d of which I laid myself bare," I cried bitterly, "and at the
same time was suspicious of that lad, Seth Jepson. Not until he admitted
getting information concerning Archie from Amos Nelson, did I realize my
mistake."

"Well," Hiram said soothingly, "no good ever came of crying over spilt
milk. You must try to conjure up some plan for holding Seth Jepson in
such fashion that he will be harmless, or, if so much cannot be done,
see to it he is kept ignorant as to what you would do."

There was no reason why we should linger under the old wharf, and I was
eager to be alone despite the fact that I craved Hiram's companionship,
for it seemed as if I must work out some scheme by which it would be
possible to prevent Seth Jepson from playing us false.

Therefore it was I led the way to my house, and said when we were come
to the door:

"You are free here to do as you will; but I'm thinking it may be wiser
if we two are not seen together overly much. I am counting on going
across the Common with the idea of helping Silas, if he believes it safe
to bring the boat around."

"Never fear but what I'll look after myself," he said cheerily as he
entered the house, and I went my way alone.

Now it is not needed that I set down too many words in striving to tell
that which is of little importance. It will be as well if I pass over
four and twenty hours, and come to the afternoon of the day following my
woeful blunder.

During that time many things had happened, and instead of our sending
information to Cambridge, great news had come from there to us in Boston
who were loyal to the Cause.

It was reported by one who had succeeded on entering the town by way of
the Neck, despite all the vigilance of the guards there, that so many
men had arrived from all quarters to aid in opposing the king's troops,
that no less than twenty thousand were then in the encampment, and
General Ward had taken command of what was really an army. Israel
Putnam had led thither a large number of volunteers from Connecticut;
Colonel John Stark, of New Hampshire, was come with a great following,
and the only trouble was lack of discipline and housing for so many
people.

General Ward had held a council of war with all the officers who had
been previously appointed by Congress, and it was decided that Boston be
besieged. Fancy! we of the colonies called "rebels" were making
preparations, to the extent of having raised a large army, to take from
the Brit