CHAPTER III
THE WAR BEGUN
There could be no question, after this cry from Amos Nelson, but that heand his Tory friends had in some way come to learn of what we lads woulddo toward aiding the Cause.
It was natural that I, suspecting Seth Jepson, should set down to hisdoor the crime of having betrayed us to our enemies; but when I put thatthought into words Archie would have none of it. He declared thathowever much Seth might be inclined toward Toryism, he was not such aknave 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 onlydesire 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 ofCorn hill, taking his friend with him, therefore Archie and I hadnothing to do except discuss the possibility of our having beenbetrayed, with not a little warmth but no result.
Silas was still engaged in the work of enrolling recruits, and failed tocome to the rendezvous, most like believing he could be doing betterservice in seeking out those who would become Minute Boys, than bywagging his tongue at the city dock with us.
Because of knowing that that which we would keep private was a secret nolonger, I grew disheartened, and instead of agreeing to Archie'sproposition that the remainder of the day be spent in gaining yet morerecruits, I turned my face homeward once more, agreeing crustily to meetthose who had promised to become Minute Boys at the old ship-yard thatevening.
A blind man might have seen that Archie was not well pleased with mysudden lukewarmness in the matter of raising a company. He believed heknew there had been no betrayal by Seth, and therefore set down mybehavior to ill nature, rather than disappointment because the plan hadgone awry even before it was well begun.
During the remainder of the day I kept closely housed, doing whatsoevercame to hand in the way of helping my mother, therefore it was, perhaps,that I failed of hearing much which might have startled, and evenfrightened me.
When the night was come I went according to agreement to the ship-yard,and there found assembled those whom Archie and Silas had enrolled. Agoodly company it was, for all told we numbered sixteen, and surely ifthat many lads, eager to do whatsoever they might in aid of the Cause,could be found in Boston town within twelve hours, the time must be nearat hand when we could boast of sufficient recruits to make a showingbefore our elders.
Seth Jepson was among the number, and I must confess at being surprised.So firmly did I believe him to be the one who had betrayed us, that Ifancied the fellow would not dare show his head, yet there he was withno token of guilt, so far as I could see, but appearing to be on mostfriendly terms with every one.
He was so outspoken in behalf of the Minute Boys; so confident theymight in time to come make for themselves an enviable name, that mybelief in his treachery was almost shaken for the moment.
Then came that which I least expected. It had been decided that we wouldhave two officers, one a captain, and the other a lieutenant. ArchieHemming spoke up boldly, declaring that I was his choice as leader; butbefore it was possible for me to make any protest, the others had backedhim up with so many noisy words that the matter was settled without mypermission, and decidedly against my inclination. It was Archie whoshould have been the commander of the Minute Boys, because his head wasclearer than mine. He was more ready of wit; but when I would have saidas much to my comrades, Silas shut me off with a sharp turn, declaringlaughingly that Archie should be the lieutenant, and thus hold aposition where he could counter-balance all my shortcomings.
This also was decided in a twinkling, and thus was our company of MinuteBoys officered despite the better judgment of him who had been selectedas captain.
There was much to discuss on this first night of meeting if we were tobecome, as we claimed, a company of soldiers. Plans should be laidconcerning how we best might set about making ourselves recognized bythe Sons of Liberty, or by the officers of the militia. Then we had todecide upon some regular rendezvous, where at the first summons we mightall assemble, and this last we agreed should be where we then were, atthe old ship-yard, on the tumble-down dock beneath which my skiff washidden.
Every fellow had some plan to suggest which would work to the benefit ofour company, and while nothing was actually decided upon save the placewhere we should meet at the first summons, the time passed so rapidlythat it was midnight before the last of us had freed his mind. Then, asa matter of course, we scurried home, going singly or in couples that wemight the better evade the red-coated watch, which patrolled everystreet, and fearful lest we be chided by our parents, even though wecalled ourselves by the high sounding name of "Minute Boys," for havingremained out so late.
