may fancy, and it was as if the very blood
grew chill in my veins when I saw that he who had spoken was none other
than the traitorous cur, Seth Jepson.

CHAPTER XV

AN AWKWARD CAPTURE

I was thoroughly dazed at having let myself be come upon by the one lad
in town who could do me the most mischief. It was literally impossible
to speak for a full minute, and during such time as I remained staring
stupidly into the lad's face there ran through my mind like a flash of
lightning all it was possible for him to do, not only against myself,
but those I had left behind in the cellar of Job Lord's house.

It is true that the Tory cur had then no means of knowing whether others
had come into the town with me; but should he give an alarm and I be
taken into custody, as must surely follow, then would that host of ours
who claimed to be such a devoted friend to the Cause, make known the
contents of his cellar in order to have a share in the credit of
capturing "rebels."

I realized almost as soon as the scoundrel had spoken, that we two must
not part; that the safety of all our little company depended upon my
silencing him in some way; but how might it be done save at the expense
of killing? Even though his death would have been of benefit to the
Cause, I could not find it in my heart to do that which seemed much the
same as murder.

"I little expected to find you at large in the streets of this town,"
Seth said in what he meant to be a jeering tone, but, with all my
senses on the alert because of the imminence of the danger, I noticed
that he looked uneasily out of the tail of his eye as if having it in
mind to give me the slip, and this, as you may suppose, heartened me,
although even while I stood gazing at him did I realize that he was
simply casting about in his mind for some means whereby he might take
advantage of thus meeting with me.

I answered boldly enough, however, and was well pleased to continue the
conversation sufficiently long to have an opportunity of deciding upon
my course of action, therefore said:

"Will you tell me how long since I have not had the privilege of walking
the streets of Boston town, Seth Jepson?"

"That's a question easily answered. You lost the right when you attacked
the king's men off Hog island."

"Well, and what did you lose when you showed yourself not only a traitor
to the Cause, but a cur, gaining the confidence of your comrades only
that you might betray them to a