-something of
which I remained in ignorance,--and that it was important such as Doctor
Warren should know of my suspicions.

It was not until the day had grown near to noon that I saw either of my
comrades, and then it was Archie who came up, looking thoroughly well
pleased as he said in a tone of triumph:

"What think you, Luke Wright, of our having enrolled fourteen lads as
Minute Boys, and without having spent half a day at the task?"

Archie gave me the names, and, except in the case of the first recruit,
I could find no fault with any.

Then the lad set about telling me how he and Silas had accomplished the
work, making of it so long a story, and with so much of detail, that I
gave little heed to anything he said, until from the opposite side of
the dock that Tory cur, Amos Nelson, shouted in a tone of derision,
speaking to one of his kindred spirits who was yet quite a distance
away:

"There are two who count on raising a mob of rebels to drive the king's
soldiers from Boston!"

CHAPTER III

THE WAR BEGUN

There could be no question, after this cry from Amos Nelson, but that he
and his Tory friends had in some way come to learn of what we lads would
do toward aiding the Cause.

It was natural that I, suspecting Seth Jepson, should set down to his
door the crime of having betrayed us to our enemies; but when I put that
thought into words Archie would have none of it. He declared that
however much Seth might be inclined toward Toryism, he was not such a
knave as to join us with traitorous intentions in his heart.

We had made no reply to Amos Nelson, and it appeared much as if his only
desire was to let us understand that he was in possession of our secret,
for immediately after having taunted us he went off in the direction of
Corn hill, taking his friend with him, therefore Archie and I had
nothing to do except discuss the possibility of our having been
betrayed, with not a little warmth but no result.

Silas was still engaged in the work of enrolling recruits, and failed to
come to the rendezvous, most like believing he could be doing better
service in seeking out those who would become Minute Boys, than by
wagging his tongue at the city dock with us.

Because of knowing that that which we would keep private was a secret no
longer, I grew disheartened, and instead of agreeing to Archie's
proposition that the remainder of the day be spent in gaining yet more
recruits, I turned my face homew