r yourself as to that. These men who have been hired to
take the chances of death will be forced back upon us. Look yonder," and
he pointed toward Boston town. "One, two, three, four, five barges, and
filled with marines, if so be I can make out the color they wear after
all the glare of red that has been before my eyes. Howe has called for
yet more reinforcements! The coward dares not meet us again two to one;
but must make the odds yet greater!"

I do not understand how it was; but when Hiram thus pointed out to me
that which, under other circumstances, would have made my heart more
cowardly, it was as if all my waning courage came back to me, and
instead of shrinking on seeing the shattered lines reformed for assault,
I was eager to have them come, gluttonous to have more share in the
cutting down of those who counted on killing us of the colony.

After taking my station on the platform I suddenly bethought myself of
Archie and Silas, and turning, failed to see but two of our Minute Boys
near at hand.

"Where have they gone?" I cried, fearing more than I ever feared aught
on this earth, that they had run away.

"Look over the intrenchment nearby where those red-coats are lying, and
you will see not only the Minute Boys, but many a man," Hiram shouted.

When I did as he told me, I saw mayhap fifty of our people searching the
bodies of the dead lobster backs for powder and balls in order that
their own scanty store might be replenished. I also saw one of our men
raise a Britisher's canteen to his lips and drink, and then all my
desire for water came once more, until it seemed as if my tongue was
like a dry stick clicking against the roof of my mouth.

Perspiration was streaming down my face and from my hands, and in my
desire for moisture I scraped it from my cheek, finding it hot and
salty, causing soreness of the tongue and a certain nausea of the
stomach.

Then there was no longer any opportunity for me to consider my own
desires or suffering. The marines in the barges had landed, and forming
in line with those ranks of red, were advancing once more, this time,
as I understood full well, with greater fury than at the first assault
because of having the deaths of their comrades to avenge.

At this moment the cannonading from the ships seemed to be redoubled,
and I could see thrown from the guns on Copp's hill great pieces of
something, larger than three or four cannon balls together, which fell
among the hou