +the law. You know where my stable is j take an animal from there without +my permission, and I cannot prevent it." + +"I am to steal another horse in order that you may not get into trouble?" + +"It can make but little difference to you, so long as you see Master +Revere by daylight, and I must not neglect my own interests. No one has +seen you, and you may be able to get out of town secretly." + +Walter could not afford to waste any more time in what seemed very like +quibbling, and without further parley he turned to act upon his friend's +suggestion. + +"It is not well that you remain in Boston any longer than may be +absolutely necessary for your business," the worthy Master Cotton called +after him, warningly. "There is that being done which you need not be +identified with." + +Walter made no reply; but when he was out of the building on his way to +the stable, he muttered to himself, - + +"If I was as timorous as you, Master Cotton, I should now be in the +company of Sam Haines, with a rope tied tightly about me." + +Five minutes later he was riding out of Salem at full speed on the +fleetest horse to be found in the stable, and there was every reason for +him to believe that he would, in due season, deliver the message with +which he had been charged. + +CHAPTER 3 IN BOSTON + +THE light of the coming day had not yet appeared in the eastern sky when +the young messenger drew rein at the edge of Charlestown harbour, and sat +in the saddle, gazing curiously around, as he speculated upon the chances +of being ferried across to Boston. + +It was well the journey was ended, for the heaving flanks of Master +Cotton's horse told that he had been ridden so long at full speed as to be +well-nigh exhausted. + +Immediately on leaving Salem, Walter had debated in his mind as to the +choice of roads. By making a long detour he could ride directly into the +city of his destination; but it would be at the expense of considerable +time, which he believed to be precious. + + +On the other hand, by traversing the shortest road he would, as he now +did, find himself penniless, with a broad stretch of water to be crossed +before the message could be delivered. + +"I shall get over in some way," he had said, as he arrived at a decision, +and now was come the time when that "some way" must be found. + +"It is certain I shan't be able to take the horse with me," he said, after +a brief time of silence, "and I must look around for a place in which he +can be hidden." + +By riding slowly along the shore-line, he soon found a spot where the +grass was luxuriant, which was hidden I from view of those on the road by +a heavy growth of trees, and here he resolved Master Cotton's horse should +be left to take care of itself. It was not probable the tired animal would +stray very far from where food could be had in such abundance, and Walter +made no other preparation for the halt than to secrete the saddle and +bridle in the thicket. + +Returning to the landing-stage of the ferry-boat, he waited impatiently +for some signs of life on the water-front. + +During fully half an hour he was forced to remain in idleness, while he +mentally reproached himself for not having taken the longest road, and +thereby arrived in Boston without being forced to depend upon a boat to +conclude the journey. + +More than once was he tempted to take possession of one of the small craft +hauled up on the shore without the formality of asking the owner's +permission, but the thought that he had already put himself in a position +to be charged with theft deterred him from such a lawless proceeding. + +Then, just as the day was beginning to break, a boat filled with sailors +rowed up to the landing. All the occupants save one disembarked without +paying any attention to the idle boy who was watching them intently, and +the little craft was being pushed off, when Walter cried,- + +If you are going back to Boston I will gladly work the oars to pay for my +passage." + +"Can you row?" + +"As well as you." + +"Then come aboard, and let me see how quickly you can pull to the other +shore." + +The young messenger did not require a second invitation. He gave the boat +a vigorous push with his foot as he clambered over the bow, and the man in +charge had no reason to complain of his skill at the oars. + +"If you want work, you should buy a boat and ply your trade as a +waterman," the sailor. said, when the short voyage had come to an end, and +Walter leaped ashore, impatient to conclude the mission with which he had +been intrusted. + +"I want work that will pay," he said, halting for an instant; "but I don't +intend to find it as a boatman. Can you tell me where Master Paul Revere +lives?" + +"Do you mean the lieutenant,-him as has set up for a goldsmith? " + +"The very one." + +"And you count on goin' into a shop, instead of pullin' boats, eh? I'll +wager you're a sailor who has given his captain the slip." + +"I have never been beyond the sight of land, neither do I care to work in +a shop; but I have business which admits of no delay, and if you will give +me the information I shall be very grateful." + +"Do you know where North Square is?" + +"I have never been in Boston before." + +"Then inquire of the first one you see. It is not far." + +Walter waited to hear no more, but ran swiftly on in the direction he +supposed North Square might lay, and a kindly fortune guided his +footsteps, for when he had an opportunity to ask the desired question, he +was within a few paces of his destination. + +Master Revere's shop was not yet opened, but the young messenger had +little difficulty in arousing the household, and a few moments later he +was standing in a room which, although not furnished with any pretension +to elegance, was more rich in ornamentation than Walter had ever fancied +could be found. + +Master Revere did not keep him waiting very long; he had received too many +visitors at unseemly hours to make any delay, and the sun had but just +risen when Walter's mission was accomplished. + +"You have come in good time, young sir," Master Revere said, when the boy +had repeated the message. + +"The ship on which the stamp distributor for the Province of New Hampshire +sailed from London arrived last evening. I will see him at once, and +before noon you shall take to your friends such information as I have to +give. In the meanwhile you will eat breakfast, and then my eldest son +shall act as host, unless you prefer to sleep, for you have been +travelling all night." + +"I can sleep later, sir; but now that I am in Boston I would like to see +the city." + +"So you shall. You will find much that is fair and comely to look upon; +but beneath all the air of bravery is the disquietude of oppression, and +the sense of wrongs yet to be wiped out." + +"In the province from which I have come we