exed with too many words:

"Yes, it is full noon. I would have come to you before; but was on your
business, and believed you could content yourselves, even in this poor
place, knowing that your work was being forwarded. Are you suffering for
food?"

"We can bear with hunger many hours and make no complaint, as has
already been shown at Breed's hill," Hiram replied in a tone of
sharpness. "Because of what we heard last night, and through knowing
that we were locked in here as prisoners, did we come to be somewhat
uneasy in mind."

"Then you tried to get out when there was trouble above, regardless of
my warning?" the old man cried angrily.

"We held ourselves as you commanded," and now Hiram's voice rang with
temper. "It was this morning we strove to learn whether we were free to
come and go as we pleased, and found that such was not the case."

"Neither are you free, so far as leaving this house without my consent
is concerned. I have much the same as promised to aid you, and am doing
so, even at risk to myself and injury to the Cause, therefore it is you
are holden here until I shall give the word that you may depart without
endangering the secret of this place."

Master Lord spoke with such an air of authority, as if he understood
full well we were thoroughly in his power, that I was more alarmed than
at any time since we came into the town, and mayhap there was somewhat
of the same feeling in Hiram's heart, for he asked as if he had the
right to know:

"What was going on above us last night?"

"What did you think might be happening?" Master Lord asked.

"It sounded as if three or four men were fighting to such purpose that
the furniture of the room was destroyed."

"You have such a good idea of the matter that there is no need for me to
make any explanation," Master Lord replied somewhat indifferently.
"There were three Tories with me last evening, and but for the fact of
their being well known as favoring the king, I am thinking one or more
of us might have been taken into custody by the patrol."

"Then you consort with enemies of the Cause?" Hiram asked, and the old
man replied:

"Aye, that I do, else how might it be possible for me to do our people a
good turn here in Boston town?"

The man could have made no reply which would have disturbed me more
sorely than did this, for it was in substance exactly what Seth Jepson
had said when we taxed him with being traitorously inclined, and if it
had bee