unity for the barber's apprentice to appeal
to his followers.

Shaking him vigorously, as if with the idea that after such treatment
he could better understand the words, Amos said, in a tone
sufficiently loud for all to hear:

"I came out here simply to give you a flogging, Hardy Baker, and did
not intend to waste any time about it; but so long as your friends are
willing to stand by honestly, you shall have a chance to prove you can
do what you boasted of being able to do."

Then Amos released his hold of the barber's collar, in order that the
latter might be in a position to defend himself.

Hardy could do no less than strike out in his own defence, for it was
not possible to beat a retreat; but his efforts were as feeble as they
were vain. Before five minutes had passed Master Piemont's assistant
was the most thoroughly whipped boy in the Colony of Massachusetts,
and perfectly willing to acknowledge himself such, if by so doing he
could prevent a continuation of the punishment.

"I can't strike a fellow when he will no longer defend himself," Amos
said, as if in apology, after Hardy was so cowed as to remain passive
under the blows. "I don't reckon you other fellows really knew what
you were about when you came here to raise a row, so we'll let the
matter end here. Until last night this barber and I were good friends,
and would have been this moment, but for the fact that I refused to
make a street brawler of myself, as he demanded. It is true Ebenezer
Richardson is my uncle; but neither my father nor myself are of his
way of thinking, as this whipped cur knows thoroughly well. I have
been as ready to cry down an informer as any of you, therefore why
should my father's house be attacked?"

"He told us you were hand in glove with the 'bloody backs,'" one of
the party said, as he motioned toward the prostrate barber.

"And he was lying. Ask any of the boys who know me whether that is
true. You can believe Chris Gore, who was wounded the same day Chris
Snyder was killed; ask him!"

"And why not ask me?" Jim Gray cried. "It was Amos Richardson who had
charge of putting the warning in front of Master Lillie's store."

"Hardy Baker said he and Chris Snyder did that alone," one of the
barber's followers shouted, and Jim replied:

"All the part he took was to help carry the pole from my house over to
Hanover Street. Amos had charge of the whole matter, and yet you
believe he is friendly with the 'bloody backs,'