believe the remedy for +oppression to be among ourselves, sir," Walter replied, modestly. + +"So it is, lad; and may you be one not lacking in wholesome love for your +country when the time for action arrives." + +I fear a boy like me will be of but little service." + +"The boys may be men before the time for stirring deeds shall come," +Master Revere said, much as if speaking to himself; and then he added, +quickly, "You will break your fast with me." + +Walter was not accustomed to such a meal as was speedily placed before +him; but the novelty of his surroundings did not prevent him from doing +full justice to the food. + +When the master of the house set out to perform the duty expected of him +by his friends in Portsmouth, young John took charge of the guest, and +from that time until nearly noon Walter feasted his eyes upon such wonders +as he had never even dreamed about. + +His first visit was to the magnificent building presented to the city by +Peter Faneuil, and then to that elm at the head of Essex Street beneath +the branches of which the association known as the Sons of Liberty had +sprung into existence. + +Here young Revere told him what had occurred during the month of August, +when on the tree he was then gazing at had been found hanging an effigy of +Andrew Oliver, his majesty's distributor of stamps for the Province of +Massachusetts, and a boot, symbolical of Lord Bute, with Satan peeping out +of it as he displayed a copy of the Stamp Act. John also described the +scenes when the more lawless members of the community destroyed the +building which had been erected as the office for the sale of stamps, and +the dwelling of the Lieutenant Governor was sacked. + +"Does your father believe it is by such a course we can be relieved of +oppression?" Walter asked in surprise, as John Revere concluded his story +with an account of the violence offered to several others of the king's +officers. + +"By no means. He was among those who gave public expressions of regret +that such deeds should have been done." + +Then young Revere told of the town-meeting which was held immediately +following the scenes of violence, and by the time he had concluded, the +boys were on North Square again, where Master Revere was ready to deliver +the message Walter was to take back to Portsmouth. "I have seen Master +George Messerve," he said, "and believe he fully sympathizes with us. He +has already publicly resigned the office of stamp distributor, and I doubt +not will be found on our side when the decisive moment comes." + +Walter understood that with the message given was an intimation for him to +depart, and although he could have done full justice to a dinner, he took +his leave without delay. + +There is no question but that Master Revere would have been more than +willing to both feed the young messenger and provide him with sufficient +funds to pay his passage across to Charlestown in the ferry-boat had he +any idea that Walter was penniless. The boy made no explanations, and his +host could not but believe he was fully and properly prepared for the long +journey before him. + +Walter did not have as good fortune on his return as in the morning. When +he arrived at the shore he saw several boats going to and fro, but the +afternoon was considerably more than half spent before he succeeded in +finding a boatman who would allow him to work his passage. + +Then, when he finally landed on the opposite shore, an hour was spent in +searching for the horse, which had wandered into the woods, and by the +time the boy was ready to begin the return journey the sun hung low in the +sky. + +"It will be another night-ride," he muttered, as he leaped into the +saddle. "I did hope to reach Salem early in the evening, and so I might +have done had I been possessed of enough money to pay my ferriage. Master +Revere would have given it to me, but I could not tell him that I, who had +been received into the ranks of the Sons of Liberty, had not so much as a +shilling." + +He was comparatively fresh when he drew rein in front of Master Cotton's +stable shortly before midnight, and although the time could well have been +spent in slumber, he devoted an hour to caring for the weary steed who had +borne him so bravely. + +To awaken Master Cotton was not a portion of Walter's plan. That gentleman +had shown himself to be of such a timid nature that the young messenger +believed he would pot be pleased at receiving any information; therefore, +as soon as the horse had been cared for, he started out of Salem on foot, +intending to make himself a bed on the ground when he should be within +shelter of the woods. + +As he walked rapidly on in the cool night air, feeling refreshed because +of the opportunity of stretching his legs after sitting in the saddle so +long, the desire for slumber fled from his eyes. There was no reason why +he should halt until he felt drowsy again, and he continued on, thinking +alternately of what he had accomplished, of the mill he hoped at some +future time to see erected on the small tract of land bordering the +Pascataqua River which his father had bequeathed him, and of the taxes to +be paid by some means within twenty-four hours of his arrival. + +With so much to occupy his mind, he forgot his weariness, and the hours +went by without his being aware of the passage of time. + +When he first realized how near he was to the starting point of his long +journey, a rosy light in the east told of the coming sun, and he marveled +that the night had gone so quickly. + +Half an hour later, as the knowledge of distance traversed brought with it +weariness, and he was about to seek a thicket where his slumbers would not +be disturbed, a noise as of some one approaching brought him to a full +stop. + +In another instant he recognized the form of his friend, Stephen Kidder, +in the distance, and he ran toward him, crying,- + +"What brings you here at this hour, Stephen?" + +"I left home at midnight to meet you." + +"Meet me? It would have been easier to have waited I there until I +arrived." + +"It is to prevent your arrival that I have come," and Stephen had very +much the appearance of a bearer of evil tidings. + +"What is the matter? Why do you look so glum? Is my mother well?". + +"Yes; but sorrowing." + +"Tell me what has happened." + +"Your cattle and horses have been sold by the sheriff." + +"How can that be? It is not forty-eight hours since they were attached," + +"That is true; but yet they have been sold, Samuel Haines is at the bottom +of the mischief, and he it was who bought them. He is now declaring you +shall be arrested for stealing his horse, and Master McCleary sent me to +warn you not to come home until the matter can be arranged." + +"Not go home!" Walter repeated, like one bewildered. "Where, then, shall I +go ?" + +"Your