with us lads you allowed it would be an easy matter
to carry the plan through as we had formed it," I said irritably, and he
replied laughingly:

"Aye, true for you, lad; but of what avail would it have been had I set
forth all the dangers of the enterprise as they presented themselves to
my mind? Would it have given you courage had I allowed that there was a
great doubt in my mind whether we might not be taken into the custody
immediately on showing ourselves at the Bridewell?"

"Well," I interrupted, "have you done away with all danger? Is there any
less chance now that you will be detected, simply because of having
convinced some thick-headed sergeant?"

"Aye, lad, it strikes me the danger is very much less, because I count
on going there with a lobster back as guard and assistant. The officer
on duty at the Bridewell will never stop to ask who sent the soldier
with me; but seeing the governor's order, will, unless he is a rank
idiot, conclude that General Gage himself showed me such delicate
attention, and I'm counting that by having a red-coated escort I've
wiped out more than half the chances that the order will be questioned."

The very fact of his having made such a venture frightened me, even
though it was all happily come to an end, and to our advantage, as it
seemed. Once more I trembled with fear, and then, realizing that Archie
and Harvey must be burning with impatience to know why we delayed coming
into the cellar, I said to Hiram that he should remain where he was
while I sent our comrades up that they might hear the wonderful story.

He was perfectly willing to do as I suggested, for it pleased him to
repeat the tale of having tricked the lobster backs, and I wondered not
that he should feel a pride in what had been done, therefore I went into
the cellar, telling the lads that there was one in the room above who
would have speech with them.

"I thought I heard Hiram's voice," Archie said, wheeling about to face
me, for he had understood that I would have him believe a stranger had
come.

"So it was Hiram's voice," I replied, "and you will not be saddened by
that which he has to tell."

"So he had the good luck to get back, did he?" Job Lord asked grimly,
and it must have been a grievous disappointment to the man who had
believed firmly that Hiram could not remain at liberty ten minutes while
on the street.

"Aye, he has come back," I said, "and now there is little question but
that you and Set