ran loose I fancied Hiram moved uneasily about, as if he
would say something to me privately; but I, puffed up with pride because
of taking upon myself for the first time command of the Minute Boys,
gave no heed to him until I had stripped myself bare of information, so
that if, peradventure, there was a traitor among us he could go direct
to General Gage with a story of all that we proposed to do.

Having finished the recital I asked if there were any who could give
information concerning Archie which had not already been made public,
and one of the lads spoke up promptly, saying:

"He is not so badly treated in prison, when you remember his father's
standing among the Sons of Liberty, for instead of occupying a cell, he
is locked in one of the small rooms near the end of the building."

"Who told you that?" I asked, wondering how so much of information could
have been come at by our lads, and he answered, pointing with his
finger:

"It was Seth Jepson told me."

Wheeling about suddenly to face the lad whom I had suspected when it was
first proposed he be allowed to join the Minute Boys, I fancied there
was a look of uneasiness, almost of fear, upon his face, as if he had
just realized the danger of having imparted too much information. Then,
like a flash, there came upon me a great wave of self-reproach because I
had spoken so freely concerning our plans. If Seth Jepson was inclined
to be a traitor, verily he had it now in his power to do us gravest
injury.

"How did you learn so much regarding Archie?" I asked sharply. "Have
you been allowed to visit the prison?"

"It was Amos Nelson told me," Seth replied, and again I fancied I saw a
troubled look come over his face.

Because of blaming myself for having told all I knew, it was much as if
I strove at this time to make a scape-goat of some other.

"Do you think it well," I asked sharply, "now that you have been
enrolled as a Minute Boy, promising to do whatsoever you may in behalf
of the Cause, to hold converse with as rank a Tory lad as Amos Nelson?"

"And why should I not?" he cried boldly. "Would you have me advertise
the fact that I am a member of this company by refusing to speak with a
neighbor? For some reason, I know not what, Amos was taken into the
prison, most like to work for the soldiers on duty there, and he saw
Archie Hemming, or heard that the lad was locked up in the small room.
It was no more than natural he should tell me the news, and I