mother bade me ask you why you did not visit the land on the +Pascataqua? It is not likely you would be searched for there, and I should +be able to find you whenever it might be necessary." + +Walter was silent a few moments, as if trying to under stand all that had +befallen him, and then said, slowly,- + +"Haines would never dare to have me arrested. He took me prisoner +unlawfully, and I had a right to make my escape if possible." + +"That is very true; yet, because you are one of the Sons of Liberty, +Master McCleary thinks an arrest will surely follow." + +"Is it not safe for me to see my mother a few moments? " + +"She herself told me to warn you against coming. That half-breed, Jim, has +been seen near the farm twice since yesterday noon, and he can be there +for no other purpose than to give notice of your arrival." + +"But, Stephen, I can't go up the Pascataqua without some preparation. I +must at least have my musket and ammunition; otherwise, I would stand a +good chance of starving to death." + +"I have arranged for that portion of the business. Your knapsack, well +filled by your mother, and everything you may need during a few weeks in +the woods, is hidden a couple of miles down the road. I brought the things +as far away from the farm as I thought necessary, and then left them in +the bushes." + +CHAPTER IV ON THE PASCATAQUA + +TWENTY-FOUR hours after Stephen Kidder had warned Walter Neal against +returning to Portsmouth the latter was skirting the west bank of the +Pascataqua River, within sight of the tract of land whereon he hoped to +see at some day a grist-mill owned by himself. + +When Stephen selected such goods as he thought Walter might need during +his enforced retreat, he did not neglect anything which would possibly be +useful to the fugitive, and the result was that when the young messenger +started through the pathless forest, his load was so heavy as to retard +his progress very decidedly. + +Therefore it was that on the following morning he had not yet arrived at +his proposed destination, although it was but a comparatively short +distance from Portsmouth. + +He had slept in the woods where night overtook him, and at the first faint +light of day was making a frugal breakfast of the bread and cheese sent by +his mother. + +When the gloom of night had been dispersed by the heralds of the +approaching sun, Walter was at that point on the river from which he could +see the landmarks of his tract, and the knowledge that he was about to +enter on his own possessions served to cheer his drooping spirits. + +"If it is necessary to skulk around here in the woods to avoid being seen +by Sam Haines, there is no reason why I should not make the most of my +time," he said to himself, as hope began to spring up once more in his +breast. "There is little chance I shall be able to raise any money for the +mill now, when I have been defrauded of a goodly portion of my poor +possessions, but I can at least make preparations for the day when I shall +be in a position to carry out my plans. It is better to work than remain +idle." + +It was the first time since he took leave of his friend Stephen that the +mental burden had been lightened, and now he pressed forward eagerly, +impatient to begin the work resolved upon. + +There was very much which he could do toward making ready for the erection +of that wished-for mill, and he felt confident the labour would not be +useless, although performed so far in advance of the building operations. + +With this idea in mind, his first care was to select the most advantageous +spot for a mill, and to this end he deposited his burden on the shore of +the river, where it could readily be found again, after which he set about +inspecting the property. + +He spent several hours in this work, and had fully decided upon the +location for the building when he was startled by hearing what sounded +very like a human voice among the underbrush a short distance from the +shore. + +With his gun held ready for instant use in case any danger threatened, he +went cautiously in the direction from which the noise appeared to have +come, and after a brief time threw aside the weapon with an exclamation of +dismay. + +In a dense portion of the forest, where were several aged trees partially +decayed at their base, he dimly saw the figure of a man, apparently pinned +to the ground by the heavy branches of a fallen hemlock. + +He was sufficiently versed in woodcraft to understand that the unfortunate +had either felled a tree which had fallen upon him, or passed beneath one +of the giants of the forest at the precise moment when its rotten trunk +gave way under the burden of the enormous top. + +A low moan from the sufferer told he was yet alive, and at the same time +proclaimed that relief must soon come if death was to be cheated of its +prey. + +"Hold out a few minutes longer, friend," Walter cried, cheerily. "I must +have an axe before I can do very much toward getting you free from that +timber." + +There was no reply; the poor wretch's strength was nearly exhausted, and +the boy understood that he must work, with all possible speed if he would +save a human life. + +"It seems that my coming here may be of more use than simply hiding from +Sam Haines," he cried, as he ran with all speed toward the spot where the +goods had been left. "I have been grumbling because Stephen brought an axe +instead of a hatchet, but now I should be able to do very little without +it." + +Ten minutes later he was chopping furiously at the imprisoning branches, +using due care to prevent additional injury to the helpless man, and when +so much of the foliage had been cut away as to give him a clear view of +what was beneath, he exclaimed in surprise,- + +"An Indian! What could have brought him so near the town?" + +Then he forgot the colour of the sufferer, thought not of what his kind +had done in the way of savage cruelty to helpless women and children, but +devoted all his strength and energies to releasing him. + +The wretch was so nearly dead as to be unable to render any assistance to +his would-be rescuer, and at least half an hour elapsed before Walter +could drag him from beneath the heavy weight which had so nearly deprived +him of life. + +When this work was accomplished, it seemed to have been in vain, so far as +saving life was concerned; but, fortunately, Walter did not cease his +efforts. Dragging the apparently lifeless body to the river, he applied +such restoratives as were at hand, and after a short time had the +satisfaction of seeing the red man open his eyes. + +"Better not try," he said, as the Indian attempted to speak. "You have +had such a squeezing as would discourage a bear, and it will take some +time to get over it. Luckily I haven't much of anything to do except take +care of you, and