hiefly of boys, but here men were
gathered, and Amos had a better idea of the gravity of the situation
when he recognised on the outskirts of the crowd reputable merchants,
whom he knew could not be easily induced to lend countenance to
anything which did not really affect the welfare of the Colony.

[Illustration]

Forcing their way here and there among the excited multitude, where were
a dozen speakers, each haranguing those nearest him, the boys learned
that the determination of the citizens was that the soldiers should be
forced to leave the city, and that the affray between the military and
the rope-makers was but an incident which had brought about the
uprising at this particular time, rather than something to be avenged.

They also heard that the mob had assembled near the barracks early in
the afternoon for the evident purpose of taking up the quarrel of the
workmen, but had been dispersed by the troops.

It was also reported that the commanding officer of the Twenty-ninth
Regiment had made formal complaint to Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson,
not only of the insults which his men had received at the rope-walk,
but from the citizens at different times.

"They take possession of the city against our expressed will, and now
complain because they are not treated politely!" one of the speakers
cried. "Their ideas of gentle breeding are so different from ours that
the only amends we can make for our rudeness is to give them an emphatic
invitation to go elsewhere in search of people who love redcoats."

"Down with the 'bloody backs'! Drive them out! They have no business
here!" the crowd shouted, and for a moment Amos and Jim believed a
desperate conflict was near at hand.

The more violent of the speakers were followed by merchants who
deprecated any hasty movement, and in a short time that which had been
almost an ungovernable mob was rapidly becoming an assemblage of
earnest, thinking citizens, desirous of doing in a crisis that which
would best and most effectually right the wrongs under which they were
suffering.

"This is a work which cannot be done in a day," a venerable looking
gentleman said, when some on the outskirts of the crowd demanded to be
led to the barracks. "What is begun now must be finished. To make the
demand that the British soldiers leave the city, and not enforce it,
would be far worse than to remain silent. Much time may be needed."

"We have all there is. No other work shall be done