Thus it was that we lads, who prided ourselves on being keenly on thealert for any movement of the lobster backs, and much the same asimprisoned in our own city where it all happened, failed of knowing thatshortly before the meeting of the Minute Boys was broken up, eighthundred of the king's men were embarked in boats at the Common, bound,as we afterward knew, and as many of our elders were then aware, forLexington and Concord.
Before nightfall of the next day the Minute Boys of Boston assembled atthe rendezvous without having been summoned, for word had been broughtinto town of the bloody work at Lexington and Concord, and we lads, whocounted on taking such active part in the struggle against the king, hadlost the first opportunity of showing what it might be possible for usto do.
Sixty-five of the king's soldiers had been killed, one hundred andeighty wounded, and twenty-eight taken prisoners; while of our peoplefifty-nine were killed, thirty-nine wounded, and five failed to answerto the roll call, having, most like, crawled away, as do the loweranimals, to die alone.
All this had been done within and around that town we had so latelyvisited, and yet Archie, Silas and I, who counted ourselves as beingkeen-witted, had failed to have the slightest inkling of what was sonear at hand.
While we had been making simple plans for the future, loitering inBoston when we might have been of service elsewhere, our people werebeing shot down by the lobster backs, and as these thoughts came into mymind I felt as if I had committed some grievous sin in laying up againstSamuel Hadley the charge of being inhospitable, for he was among thefirst to yield his life in behalf of the Cause.
Doctor Warren was there, and also my father, while most like the oldwoman's son, Hiram Griffin, helped to do that which proclaimed to theking our readiness to give our lives rather than submit to injustice. AsI counted over those whom I knew and guessed had taken part in thatbattle, it seemed to me as if of all who would serve the Cause, ourMinute Boys were the only ones absent.
It is needless for me to set down all the unavailing words of regretwhich were spoken among us that night after having heard the news, forit can readily be fancied how we reproached ourselves, and how bitterwas our disappointment. In our shortsightedness and inability to realizethat the work at Lexington and Concord was but the beginning of thestruggle against the king, we failed to understand that we would againand again have ample opportunity of showing what it might be possiblefor us lads of Boston to do.
What at this day seems to me strangest, was that in our grief andvexation we failed to make any plans for future work. It was as if wehad come to believe that the butchery at Lexington ended it all, and weMinute Boys would no longer be needed.
Perhaps our dullness may be accounted for by the fact that there was somuch of excitement on this night and the next day, that we hardly hadtime to think of ourselves. Those yet remaining in Boston, who weredevoted to the Cause, gathered here and there to talk over what at thesame time brought us sorrow and rejoicing--sorrow that so many of ourpeople had been slaughtered, and rejoicing that the struggle againstBritish misrule had finally begun.
The Tories made a big show of themselves, taking good care to appear inpublic and boast that this first lesson was but the beginning of aseries which the king would teach us. They talked so loudly and gavethemselv
es so wholly over to rejoicing that one would have believed agreat victory had been won, whereas, as a matter of fact, our people,all unused to the art of war and but poorly armed, had, as it were, sentthe king's trained men home like whipped curs.
If the battle of Lexington was a victory for the lobster backs, then ofa verity when the king's men had won a dozen of a similar kind, we ofthe colony were come off conquerors.
Archie's father was at home during the battle, but on the evening ofthat day he was summoned to Cambridge, where, so it was stated, ourpeople were gathering in great numbers. His last command to my comrade,and also advice to others of the company who called themselves MinuteBoys, was that he and we remain under cover as much as possible duringthe next three or four days, for it was reasonable to suppose theBritishers would be more severe in their rule than they had been; thatonly the slightest provocation would be needed to lodge in jail thosewho favored the Cause.
It was not in my mind that we lads would be allowed to go to Cambridgewhere an army was gathering under the command of the Committee ofSafety, until we had in some way proven ourselves, and therefore, muchto my disappointment, I had made up my mind that by not having been inLexington at the time of the battle we had lost all opportunity fortaking part in active work.
Luckily, however, I had sufficient sense to give warning that all thosewho had been enrolled as Minute Boys should stay near to their own homesuntil it might be possible to know what our people intended to do, andat the same time hold themselves in readiness for any summons whichmight come.