I'll warrant we shall soon have you around as well as +ever. So far as I can make out, no bones have been broken, though I doubt +if you could go through the same experience again and come out anywhere +near whole." + +There was nothing more he could do to relieve the sufferer, and after +cautioning him to remain quiet, Walter set about putting up some kind of a +shelter against the elements. + +A "lean-to " of brush was soon erected, and in one corner the boy made a +bed of fir boughs, upon which he placed the sufferer, who, after the first +attempt, made no effort to speak. + +Walter divided with the Indian his store of bread and cheese, and had the +satisfaction of seeing the latter eat heartily. + +"I reckon you're all right if you can get away with as much food as a well +person, and it's time I did something toward laying in a stock of +provisions. Will you stay here while I go after game? There are partridges +enough, even though deer should be shy." + +"I wait," the Indian said, with a sigh as of relief; and the boy, gun in +hand, plunged into the thicket. + +The result of this first hunting excursion was half a dozen plump birds, +and Walter had seen such signs as told he would have but little difficulty +in bagging a deer on the following morning. + +During the remainder of the day Walter acted as nurse and cook; but never +once did the Indian speak. + +Next morning, before the sun appeared, he was out to replenish the larder, +returning with the hind-quarters of a deer and, when a plentiful supply of +steaks from these had been broiled over the coals, the Indian ate like one +in perfect health. + +"You'll do now, I reckon. It doesn't stand to reason that you feel like +moving around very much, therefore, you shall stay here while I go to +work." + +Then he set about making the foundations for a mill that might never be +completed, and when it was so dark that he could no longer see to work, he +felt satisfied with the progress made. + +The Indian had cooked supper, and the boy showed that he appreciated the +culinary efforts, rude though they were. + +"You know Jim Albert?" + +This question was asked when an hour had been spent in almost perfect +silence by the occupants of the lean-to, and the boy was startled both, by +the name and the voice. + +"Yes; I know him," Walter replied, grimly, thinking of the part played in +his capture by the half-breed. + +"Big rascal!" + +"You're right. I know it isn't just the thing to give way to revengeful +thoughts, but some day that scoundrel shall answer to me for what has been +done. If he and Sam Haines had remained where they belonged, I wouldn't be +here hiding as if I really was a thief." + +The Indian did not continue the conversation, although Walter gave him +every encouragement, and at an early hour the tired boy sought the repose +to be found in slumber. + +When he set out for work next morning the Indian accompanied him, and +during the day laboured faithfully hewing trees, or gathering rocks which +were to form the foundation of the proposed mill. + +"I didn't fancy having an Indian for a companion at first, but it begins +to look as if finding him under that tree would be a fortunate thing for +me. We are getting this place into shape very fast, and when it is +possible for me to raise the money, it won't be necessary to spend very +much time making ready for the more serious portion of the work." + +During the week which followed, with the exception of the Sabbath, the two +laboured industriously, save at such tittle as one or the other spent in +hunting, and Walter could see the outlines of the structure he intended +one day to build. + +A large pile of rocks had been rolled together to form the lower walls, +huge timbers were hewn and roughly "squared " for the framework, and a +road from the riverbank to the highway, four miles distant, was "blazed" a +goodly portion of the way. + +During all this time, while he had laboured as industriously as if it was +some project of his own, the Indian remained comparatively silent. He had +told the rescuer his name was Sewatis; that he was a member of the +Penobscot tribe, and acquainted with "Jim Albert," but never a word +regarding the reason for being in that vicinity. + +There had been no scarcity of food; the forest teemed with game, and if +the labourers fancied deer, bear or birds, it was only necessary to go a +short distance from the encampment in order to get it. + +Almost unconsciously Walter had explained to his assistant what it was he +hoped to do. There had been many times when it seemed positively necessary +he should speak with some one, and to the silent Indian the boy talked +freely. It was as if thinking aloud, because no reply was made unless one +was absolutely required; and it is quite possible the young messenger +would have been greatly surprised had some one been there to tell him he +had confided more fully in Sewatis than in any other person except his +mother. + +More than once had Walter suggested that there was no reason why the +Indian should remain if he had business elsewhere. + +"I suppose you think because I pulled you from under that tree you must +stay here and work, but it is all a mistake. You have already repaid me +ten-fold, and I don't want you to believe there is any necessity of +stopping with me." + +"Me wait," Sewatis would say, whenever the conversation touched upon this +subject, and by the end of a week Walter would have felt decidedly lonely +without his silent companion. + +"There's one thing about it," the boy said once, when the Indian had +refused to leave him, "while you are here I feel as if I could learn at +any time how matters are at home. It wouldn't be much of a task for you to +go into Portsmouth? " + +Sewatis made a gesture which signified that such a journey would be as +nothing. + +"I think you had better go and see my mother presently. Of course she +won't be worrying about me, for she knows I am able to take care of +myself; but at the same time it will give her some satisfaction to know +what I am doing. You could find my mother?" + +Sewatis nodded. + +"And it wouldn't be too hard work for you to tell her what we have done." + +Another nod, and something very like a smile on the silent Indian's lips. + +"If you don't open your mouth to her any oftener than you do to me, you +might stay on the farm a year without her knowing what we have been +doing." + +"I tell all; make heap much talk." + +"Then we'll start you off about day after to-morrow. How long would you +want for the journey?" + +"Go to-day, back to-morrow." + +"Of course you understand it wouldn't do to say a word about me to Jim +Albert, or anyone whom, he knows? " + +"Jim Albert, rascal!