ble."

Robert said nothing about his experience at the town pump.

"Tommy Hutchinson," the doctor went on, "is acting governor. He is not
the hyena Bernard was. Hutchinson was born here. He is a gentleman,
but loves office. I would not do him any injustice, but being in
office he naturally sides with the ministry. He does not see which way
the people are going. King George believes that he himself is chosen
of God to rule us, and Lord North is ready to back him up. The people
around the king are sycophants who are looking after their own
personal advantage. The ministers know very little about affairs in
the Colonies. They are misled by Bernard and others. They are
determined to raise revenue from the Colonies, but will be
disappointed. But we will go round to the Green Dragon."

[Illustration: DOCTOR JOSEPH WARREN]

They reached the tavern. Doctor Warren nodded to the landlord, and led
the way up the stairs along the hall and gave four raps on a door.
One of the panels swung open. A man on the other side said something
which Robert could not understand, neither could he make out what the
doctor said in reply. The panel closed, the door opened, and they
passed into a large room dimly lighted by two tallow candles. A dozen
or more young men were seated in chairs around a table smoking their
pipes. At one end of the table was a large punch-bowl, a basket filled
with lemons, a bottle of rum, a plate of crackers, and half a cheese.
One young man was slicing lemons and making rum punch. All clapped
their hands when they saw Doctor Warren.

"I have brought a young friend; he is from New Hampshire and as true
as steel," said the doctor.

"Boys," said Amos Lincoln, "this is the gentleman I was telling you
about; let's give him three cheers."

The room rang. Robert did not know what to make of it; neither did
Doctor Warren till Amos Lincoln told how he had seen Mr. Walden at the
town pump, knocking down one lobster, throwing another into the
watering-trough, and calmly confronting the prig of a lieutenant. When
Amos finished, all came and shook hands with Robert.

Mr. John Rowe called the meeting to order.

"Since our last meeting," he said, "a ship has arrived bringing the
news that the king and ministers are determined to levy an export duty
of three pence per pound on tea: that is, all tea exported from
England will be taxed to that extent. Of course, we could pay it if we
chose, but we shall not so choose."

The