It was on the second night after the Lexington butchery that Archie cameto my home, having the permission of his mother to sleep with me. We hadbeen earnestly trying to hit upon some way of showing what could be doneby lads such as us, and this visit of his to my home was planned that wemight have more time in which to discuss matters.
From noon until perhaps three hours after we had gone to bed, we ladstalked, suggesting one scheme after another only to discard each asbeing impossible of execution, when there came a summons at the outerdoor which brought both of us to our feet trembling with apprehension,although we could not have said why.
Visitors did not often come at such a time, and there were so few amongour neighbors friendly to the Cause, who yet remained in Boston town,that it did not seem probable any of them would be abroad so late whilethe Tories were given over to rejoicing because of what had been done atLexington.
I could hear my mother as she went to the barred door and asked as towho might be there, after which came the answer, so distinct that Icould catch every word:
"I would see Luke Wright, having a message from his father."
"And who may you be?" mother asked.
"Hiram Griffin," came the reply.
"It is the son of the old woman who fed us when we were hungry," I criedjoyfully to Archie as I ran down the stairs, taking three or four stepsat a bound, for I knew this Hiram Griffin had been loitering inCambridge until he might be of service to the Cause, and his comingcould not betoken ill for me or mine.
As soon as might be I unbarred the door, while my mother was strivingwith trembling fingers to get a flame to the candle, and then thereentered a young fellow who could hardly have been one and twenty, stoutof frame, with a face betokening rarest good nature, but yet at the sametime giving one to believe that he might be dull and heavy in hismovements.
"Where did you come from?" I asked, forgetting that it was my duty, inthe absence of my father, to welcome this visitor.
"I am from Cambridge where our people are gathering as flies gatheraround molasses, so that in time we may have men enough to meet all theforces General Gage can send against us."
"How did you get here?"
"Partly by walking, partly by pulling in a skiff, and partly byswimming, for one of his majesty's guard-boats ran me down half a mileor more from the shore, and had I not played the muskrat, being able tostay under water as long as that animal, I had been in the city jail bythis time."
Now it was I saw his clothes were sodden; the water which dripped fromevery fold of his garments made a puddle upon the floor, whereat Iquickened the embers on the hearth into a blaze that he might dryhimself, and, understanding what I would do, this Hiram Griffin saidwith a laugh:
"A little more or less of water won't do me any harm, and I can wellafford to take the wetting because of shutting the eyes of the lobsterbacks so finely. They counted that I must have drowned, since one of thelubbers aimed a blow at my head and shattered the gunwale of the boat.Most like he thought my skull was stove in, and consequently they didnot spend much time looking for a dead man that was believed to be atthe bottom of the harbor."
"But you came with a message," Archie interrupted as he descended thestairs, looking curiously at the stranger.
"Ay, and won't be long in the giving of it, seeing as it's no writtenword. Your father, if so be your name is Luke Wright," he added turningto me, "would have you and a lad named Archie Hemming come to Cambridgeas soon as may be."
"But what for?" Archie asked sharply, and Griffin, looking at him insurprise because he thus interrupted the conversation, said curtly:
"It was not for me to ask why Luke was wanted. My part was to bring themessage, if so be I could get into this town, and I allow General Gagewould need more lobster backs than he has now to keep me out if once Iwas set on entering."
"When are we to start?" Archie asked again, and Griffin cried:
"And who may you be, young sir?"
"I am Archie Hemming."
"Oho! so it seems I have killed my two birds with one stone, eh? Well,that may turn out luckily, for I am little acquainted with the streetsof Boston, and was counting on having somewhat of trouble to find yourhome."
"How did you know where we lived?" I asked.
"Your father put it in words so plainly that I could not have missed myaim after once coming upon the ship-yard. Now if you have done withquestioning, suppose we set off?"
"Do you mean that the lads are to go to Cambridge at once?" my motherasked in mingled surprise and anxiety, whereupon Hiram Griffin said witha clumsy bow:
"Those were the orders. Master Wright claimed that it would not be safefor us to make any try at leaving Boston save at night, and unless weset off at once four and twenty hours will be wasted just when time ismost precious."
