full
quarter-mile away, while from behind the casks Seth set up a whimpering
cry, which was caused by fear rather than any desire to raise an alarm.

Even though we were in the cellar with a heavy flooring of planks above
us, there could be no question but that Job Lord would succeed in
alarming some of the neighbors unless his wind was shut off, and I saw
Archie dig his fingers into the fellow's throat with a grip that must
have caused intense pain, but yet I am bound to give the traitor credit
for struggling to raise his voice again.

By this time Hiram had so far recovered as to take up the coat which had
been used for the head of the dummy, and thrown on the floor when it was
no longer of service, saying as he came forward:

"Let him open his mouth once more and I'll shove a clapper in that will
put an end to any such noise."

Until now Job Lord's face, what with the choking and with anger, had
been darkened, so to speak; there had been on it an expression of
intense hatred, and a desire to do bodily harm, but when Hiram came up
with that which would serve as a gag, he grew pale, while his lips
quivered as if suddenly and for the first time realizing how completely
he was in our power.

"I'm no such fool as not to know when I am whipped," and I am willing to
give him credit for speaking firmly, even though he must have believed
his very life was trembling in the balance. "There is no need to gag me,
because I promise to hold my peace."

"Meaning that you will do so until some one knocks at the outer door,
and then we shall hear from you again," Hiram cried hoarsely.

"I'm not ready to say I wouldn't take advantage of any chance to call
for help; but just now I'd give a lot to know how it was you imposed
upon our friends to such an extent that they were willing to send you
hither?"

I looked at the man in amazement, wondering what he meant, when Hiram
cried in a voice thick with anger:

"Do you mean to keep up the pretense that you are serving the Cause
rather than the king?"

"There are people in plenty, both at Cambridge and in this town, who
have had so much information and assistance from me that they can swear
with all truth that there is none more devoted to the Cause than I."

CHAPTER XVI

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Even though I believed we had good proof that Master Lord was playing a
double game, his assertion of loyalty to the Cause, made so earnestly
and with such seeming good faith, s