le for the lad to be present when the enemies of the Cause meet
for deliberation, as you may understand from what I have told you
already in regard to their purpose of holding the women and children in
Boston town as hostages. When I joined your company of Minute Boys it
was with the understanding I do whatsoever I might in behalf of the
colony; but if you believe I should shut off all intercourse with Tory
lads, then shall it be done."

What else could I say than advise him to keep on the same path he was
traveling? At the time I was impressed by his words; but later, after
having had an opportunity to turn them over in my mind, I came to ask
myself why he should at that moment have so strongly defended himself
when I had charged him with no evil.

The result of this interview was that I not only urged the lad to
continue as he had been doing; but came to have more faith in him than
ever before, yet was I sufficiently prudent to hold my tongue concerning
our doings, and he got nothing from me that he could turn to the
advantage of his Tory friends.

With the exception of Silas, Harvey, and Hiram, none of our company knew
there was any hope or intention of striving to release Archie, and I was
determined the matter should remain a profound secret if any word or act
of mine could compass that end.

Although burning to speak with Silas, when I left Seth it was to saunter
in the direction of Queen street as if I walked aimlessly, rather than
with a purpose, and fortune so favored me that on turning into Corn hill
I came upon Harvey Pearson.

"Is it well for you to remain near to the prison after having warned
Archie?" I asked sharply, and the lad replied with a laugh:

"Don't fear that I'll make such a simple of myself as to do anything of
the kind. I haven't been on Queen street since I warned the lad that we
would be there this night."

"Have you met any others of the company?"

"Yes, mayhap four or five, all of whom are loitering about with their
ears and eyes wide open; but I fancy they haven't caught much that would
be of value to our people at Cambridge."

"Have you said to other than Silas or me that you count on getting
speech with Archie to-night?"

"Never a word."

"Then see that you don't. I have just left Seth Jepson, and because of
his questions it came to me he was eager to learn what we counted on
doing; but I gave him no satisfaction."

Harvey soon set my mind at rest regarding his intention