It can well be imagined that I was in the highest state of excitement atthus being summoned to where the friends of the Cause were gathering tocontinue the rebellion against the king which had been begun atLexington. It seemed that although our Minute Boys had failed to takeadvantage of their first opportunity, it might yet be possible to dosomething which would bring them among those who were devotingthemselves to the colony.
"You are to understand that the lobster backs wrecked my boat, thereforeanother will be needed, unless you count on leaving town by way of theNeck," Hiram said while Archie and I were hurriedly dressing, and then,if never before, did I bless the inclination to buy, a short twelvemonths since, out of my slender purse, the skiff which was hidden underthe dock at the ship-yard.
"We have all we may need in that line," Archie said cheerily, and Icould well understand how glad was his heart because this summons hadcome to us. "But for that which was done at Lexington, Luke Wright and Iwould have sought you in Cambridge long ere this."
"Sought me?" Griffin repeated in perplexity.
"Ay, so we promised your mother," Archie replied, and then he went on totell of our halt on the road from Master Hadley's, and when he was doneHiram said fervently:
"God bless her, her heart was ever as large as that of an ox, and shecould no more see man or boy pass by hungry without trying to makeamends for it, than she could fly. Some day, please God, the three of uswill go to the home which isn't much to look at; but no lad ever had abetter one so far as a mother's love and care counts."
It seemed as if the visitor was recalled by this outburst of devotion,to his immediate duty, for on the instant he changed
his tune by cryinggruffly:
"Are we to stand here until the sun is so near to rising that we willfind it a ticklish job to slip by the guard-boats?"
"Archie and I have never had any trouble in leaving Boston, or of cominginto it when we were so minded, and we will set you on the road toCambridge without turning a hair."
"I am told that the lobster backs are keeping sharper watch sinceLexington, than ever before, and for a certainty around this end of thetown the guard-boats are as thick as fleas on a dog, therefore I'mthinking it is best we set off before the night gets old."
By this time both Archie and I were ready; that is, we were fullyclothed, and since the journey, in case it was not interrupted, would beshort, there were no further preparations to be made, except that wefirst go to warn my comrade's mother of his intended departure.
I proposed that Hiram Griffin should remain at my home until we weredone with this part of the business; but he, having found us so readily,was not willing we should give him the slip even for a moment, andtherefore it was we doubled the danger of being brought to an accountingby the patrol, in taking him across to Hull street.
All might have gone well if we had contented ourselves with this much,leaving to my mother and Archie's the task of notifying the other MinuteBoys of our whereabouts; but I must needs attend to more than wasnecessary, thinking my position as captain demanded it, and afterleaving Hull street, instead of embarking without delay as we shouldhave done, I insisted that we pay a visit to Silas Browrigg's for thepurpose of explaining to him what ought to be done with the companyduring our absence.
Now up to this time we had been so fortunate as not to have come incontact with the patrol or any straggling lobster back, and it wouldhave been possible, had we gone directly there, for us to have gainedthe ship-yard unobserved.
Hiram Griffin grumbled not a little because I deemed it necessary to payso many visits, but, unfortunately, I gave no heed to his words, beingspeedily brought to repent of my heedlessness, for no sooner did we turnthe corner into Salem street than we came upon two of the watch, andwith them a squad of six lobster backs.
Now, as of course you know, we had no lawful right to be abroad in thestreets at that hour without a pass; but it would have been useless forus who called ourselves rebels to have applied for any such permissionto wander about for, as a rule, none save Tories were so favored. SinceGeneral Gage had begun to hold us the same as prisoners, I and all myfriends had taken the chances of venturing out even after nine of theclock, and because thus far we had not gotten ourselves into trouble, Iwas grown bolder than a prudent lad should have been.
When we came upon the watch, reinforced by the lobster backs, however, Irealized on the instant how dangerous was the situation. Without passes,and known to be sons of those who favored the Cause, there was noquestion but what we would be committed to prison, and at some time,meaning when Governor Gage or his understrappers saw fit, brought up forexamination.
