duty at the Neck night and day, and yet our people were
able to send past them secretly such of weapons and ammunition as were
to provide us, at a later date, with what might be needed to uphold our
rights. Even the youngest among us understood that the day was not far
distant when we must stand face to face with the lobster backs in battle
array, if we would preserve our own rights, and every article which
might be used in the coming struggle was smuggled under the noses of the
guards.

Our fathers sent out muskets in loads of manure, cartridges in candle
boxes, pistols and swords in the baskets of such market women as were
permitted to enter the town that they might bring provisions for the
king's soldiers, and the loyal men of Boston had collected at Cambridge
quite a store of what would be needed when the time came that blood must
be shed. Then, suddenly, the thick-headed lobster backs discovered what
was being done, and scores upon scores of firearms were captured by
them.

Many of our people had fled the town by this time; but a large number
yet remained. My father, Samuel Wright, had lately gone to Cambridge on
business. We were then living on Lyn street, close by the old ship-yard
near Hudson's point, and not far away, that is to say, on Hull street
opposite the burying place, was the home of Archie Hemming, the lad who
sits near me at this moment watching every motion of mine lest I falter
in the task he has set me. Silas Brownrigg lived on Salem street nearby
the corner of Charter, and we three were close friends in those dark
days when the king's men swaggered through the town, cuffing or kicking
any of us lads who chanced to be in their high and mighty way.

Now it was on a certain evening near the middle of June that we three
lads chanced to come upon Amos Nelson near the city dock. He, like all
his father's brood, was that miserable thing known as a Tory, and we had
no idea of bandying words with him, believing it beneath us to talk with
such scum; but he was minded to pick a quarrel, believing that General
Gage would soon drive us, who claimed to be true to the colony, from our
homes.

Because of what happened shortly afterward, I believe the Tory cur had
heard at home some inkling of what was to be done by the lobster backs,
for never had I seen him so bold, who was ever somewhat of a coward.

I was the one he pitched upon to vent his spite, and when we would have
passed him, he shouted in that sque