-I fix him." + +"But you mustn't get into trouble while you are there, Sewatis, or I +shouldn't see you back again very soon. The white men wouldn't allow any +fighting in town, and there is no reason why you should settle with Jim +Albert on my account." + +"I fix him," Sewatis repeated; and Walter began to fancy it might not be +prudent to send the Indian into the town, however eager he was to learn +what Master McCleary had done in his behalf. + +He argued the matter for some time with his companion, receiving; only the +same reply, and then abandoned the attempt. + +"It is certain Sewatis won't tell many secrets, whoever he may meet, or +whatever trouble he may get into, therefore I need feel no anxiety on that +score. Perhaps it will be as well to let him go, and take the chances of +his not meeting the half-breed." + +The next day was the Sabbath, and the two remained in camp, doing nothing +save to prepare the meals. + +Next morning Walter set about hewing timber, and Sewatis was sent into the +forest after game, for the larder was not as well filled as it should be. + +The Indian was absent the greater portion of the day, and when he +returned, Walter was half a mile from the camp, up the river. + +"What's the matter?" the boy asked, as the Indian approached suddenly, +looking disturbed. + +"White man come; down shore, huntin' for trail! " + +Walter dropped his axe in dismay. He could think of but one reason why any +person should seek him, and that was to arrest him for stealing Samuel +Haines's horse. + +"They mustn't see me," he muttered. "Go back to the camp, that they may +think it is you who has been doing this work, and I win strike off into +the forest." + +Sewatis handed Walter the gun, and silently turned to retrace his steps. + +CHAPTER V STEPHEN KIDDER + +Walter's first impulse was to bury himself in the depths of the forest, +and he had already started toward the denser portion when the thought +occurred to him that he was reasonably safe in the vicinity of the camp, +where he would be able to learn when the newcomer retraced his steps. + +"If it is a white man I'll guarantee to keep out of his way, and yet +remain near enough to hear what may be said," he muttered to himself, as +he halted suddenly, and then moved cautiously toward the lean-to. + +After ten minutes had elapsed he could distinguish the sound of voices, +and a few seconds later he was running at full speed toward the person +from whom he had previously been trying to escape. + +He recognized the speaker's tones, and knew Stephen Kidder had come to pay +a visit, or bring the cheering news that he might return. + +"Am I to go back to town?" he cried, as he came into the cleared space +wherein the camp had been built; and then, seeing Sewatis standing in a +threatening attitude in front of the shanty, he added, "This is a friend +of mine; make him welcome." + +The Indian obeyed by moving quickly out of sight among the foliage, and he +had hardly disappeared when the two clasped each other's hands in a +caressing way, as Stephen said,- + +"I wish I had come to bid you go home; but Master McCleary says you must +have patience yet a little longer. Haines still threatens to have you +arrested, and the Sons of Liberty are more obnoxious than ever in the eyes +of those who pay homage to the king." + + +"Would Governor Wentworth, who has so often spoken in a friendly tone to +me, allow an act of injustice such as my arrest would be, for I simply +sought to escape from him who held me unlawfully? " + +"The members of the Council are not in accord with the new ideas, and +Master McCleary believes they might allow Haines, who has no slight +influence among them, to do as he desires." + +"Let it be so, then. When did you see my mother last?" + +"Yesterday." + +"And she is well? " + +"Well, and contented that you should be here. She is cared for by your +friends in town, and prefers that you remain until the winter comes, +rather than venture back to be thrown into prison." + +"You say she is cared for?" + +"Master McCleary attends to it that she wants for nothing. She is now with +his mother; the crops have been harvested, and there is no longer reason +why anyone should stay on the farm. There have been brave doings in town +since you left, and unless the Sons of Liberty are all imprisoned, it +looks as if we might some day be freed from the heavy burden of taxes." + +"Tell me everything!" and Walter threw himself on the ground in front of +the camp, looking positively happy, now he had been assured his mother did +not suffer because of his absence. + +"In the first place, the New Hampshire Gazette appeared with a heavy +mourning border on the day before the Stamp Act was to go into effect, and +Master McCleary read aloud to the people on the street the article calling +upon those who would be free men to resist this most unjust tax. If so +many of the best citizens had not been abroad that night, I believe the +Governor would have called the guards out; but there were too many +prominent men mingled with the throng to make such a proceeding safe or +possible. On the first day of November the church bells were tolled, as if +for a funeral, and when a large crowd had gathered near Samuel Leavitt's +store, a figure called the Goddess of Liberty was brought out on a bier, +with Thomas Pickering, John Jones, Jotham Lewis and Nehemiah Yartridge +acting as pall-bearers. + +"All the people on the streets, myself among the number, followed the +procession to where a grave had been dug, and when the image was about to +be buried, Jotham Lewis called out that he thought he perceived some signs +of 1ife in Liberty. With that the statue was carried back to Master +Leavitt's store, and Master McCleary addressed the assembled throng, +saying that if the Goddess could be restored to health her Sons were the +ones to do it. He was greeted with mighty cheers, such as must have been +heard even at the Governor's house; and when the tumult had died away, +Master George Messerve declared that he did not intend to accept the +office the king had bestowed upon him. He then delivered his commission +and instructions to the Sons of Liberty, and next morning all who are +known as belonging to that association marched around the town, carrying +the parchments like a banner, on the point of a sword. + +"Master Messerve then took his oath before Justice Claget that he would +not attempt to issue stamps, and the commission was given to the captain +of the 'Saucy Mary,' who is sworn to deliver it up to the Commissioners of +the Stamp Office in London immediately upon his arrival in England. You +see, matters have changed considerably since the day you started out to +deliver a message to Master Revere." + +"If I had only been there!" Walter exclaimed, when Stephen ceased speaking +from sheer lack of breath. + +"You would not have seen much of the bravery, I fear. The Sons of Liberty +could not attempt