y
call promptly, for my parents do not leave me as free as are some of
you. However, I think you can reckon it a bargain, and I will do my best
to obey orders."

"We are to have a meeting to-night at the old ship-yard, near to Luke
Wright's home," Archie said, evidently thinking we had spent too much
time over the gaining of this one recruit, and as we hurried away Seth
cried, in what sounded to me like an odd tone:

"Don't fear but that I will be there."

I was so irritated because Seth had become our first recruit, and owing
to the fact that Silas had publicly spoken of our journey to Lexington,
that I could make no comment on what had been done, and as we walked on
with our faces set toward my home, where I counted on breaking fast,
Archie said laughingly:

"You are disgruntled because we chanced to run upon Seth."

"Whether I am or no makes little difference now, since he has agreed to
join us," I replied, and the lad, to win me out of what was very like a
sulky mood, continued:

"I am certain you wrong Seth, and you yourself can only give as a reason
for suspecting him that he has often been seen with Tory lads. Now it is
in my mind that if you and I had as our neighbors half a dozen of those
foolish boys who had rather serve the king than the colony, we would
often be seen in their company."

"There is no good reason why we should discuss the matter now that the
mischief, if any comes of it, has been done," I replied, and then eager
to be alone for the moment, suggested that I go home for something to
eat, meeting my comrades an hour later near the city dock.

To this Silas agreed quickly, for he was eager to continue the work of
gaining recruits, and had no stomach for idling the time away at my
home.

Therefore it was that we three parted company, and when at somewhere
near the time agreed upon I went to the rendezvous, neither Silas nor
Archie were to be seen.

Their absence gave me no uneasiness, for it was possible to guess
exactly why they had not come, and I loitered idly about, watching now a
squad of General Gage's lobster backs as they marched upon some duty
which was likely to be unpleasant to those who loved the Cause, and
again listening to snatches of conversation when two or three whom I
knew to be Tories passed in earnest converse. Without being able to give
any reason, I became impressed, as while returning from Master Hadley's
home, with the idea that something of moment was on foot-