"I LEAPED THE FENCE."]
Therefore it was that my thoughts turned to flight, and stepping back apace to check Hiram Griffin's advance, I whispered hurriedly:
"Get over to the ship-yard and hide under the old wharf!"
However dull and heavy Hiram may have appeared, he surely wasquick-witted, needing not a kick to emphasize a hint, for the words wereno sooner out of my mouth than he was off like a deer, taking theprecaution to run in a zig-zag course lest the lobster backs should senda shower of bullets after him.
I followed his example, so far as taking refuge in flight was concerned;but instead of continuing on by the street, I leaped the fence of ParsonReed's yard, making my way across his garden with but little heed to thedamage that might be done the young plants.
On the instant came shouts from the watch and from the soldiers for usto halt, and a few seconds later the crackle of musketry telling thatthey had opened fire, most like on Hiram Griffin, for by this time I waswell hidden from view.
I listened with painful intentness for a cry from Hiram which wouldbetoken that one of the British bullets had found its billet, because hewould be like to cry out in case of being wounded.
Happily no such dismal warning came to my ears, and believing I was safefrom pursuit because of knowing my way through the gardens hereabout,and having close at hand many a safe hiding place, I asked myself forthe first time what might have been Archie's fate.
I had not seen the lad escaping; he was two or three paces in advance ofme when we turned the corner, and the chances were that the poor fellowhad been made prisoner before having had time to realize the dangerwhich we had come upon so suddenly. While one might have counted ten Istood irresolute, wondering whether it was not my duty to learn his fateeven at the expense of being captured, in order that I might dosomething toward aiding him; but then I come to understand that such acourse would be sheer folly. I could do nothing toward effecting hisrelease, and it seemed necessary, at whatever hazard, that I make my wayto Cambridge according to orders.
Yet even when I would have continued the flight came the thought that itwas cowardly to thus desert a comrade; that as captain of the MinuteBoys duty demanded that I stand by every member of the company, howevergreat their peril, yet of what avail would it be?
Even while these thoughts were in my mind I was running as does the harewhen the dogs are close on his scent, and at the same time that Ireproached myself I strained every effort to gain the goal, which wasthe ship-yard, where I believed Hiram Griffin would sooner or later makehis way.
Behind me I could still hear the cries of the watch and the crackle ofmusketry as the lobster backs fired at random, for it was not possiblethat Hiram yet remained in view, and with this noise were mingled theshouts of citizens who had been wakened from their slumbers, until therewas a perfect bedlam at that corner of Hull and Salem streets.
To my relief I came to understand that the noise grew fainter andfainter as I advanced, and, therefore, was it certain that theBritishers were not on my trail; but with such pleasing knowledge camethe thought that Hiram might have been shot down, or, failing tocontinue a true course, was doubling here and there with the pursuersclose upon his heels.
I ran as never before, straining every nerve and muscle in the race asone will when he knows that a prison awaits him if he be overtaken, andit was well the road was no longer, for when finally I dashed in underthe broken timbers of the old wharf my breath was coming so short andthick that I question if I had been able to advance twenty pacesfurther. I was hidden from view, but had any come in search of me theymust have heard my heavy breathing, or the beating of my heart, whichwas thumping like a trip-hammer.
Lying upon the wet mud and seaweed, for the tide was luckily at abouthalf-ebb, I strove desperately to regain my breath and my strength sothat I might have both at command if by some chance the lobster backsgot an inkling of my whereabouts.
How long I remained there it is impossible to say, for at such times aminute seems a whole hour. I only know that I had recovered in a greatmeasure from the fatigue of the race when there came to my ears thesound of footsteps approaching the hiding place, and in a twinkling Iwas on my knees ready to spring out in either direction if thered-coated pursuer showed himself, for at that time I had no doubt butwhat he who thus advanced was in search of me. You see I had for theinstant almost the same as forgotten that Hiram Griffin, if not aprisoner, or Archie, if by some lucky chance he had escaped, wouldstrive to meet me at that place.