to prevent your being made a prisoner on the charge of +stealing, however well they understand the case; or that would, as Master +McCleary says, be too much like trying to overthrow all law and order, +whereas they profess only to battle against injustice." + +"What is injustice, if not. imprisoning me on such a charge? " + +"You understand what I mean, Walter. Haines does not think for a moment +that you would be declared guilty; but by making the arrest he can have +revenge, since you must lay in jail some time before being brought to +trial." + +"Yes, yes; I understand it all. But there are times when I feel bitterly +the necessity of remaining in hiding, as if I was in fact a criminal. Have +you any more news?" + +"A messenger from Boston told of effigies of certain persons being burned, +or hung on the gallows, and from the reports I think it safe to say there +has been quite as much excitement in that city over the Stamp Act as in +Portsmouth. People who a few weeks ago denounced the Sons of Liberty as +seditious persons, now speak of them with respect, saving as in the case +of Haines and his following. Master Leavitt declares the time has arrived +when the Province of New Hampshire shall rule herself, and that unless the +king shows a more friendly disposition, he will lose his possessions in +America; but of course anything of that kind cannot happen." + +"Greater deeds have been done." + +"But not by a few people against so mighty a king. I am afraid we shall +all be made to suffer because of what has already been done against his +majesty's commands." + +If the people can prevent the use of stamps they can do very much more; +but we won't talk of such matters now. It is enough that I have with me a +friend with whom I can speak, and I must make the most of your company +while you are here." + +"Then suppose you begin by telling me where you found the Indian?" + +Walter gave his friend a detailed account of all that had happened since +the two parted in the woods ten days previous, and concluded by showing +him what progress had been made toward the erection of the mill. + +Stephen was astonished because of the amount of work which had been +performed, and said, laughingly,- + +"Indeed, I begin to think Samuel Haines did you a favour when he made it +necessary for you to hide in this place. At the rate you have been +labouring, the mill will be in working order within a month." + +"It would, for a certainty, if I had the necessary materials, which can +only be procured with money. I truly believe Sewatis and I could do very +nearly the whole of the task." + +"There's no question about it. Shall you try to frame the building?" + +"Yes, so far as to get the timbers hewn but we could not make shift to +raise it without assistance, and what lumber we have in shape will not be +hurt by seasoning, although I do not use it for two years. Now let me show +you where I propose to locate the road in order best to accommodate those +living this side of Portsmouth." + +Stephen was more interested in the progress of Walter's work than in the +stirring events he had just been describing, and the remainder of the day +was spent by the two young men in discussing every detail connected with +the proposed mill. + +Shortly before nightfall Sewatis returned to camp with a fine buck, and +prepared the evening meal after his own fashion, which was certainly a +fashion not to be despised. + +It was Stephen's intention to return to Portsmouth on the following +morning, and the friends sat around the camp-fire until a late hour that +evening. Walter had many messages to send to his mother and Master +McCleary, and if the messenger remembered them all his memory must have +been prodigious. + +Finally, the young men crept into the lean-to where Sewatis lay, +apparently sleeping, and very shortly after they had stretched themselves +out on the fragrant fir boughs their eyes were closed in slumber. + +Then, if a spectator had been in the vicinity, would have been witnessed a +singular scene. + +Soon after the heavy breathing of the white men told that they were in the +land of dreams, Sewatis rose to a sitting posture, listened intently, +although nothing could be heard save the cries of the night-birds and the +usual sounds of a forest when the mantle of darkness has fallen. + +The Indian lay down again; but even as his head touched the fir he began +to slip softly toward the fire until his body was outside the shelter of +the lean-to. Then he rolled over and over until the bushes hid him +completely, and no sound came to tell of his whereabouts. + +Ten minutes after he disappeared a face peered from amid the foliage, and +the odour of rum might have been detected upon the air. + +The sleepers were suddenly awakened by a crashing amid the underbrush, and +as they leaped to their feet, awake and on the alert in an instant, Walter +cried,- + +"Look out, there! don't shoot! One of those is Sewatis; but who is he +struggling with? " + +At that moment the combatants rolled toward the fire in such a manner that +the faces of both could be seen, and Stephen cried,- + +"It's Jim Albert! Look out for yourself, Walter; he has come here for +mischief!" + +"And he seems to be getting about as much as he wants," Walter replied, +grimly, as he darted forward to assist Sewatis in case it should become +necessary. + +The Indian did not require aid, for before either of the boys could have +interfered, he was uppermost, clutching Jim Albert by the throat so +vigorously that the latter's tongue was protruding from his mouth. + +"Don't kill him! Don't kill him! " Walter shouted. + +"Not yet; big rascal!" Sewatis muttered, as he deftly tied his blanket +around the upper portion of the prisoner's body in such a manner that the +intruder was helpless to do anything save kick, and that was not a +pleasant form of exercise, as he soon learned, for the fire was so near +that at the first attempt his toes were buried among the glowing coals. + +After that painful experience the prisoner remained quiet, and in a few +seconds Sewatis had him trussed hand and foot, like a chicken ready for +roasting. + +"Me fix him! heap big rascal!" the captor exclaimed, lying down once more +as unconcernedly as if nothing out of the usual course of events had +transpired. + +"What do you suppose this fellow came here for?" Stephen asked, as if +unable to surmise the reason for Jim Albert's presence. + +"He is in the pay of Sam Haines, and tracked you, most likely, in order to +discover my hiding-place," + +"If that had been the case he would have been in Portsmouth again by this +time." + +A sudden thought came to Walter, and bending over the prisoner quickly, he +searched under his greasy belt. + +"That is why he came!" the boy cried, as he leaped to his feet, holding a +parchment in his