h will go with us to Cambridge," I replied in a tone of
triumph, for the longer I had time to realize what arrangements my
comrade had made, the stronger was my belief that we would carry the
enterprise through in safety.

The pallor of fear came over Seth Jepson's face at these words; but Job
Lord gave no token of being disturbed in mind, and for the very good
reason, as I afterward came to know, that he did not believe we could
work such a scheme.

"When you show that it is possible to take this lad and me through the
streets of Boston as prisoners, then I will be willing to believe I
stand in danger of seeing the rebel army in Cambridge; but not before.
You are putting all your faith in that safeguard and the order from
General Gage, which were stolen from me; but you are like to be in more
danger with, than without them, for the king's officers in this town
know me full well, and your man Griffin cannot pass himself off in my
stead."

Master Lord spoke in a tone of conviction, and this seemed to give Seth
a little courage, for straightway the color came into his face again,
and he looked up at me with a sickly smile, as if to say that he was not
to be taken in by any threats I might make.

It would have pleased me hugely had it been safe to tell the
double-faced scoundrel how thoroughly well Hiram had laid his plans, and
how readily some of the king's people could be made to swallow the story
he told. But I refrained from doing so because it was yet possible
something might occur which would give the man an opportunity to reveal
our plans to those who might thwart them.

While I sat by the bedside leaning over the prisoners in a menacing
attitude, ready to carry out the threats we had made in case they should
attempt to raise an outcry, we could hear shouts of laughter from Archie
and Harvey as Hiram told of tricking the Britisher, and I was of the
opinion that those sounds of mirth went further toward convincing Master
Lord that we were in shape to do as I had said, than any words of mine
could have done, for he began to look seriously disturbed, turning his
head first one way and then the other as if striving to catch a word now
and then to get an inkling of what was being said.

Those in the room above did not return to the cellar for a long time,
as it seemed to me; but when they were come below Hiram went to the
table and began eating heartily, for we had not taken the trouble to put
the food away after