During the merest fraction of time I gave myself up to fear, and then,my mind clearing and common sense returning, I crept softly out, stillkeeping within the shadow of the timbers, until I could see against thesky the form of him who was coming toward the hiding place.
One glance was sufficient to show that it was Hiram Griffin, and eventhen when my mind was in such a whirl, I said to myself that he must bea keen lad who could find his way thus deftly across a strange town.
Standing up that he might see me and know in what direction to advance,I
held out both hands, welcoming him when he was come near, as wewelcome those who have literally escaped from the jaws of death.
"I'm thinking that we best not do much in the way of tongue waggingwhile standing here in the open," he said, speaking with difficultybecause of his heavy breathing, and straightway I led him under thetimbers where I had been hiding, asking meanwhile how he had succeededin getting away from the red coats.
"It was only a case of using my legs," he cried grimly. "When a fellowknows that he is being chased by bullets he is able to move right fast.If you had skipped that last visit, thinking more of duty to those whosent me than to your comrades in the company of Minute Boys, we hadgotten off without turning a hair."
"Ay, it is my fault and mine only that Archie has been made prisoner," Icried bitterly, and Hiram asked in surprise, for until this moment hebelieved the lad to be with me:
"Has he been taken?"
"It must be so, since he has not come up. He most like ran into thevery arms of the watch before realizing the danger," I replied.
"Well, here's a pretty kettle of fish," and Hiram spoke much as if thecapture of Archie would be fatal to all the plans of those who had senthim.
"Think you we should go back and try to find the lad?" I askedhelplessly, and he cried as if in anger:
"To what end? Have you an idea that two might take him by force fromsuch a gang as made him prisoner?"
"We could at least go to prison with him, and not have it said wedeserted a comrade."
"Lad," Hiram began, laying his hand impressively on my arm, "before this'ere squabble with the king has come to an end there will be many a goodlad clapped into prison, and many another sent into the next world bymeans of British bullets. If we of the colonies count on gaining ourfreedom we must not let the life or liberty of one person stand in ourway, however dear to our hearts that one may be."
"Then you believe we should leave the poor lad to his fate?" I asked.
"Ay, what else can be done? I came for two lads, and if so be it ispossible I will carry back at least one with me. In case that can't beaccomplished, I'll do my best to save my own skin in order to makereport. Where's your skiff?"
"Just yonder," and I pointed to a dark mass twenty feet or more away.
"'Tis time we were setting off, for no one can say how much more ofdanger we may strike before crossing the water."
Hiram was making of what seemed to me a most exciting adventure, nothingmore than business, and his matter-of-fact way of looking at thesituation did more toward bringing me to my senses than any line ofargument he could have used.
I ran to the skiff, and when we had dragged her down the shore until shewas waterborne, both of us stopped as with one accord to listen lest anenemy might have been creeping up on us.
Nothing came to our ears save the splash of oars in the distance nearbywhere the king's ships were at anchor, and a distant hum as of peoplemoving about in the town a long way off.
"I reckon this is as good a time as we'll find for making the start,"Hiram said as he clambered into the skiff. "I don't count myself as muchof a sailor, and therefore you will have to take a hand in this until wehave landed somewhere near to Willis creek, which is our best course onthe road to Cambridge."
"Why not go by Cambridge river?" I asked, eager to save myself a longtramp on land.
"If you are willing to take the risk, I'm agreed; but it strikes me thatif the guard-boats are very thick hereabouts we'll have a better show ofgetting off scot free by going up the creek, than if we sailed entirelyaround the town, as we must in order to gain the river."
There was some good sense in what he said, which I understood evenbefore he ceased speaking, and I made reply while pushing the skiff outfrom amid the rotten timbers:
"It would seem as if you were sailor enough to understand what dangerslie in our course, and perhaps I had best give over the command to you,for verily I showed myself a simple by thinking it possible to go bythe river."
"I have been around Cambridge a few days, an' seein's how there was achance my mother's son might get himself into a scrape while these 'ereBritishers are so careless with their guns, I made it my business topick up a pretty good idee of the situation," Hiram said with a chuckleof mirth at his own precautions. "I figured quite a spell ago that if aman wanted to get across to the other shore, he'd best make the waterpart of the journey as short as might be."
