rker than it had been when I set out, and as we came to the
end of Hog alley I believed it safe to stop there an instant in order to
regain my breath, for now both captive and captor were breathing
heavily.

Here, as we crouched within the shadow of an outhouse, Seth began his
whining once more; but I cut him short with an extra twist in the collar
of his shirt, at the same time warning him in a whisper that my knife
would find its place in his back if he dared speak one word, however
cautiously.

Now was come the time when I must decide upon what should be done, and,
despite the danger, in my perplexity I decided to take the chances of
regaining Master Lord's dwelling, saying to myself that the only hope
remaining was to get Seth into that place of refuge which was at the
same time our prison. Once there Hiram Griffin could decide whether we
would not be warranted in turning our backs upon the mission which had
brought us to Boston town, and make every effort to gain Cambridge with
the prisoner.

It was a wondrous relief to have settled upon some plan, however poor
and desperate, and without further loss of time I pushed Seth on once
more, vowing that we should not slacken pace, unless it might be to
avoid the patrol, until having come to Cow lane.

Down through the alley, across Newbury street; through the gardens
there to Short street, and thence on to Blind lane; past the New South
Church, and down Summer street, finally coming to our destination.

Even as I set this down it seems wondrous strange that we could have
come thus far, and for a certain distance through a settled portion of
the town, without having seen or heard anything of life. Yet such was
indeed the case, else I had not been here to tell this poor story of our
Minute Boys of Boston, for had we been captured while I held Seth Jepson
in my power, then was the end speedily come for me, because every Tory
in town would have seen to it that such charges were brought to my door
as would lead to the gallows.

It was when we were come to the rear of Master Lord's house, I still
clutching the Tory cur firmly by the collar, that my heart misgave me.
How would it be possible for me to send him down through that narrow
tunnel without his making an outcry, and should the plan succeed, how
were we to keep him in hiding where we ourselves were prisoners?

However, I had come so far on the way that there was no turning back.
The plan must be carried out as i