hand. "The halfbreed had undertaken to arrest me, and +here is his warrant." + +Not until Stephen had examined the document carefully was he satisfied the +statement was correct, and then he said, holding the parchment over the +fire,- + +"We can dispose of this easily enough, but what shall be done with Jim is +more than I can decide." + +Before he could drop the document from his fingers Sewatis leaped from his +couch, seized the warrant, and went back to his slumbers, saying, as he +did so,- + +"Heap big rascal! me keep talkin'-skin." + +"We shall have to let the Indian take care of Jim and his belongings +whether we want to or not," Walter said, with a mournful smile. "The whole +affair shows me, however, that I am not secure from Sam Haines even here +in the woods. He has found one messenger, and can readily get another." + +"Now, don't despair. Your red friend has some scheme in his head, or I'm +mistaken. He has taken such good care of the fellow that we needn't worry +about him, and if I am to leave this place at daylight, it's time I got +some sleep." + +Stephen resumed his place on the bed, and Walter followed his example, but +not to rest. + +He had believed himself free from all pursuit while he remained in the +forest; and during the past hour had been shown how vain was that idea. + +The stillness of the night, the soothing sounds of the foliage, moved to +and fro by the gentle wind, soon lulled him to sleep, despite his anxiety; +and when he next opened his eyes the sun was shining directly upon him +through the leaves; but neither Sewatis nor the prisoner could be seen. + +Walter leaped to his feet, searched to and fro several moments in vain, +and then found a trail leading eastward across the river. + +Sewatis had returned to his own tribe, and with him had gone, however +unwillingly, James Albert and the warrant for the young messenger's +arrest. + +CHAPTER VI SEWATIS + +STEPHEN was naturally surprised when, on being awakened, he was informed +of the departure of Sewatis with the prisoner; but he did not regard it as +a matter of any very great importance, save as it indicated that the +disreputable half-breed would not probably be seen in Portsmouth again. + +"Most likely Jim Albert did some wrong to the members of Sewatis's tribe, +and that is why the old fellow hung around here, waiting for just such a +chance as he finally got. I don't see why we should trouble our heads +about it." + +"I am sorry Sewatis has gone. In addition to being of great assistance to +me, he was a companion, and now I shall be entirely alone." + +"In that way it has worked you an injury," Stephen replied, carelessly; +"but on the other hand, you need not fear the half-breed will hunt you +down again in behalf of Sam Haines, which is more than a fair off-set." + +Walter made no reply; a sensation of utter loneliness such as he never +before experienced had come over him, and he would have been better +pleased to know James Albert was seeking an opportunity to arrest him, +providing that by such a change in the situation of affairs Sewatis had +remained. + +It was useless to give words to his troubles, however, and he did his best +to appear contented, lest Stephen should carry to his mother the report +that her son had lost courage. + +Walter prepared the morning meal; Stephen did full justice to it, and then +made ready to take his departure. + +"I will come again within a week or ten days. What shall I bring?" + +"Powder, if you can buy it for me on credit." + +"I fancy Master McCleary will provide you with plenty." + +"Say to my mother that I suffer for nothing save the opportunity to see +her. She knows full well what other words I would speak if she were here." + +With a hearty clasp of the hands the two friends I separated, Stephen to +make his way through the forest ten miles or more, and Walter to resume +the labour which might prove useless. + +The would-be miller found it very difficult to continue at his task during +that day. More than once he almost decided to remain idle until word +should come that he was at liberty to return home; but then he remembered +the goal he had set for himself, and laboured more industriously than +before. + +It was no longer possible, now he was alone, to move the larger logs, and +all he could do was to hew them into shape, without an attempt to remove +the timbers to the site of the mill. + +The days passed slowly and wearily. The Sabbath seemed to have in it three +times the usual number of hours. He indulged in hunting only when it +became absolutely necessary he should have food, for the supply of powder +bid fair to be exhausted before the time set for Stephen's return. + +A week elapsed, and the young exile grew more cheerful. His friend must +soon come. As for Sewatis, Walter did not believe he would ever see him +again. + +At the close of the eighth day, when the solitary supper had been cooked +and eaten, more as one performs an important duty than something to be +enjoyed, Walter was lying on the bed of boughs, dreaming of the time he +could return home without fear of an unjust arrest, when a shadow came +between his eyes and the fire. + +Springing up in alarm, he seized the musket, which stood where it could be +reached handily, and made ready to defend himself, for it seemed certain +Sam Haines or one of his emissaries had come to carry him to jail. + +Sewatis stood before him. + +One would have said that the Indian had been absent but a few moments, and +was wholly at a Joss to understand the look of surprise on the boy's face. + +"I thought you were never coming back!" Walter cried, in a tone of most +intense relief. + +"Come to see mill," the Indian replied, as he seated himself and began to +eat a deer-steak which had been left near the fire. + +"I am beginning to fear you will never see one of mine," the boy said, +despondently. "I have been foolish enough to think I could borrow as much +as would be needed, while money is so scarce in this province." + +"Build mill next day," Sewatis said, more indistinctly than usual, because +his mouth was full of meat. + +Walter understood the Indian to mean that he would continue the work on +the morrow, and was not particularly interested in the proposed labour, +for during the time he had been alone the possibility of ever getting a +sufficient capital seemed an obstacle which could not be surmounted. + +"What did you do with Jim Albert? " + +"Big rascal! Jim gone Castine; never come back." + +"Castine, eh? Well, you took him far enough away, at all events." + +"Heap rascal fetch heap money," and Sewatis drew from beneath his blanket +a bag which, on being opened, proved to be filled with gold pieces. " +Hundred pound; more Jim worth alive." + +It was some time before Walter could understand the Indian's meaning, and +then the thought came