By this time we were well out from beneath the wharf. I had taken up theoars, since there was not wind enough to fill the sail, and was countingon stretching across from Hudson's point to Charlestown, when Hiramwhispered softly:
"Turn about lad; head exactly opposite to where you count on going, foryonder, coming this way if I'm not mistaken, is a craft of some kind."
Fortunately I acted on his suggestion without delaying to ask the reasonfor such a move, and it was well that I did, since we were no soonerheaded toward Noddle island than I could make out, even in the gloom, aboat filled with men which seemingly had come from the direction of thewater mill.
It is needless to say that I put every ounce of strength on the oars;but in the other craft there were no less than four men pullingvigorously, and our chances of escaping unobserved would have beenslight indeed had not Hiram lent his aid.
Seizing the second pair of oars he swung himself around on the afterthwart, and although he made no claim to being a sailor, I never sawone who worked to better advantage. It seemed as if he had the strengthof a dozen men in his arms, and the skiff shot forward into the gloom asif hardly touching the water, until we were come so near the shore ofNoddle island as to be in the denser shadows, where we could afford towait until learning what course our pursuers might be taking.
I was not able to distinguish objects clearly because of the gloom, yetI fancied it was possible to make out that a certain number of the eightor ten men occupying the oncoming boat were armed--they surely had thebearing of soldiers, and I said to myself, that suspecting Hiram and Imight take to the water, they were come in search of us.
The same thought was evidently in my companion's mind, for he turned hishead to whisper ever so softly:
"I'm thinking we had best make a landing near here, where we can haulthe skiff out of the water, for yonder crew will make a close search ifI am not mistaken."
There was a chance that by circling the shore of Noddle island until wewere come off Morton's point, it might be possible to give these fellowsthe slip; but then we would be a long distance from our destination, inaddition to running the risk of being captured, and it seemed to me Iwas warranted in acting upon Hiram's suggestion.
We worked the oars softly, as can well be imagined, and having come tothe land went waist-deep into the water lest the grounding of theskiff's bow upon the sand might be heard.
It was no great task to lift the small craft so that she could becarried without scraping against the rocks, and we lugged her into aclump of bushes which grew near the water's edge, where so well was shehidden that she could not have been seen even in the daylight, afterwhich we set ourselves to listen in order to gain some idea of whatthose in the other boat might be doing.
Before half an hour had passed there was no longer any doubt in my mindbut that they were in search of us, having a pretty good idea, from thedirection of our flight, that we were bent on gaining the water-front,and also, most like, that we could not pass Hudson's point without beingseen by them.
The boat was pulled to and fro between the island and the ship-yard asif they were standing guard, and when she had set across, mayhap, threeor four times, Hiram asked of me in a whisper:
"Think you your comrade might have told them what we would try to do?"
"Of course not!" I replied with somewhat of anger in my tone that heshould suspect Archie of any such vileness. "The lad is true to hisfriends, and would never betray them no matter how much silence mightcost him."
"Then it looks as if some one had got an amazingly good idee of what wewould do, and from what pa
rt of the town we'd set off," Hiram saidthoughtfully. "Those fellows couldn't have set about their work betterif we'd told them in advance that we'd leave the ship-yard and try to goto Cambridge."
Like a flash came into my mind the thought that Seth Jepson might havesucceeded in doing us this mischief, if mischief had really been done;but I dismissed it on the instant, saying to myself that surely the ladcould not have known what we were likely to do, even were it probablehe had had opportunity of speaking to those we had stumbled against.
"It is neither more nor less than blind chance," I said in reply to mycompanion's words. "Because we headed for the ship-yard they supposed wehad a boat nearby, and because our people were gathering at Cambridgethey would naturally say it was our purpose to go there."
"Whichever way you put it, it's going to be mighty tough on us, forunless those fellows get tired of pulling that heavy boat 'twixt now andsunrise, we are like to be held here until to-morrow night."