it for his own troops."

I grew so surprised as he went on with his explanations that it had been
impossible to interrupt him. While he had told to me in Boston what our
people would have the Minute Boys do, I fancied it was the simplest of
tasks, being all labor and no danger. Now, however, I was coming to
understand that while acting as drovers we might find employment as
soldiers, and when he ceased speaking I said in a whisper:

"Would you resist in case the king's men came upon us while we were
taking a cargo on board?"

"Ay, that I would, if so be they had no larger force than two to our
one."

"Have you then soldiers on board the other sloops?" I asked, not yet
understanding his purpose.

"Indeed I have not; where would be the need of others when here are all
the Minute Boys of Boston?" he said laughingly.

"But while the Minute Boys may be ready to resist the king's men, they
could not make much of a fist at it without weapons, and we have nothing
of the kind."

"In that you are making a mistake. There are on board the other sloop
muskets and ammunition enough to serve us through quite a battle, if so
be you lads have what is needed in the way of backbone."

"Then there is a chance we may have to fight with the lobster backs?" I
cried, forgetting that in event of an encounter more than one, perhaps,
of our company might be killed, so eager was I that the Minute Boys
should have an opportunity of showing what they could do.

"I count it more than a chance, lad. It is an even thing, according to
my way of thinking, now that your precious Tory has given notice to the
Britishers of our intention. Unless all hands of them are asleep, one or
more vessels will be sent out to-morrow morning to overhaul us,
therefore it is I am eager to begin the work of taking on cargo as
speedily as may be, so that if they come upon us with too large a force
we shall be ready for flight, and not go away empty-handed."

I was near to blessing Seth Jepson because of having played the traitor,
since it might result in our winning a name for the Minute Boys, and
without delay I went back to my comrades, hurriedly giving them to
understand that at last our company was to be armed as befitted
soldiers, even though we were lads, and, what was to me the more
gratifying, it was possible that we would be called upon to measure
strength with the lobster backs.

From this moment all was excitement among our lads. I question if there