GRAVE DOUBTS 242

XIV. THE SECRET PASSAGE 261

XV. AN AWKWARD CAPTURE 279

XVI. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS 298

XVII. HIRAM'S VENTURE 316

XVIII. TURNING THE TRICK 334

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

"AND WE DID CHECK THEM!" (p. 195) _Frontispiece_

"I COULD HAVE TOSSED MY HAT ABOARD THEIR CRAFT" 27

"I LEAPED THE FENCE" 61

THE ENCAMPMENT AT CAMBRIDGE 83

"THE SECOND FLASH OF LIGHTNING SHOWED ME THIS SCENE" 117

"'WHO SHALL SAY NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T THE RIGHT
TO CALL OURSELVES MINUTE BOYS?'" 157

"MASTER LORD HELD UP THE UNSCREENED LANTERN" 229

"'WOULD YOU DO MURDER?'" 282

THE MINUTE BOYS OF BOSTON

CHAPTER I

WHY WE WERE ENROLLED

Archie Hemming is as straight-headed a boy as was ever raised in Boston
town, and he insists that, while we are seemingly idling our time away
here in the Cambridge camp, I ought to set down what small share we lads
of Boston have had in beating the lobster backs, for certain it is we
have done our share, and no less a man than General Israel Putnam has
told us plainly that we have already been of great aid to the Cause.

After such praise as that it would not be strange if we allowed
ourselves to be puffed up with pride, more especially because we can
recall many a time since a baker's dozen of us took the high sounding
name of "Minute Boys of Boston," when we have come off best in a tussle
with the king's soldiers or the rascally Tories.

It may seem a matter of surprise to those who have not had a hand in
teaching his majesty a long-needed lesson, that there should be in this
colony of ours, men, and boys too, who could be so evil minded as to do
all they might against those who were shedding their blood, or
imperilling their lives, to release them from the oppressive yoke of
English misrule, but such was, and is, the fact.

During my short life, for I am not yet turned fifteen years, I have been
in more danger, and suffered more of hardships from and through Tories,
our own neighbors and alleged friends, than ever came my way by the
efforts of the red-coated soldiers who allowed to whip us off-hand,
before getting a taste of our metal at Breed's hill--I can n