that he had heard some one say the half-breed came +to Portsmouth from the Penobscot River. + +"Do you mean that there was a price set on Jim's head?" he asked, eagerly. + +"Hundred pound," and Sewatis held up the bag once more. "Now build mill." + +"But I have nothing to do with that," Walter cried, as the Indian pushed +the money toward him. + +"Build mill." + +"But I surely can't do it with your money, you must understand that." + +"Why?" + +"Because it ---you know I couldn't." + +"Would from white man? " + +"That is different. If Master McCleary or Master Leavitt would lend it to +me, taking a mortgage to secure themselves - " + +Sewatis pushed his bag toward Walter once more, and when the latter shook +his head, as if to refuse the loan, or gift, which ever it might be +called, the Indian rose to his feet, pulling his blanket more closely +around him. + +"What is the matter? Where are you going?" + +Sewatis pointed toward the east, and moved slowly away. + +"Come back!" Walter cried, entreatingly. "Come back and help me as you did +before." + +"Build mill?" and the Indian touched the bag of money with his foot. + +"Do you mean that you won't stay unless I use that gold? " + +Sewatis nodded. + +"Suppose I did take it ?" + +The Indian seated himself as if to show he would remain. + +It was fully an hour before Walter spoke again, and during that time he +pondered over the matter in all its bearings. It seemed much like taking +an undue advantage of Sewatis to use his money, and yet there could be no +question but that he was pained when it was refused. + +"I don't know why the fact of his being an Indian should prevent me from +accepting the offer," the boy said to himself. "I would be perfectly +willing to receive a loan from Master Leavitt, who has never shown half +the friendship for me this red man has." + +Sewatis watched him intently, and finally pushed the bag nearer. + +"Yes, I will take it," Walter said, decidedly. "It is only to be loaned, +and until I can pay it back you shall have half the profits of the +business." + +Sewatis nodded in approbation. + +"And you are to stay here with me?" + +"All time; now I call Injuns." + +Walter was wholly at a loss to understand the meaning of this remark until +Sewatis rose to his feet, uttering a cry that might well have been +mistaken for a night-owl. + +In response to it, half a dozen red men, each carrying a burden, came out +from among the trees, and depositing their heavy loads in the lean-to, +seated themselves before the fire in silence. + +Sewatis motioned for Walter to look at that which had been brought, and +while the latter wonderingly obeyed, he cut from the haunch of venison a +sufficient number of steaks to serve as a hearty meal for the new-comers. + +The boy's surprise may be imagined when he discovered that each of the +packages was made up of furs, and he understood that the value of the +whole lot greatly exceeded the amount of money in the bag. + +"Big mill," Sewatis said, in a tone of satisfaction, and then he turned +his attention to his followers, leaving Walter to speculate upon the good +fortune which had come to him so unexpectedly. + +The Indians remained in camp during that night, and at daybreak, after a +breakfast of venison, all save Sewatis departed. + +Never before had Walter worked as he did on the day succeeding the +Indian's return. It was a perfect fever of industry, superinduced by the +knowledge that there was now nothing to prevent the consummation of his +desires save that which could be done by hands. + +His companion appeared as before the coming of Jim Albert, with a single +exception, and that was at the close of the fatiguing day's work, when he +pointed to a slight elevation overlooking the site of the proposed mill, +and said, quietly,- + +"Sewatis build house there. " + +"So you shall, and between the two of us I reckon we can run the business +as it should be." + +Two days more the boy and his friend worked during every moment of +daylight, and then came Stephen Kidder. + +"Master McCleary is just behind me," he cried, before Walter could greet +him. + +"Master McCleary! Why has he come? Is there more danger for me?" + +"You are free to go to Portsmouth this day. Samuel Haines has sailed for +England, and there is little chance he will ever return." + +Before Walter could realize the full bearing which Haines's departure +would have upon his own affairs, Andrew McCleary came into view. + +"It is a brave spot, my lad, and you have done well to choose it. Master +Leavitt gives me great encouragement in regard to advancing the money, but +stipulates that he shall be made a partner in the enterprise, you to pay +him interest on the entire amount until your debt of one-half is +discharged." + +"I shall not need his money, for I already have a partner who neither +demands interest nor a portion of the profits," Walter replied, +laughingly; and then he told his now mystified friends of what Sewatis had +done. + +McCleary insisted upon taking the Indian by the hand as he praised him, +but not a word, either good or bad, could he persuade Sewatis to speak. + +The mill was built and opened for business four months after the repeal of +the Stamp Act, and Sewatis insisted on pouring into the hopper the first +bushel of corn brought to be ground. + +This much regarding Walter Neal and his friends is known through the +writings of others, and the next mention which is made of either person +immediately connected with this story is found in Belknap's "History of +New Hampshire" regarding the battle of Bunker Hill, where he writes +concerning the three New Hampshire regiments which were mustered into the +service of Congress: + +"The two former were present in the memorable battle on the heights on +Charlestown, being posted on the left wing, behind a fence, from which +they sorely galled the British as they advanced to the attack, and cut +them down by whole ranks at once. In their retreat they lost several men, +and among others the brave Major Andrew McCleary, who was killed by a +cannon shot after he had passed the Isthmus of Charlestown." + +A letter now before the writer of this story, signed by Walter Neal and +addressed to his mother at Portsmouth, tells of his service during the +battle, while he was a member of the regiment to which Andrew McCleary was +attached, and in it the miller says: + +"Tell Sewatis that our noble friend is no more. He has given his life for +his country, and when America takes her place among nations, McCleary's +name will stand out bright as the sun." + +THE END. + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Neal, the Miller +by James Otis + diff --git a/old/nealm10.zip b/old/nealm10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c6c7e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/nealm10.zip |