e line of the coast to a small gun-battery,
nearby which was a block-house for the shelter of the men who were in
charge of that apology for a fortification.

Here we found no one who could vouch for our loyalty to the Cause, and
it was difficult to convince the lieutenant in charge that we were true
Americans, for he failed utterly of understanding why, if we would serve
the Cause, it was our intent to sacrifice ourselves.

However, before night had come Hiram succeeded in making the officer
understand that we had told him no more than the truth, for it seemed
that this lieutenant came from Concord, and Griffin was intimately
acquainted with many of his friends.

When he found that it was not possible to turn us back, he set about
doing all he could to further what he called "the mad plan," and to that
end agreed that when everything was in favor of our making an attempt to
enter Boston, meaning on the first cloudy or stormy night, he would
provide us with a skiff. He also directed us to an old man who lived at
Windmill point, by name of Job Lord, whom he declared would do for us
all within his power, and insisted that we might trust him as we would
our own fathers.

We remained with these soldiers four days, during which time even Hiram
saw no fair opportunity to cross over into the town, and meanwhile we
were eating our hearts out with impatience. As has already been said,
too often, perhaps, I did not favor the plan, but yet before a suitable
night came I was eager to be about the undertaking, for anything was
better than remaining there twirling our thumbs, and it seemed certain
that each day we lingered rendered it more difficult for us to come at
Silas.

Then, near about sundown on a certain afternoon, clouds began to gather
in the sky. There was a promise of rain in the southerly wind, and
before darkness had fully come we saw to it that our skiff was made
ready for the short journey; that the oars were muffled, and that such
provisions as the men at the battery could spare, were bestowed among
our clothing in such a way as would least hamper us in case we were
forced to depend upon our heels for safety.

The men, whom we had come to know right well during our long stay, bade
us "good bye" as if believing we would never meet again, and so solemn
was the leave-taking that much of my eagerness to forward the venture
was dispelled.

We waited until after nine of the clock, and then pushed cautiously out
fr