our men to open the
hatches and then order them below into the forecastle," said the
chief, addressing the captain. "You will retire to your cabin. The
Mohawks will not injure your ship or do you any harm."

It was spoken resolutely and in such good English that the captain
understood every word. The sailors lifted the hatches, provided
hoisting tackle, and disappeared down the forward hatchway, and the
captain retired to his cabin. Roger saw an Indian run up the shrouds
by the mainmast and hitch a tackle. He thought the savage had some
resemblance to Tom Brandon. He also saw by the light of the moon, near
its first quarter, that while one party of savages were at work upon
the Dartmouth, others were warping the Elenor and the Beaver to the
dock. It was nearly low tide, and the waves were swashing the timbers
beneath the wharf. Not far away lay the Romney with her cannon peeping
from the portholes. Very quietly the Mohawks began their work,
hoisting chests from the hold, cutting them with hatchets, pouring the
contents over the sides of the vessels. Roger felt a desire to take
part in the work. Running to a blacksmith's shop, he smeared his face
and hands with charcoal, took off his coat, turned it inside out, put
it on, leaped on board the ship, seized a hatchet, smashed the chests,
and tumbled them overboard. The Indians worked in silence. The clock
was striking ten when the last chest was thrown into the dock. Their
work finished, the chief rapped upon the cabin door, and the captain
opened it.

"We have discharged your tea, captain, but we have disturbed nothing
else. If we have we will cheerfully pay the damage."

The captain thanked him for being so considerate.

Tom, Abraham, and Roger, and the other Indians, walked up the street
past the house of Nathaniel Coffin, his majesty's receiver-general.
His eldest son, Isaac, one of Tom's schoolmates, had just sailed for
England, Admiral Montague having obtained a commission for him in the
king's navy, but John, the younger brother, was at home.

Admiral Montague was there standing by an open window.

"Well, boys, you have had a fine, pleasant evening for your Indian
caper; but don't forget, you will have to pay the fiddler by and by."

"Oh, never mind, admiral, we are ready to pay him now," Tom replied.

The other Indians laughed as the admiral closed the window and turned
away.

Very quietly the Mohawks separated. Abraham went to his own house,
Roger went w