As Ezra Prentiss and Ben Cooper dashed away from the "Plow and Harrow,"

Jason Collyer and his comrades flung themselves with loud cries out of the door. A moment later these cries were redoubled.

"They've found their chargers without bridles," said Ben. "And perhaps more than one of them has got a fall from a twisting saddle. I'm sorry for the landlord; but I'll contrive to pay him later."

They drew rein and sat their horses, looking back toward the inn. The stout landlord was plain in the doorway, and visibly much distressed; hostlers and others appeared with lights; riderless horses were prancing and snorting about with angry men pursuing them.

"How did you come to get out our own nags?" asked Ezra, who had recognized the familiar gait of his tall bay horse at once.

"When that fellow came to the window, I thought I'd not have the chance to do what you suggested," answered Ben. "So I went to the barn, and by good luck found that our mounts had not been unsaddled. When I led them out, taking care to keep in the shadow, I noted the man gone from the window. So I out with my knife and cut the bridles of my friends, gave each girth a slash, and there they were, as neat as you please."

"I think we'd better make the best of our way to Chelmsford," suggested Ezra, after a time spent in watching the dim confusion before the inn.

"And it would be better, also, that we keep our pistols ready to hand, for Master Jason Collyer seems a person of some parts."

The road was good and within an hour they had reached Chelmsford, where they had the good fortune to fall in with others upon the same errand as themselves.

"That means," said Ben, as they stretched themselves contentedly between the cool sheets at a cool, clean little inn, a short time after, "that this riding about is over and done. Our section has been covered with the circulars, and we can return to Cambridge."

"And I'm glad of it," yawned Ezra. "There promise to be certain matters of interest before Boston at no distant time, and I, for one, want to see the whole thing."

Next morning Ezra gathered the riders of the Committee of Safety together, and, with their number added to by a half dozen young farmers, they made a descent upon the house of Abdallah.

But they were too late. The place was in ashes; not a sign or trace of any one was to be found.

"I suppose Jason Collyer lost no time in making his report after the affair at the 'Plow and Harrow,'" said Ezra to Ben, after they had left the others and were making their steady way toward Bedford. "And now, I suppose, an alarm will be sent out, and this Mr. Pennington, whoever he may be, will take care not to present himself at the 'Indian's Head' to receive messages of any sort."

From Bedford they took the road to Lexington, and late in the afternoon entered the town of Cambridge. At once they sought out Dr. Warren, as the leading spirit of the Committee of Safety, and made him acquainted with all that had occurred.

The great patriot knit his brows.

"It has a bad look," said he. "The fact that our strength is known and perhaps our every move, is not calculated to give us much satisfaction.

But I will see Colonel Prescott in the matter, also Generals Ward and Putnam. And in the meantime," placing a hand upon the boys' shoulders, his kind, grave face alight, "let me tell you that you have both done well. If all who professed the cause did half so well, we would have very little to fear from any source."

Upon the beginning of the enlistment, which commenced after the Lexington fight, both Ezra and Ben had promptly put their names to the roll of Prescott's regiment, as did Ezra's twin brother, George, and Ben's stalwart, ready-handed cousin from the Wyoming wilderness, Nat Brewster. But they had all four been detailed upon special duty for the Committee of Safety, and so lodged at a house at no great distance from Dr. Warren's.

The candles were lighted when Ben and Ezra reached their lodging. George and Nat sat at a table playing at draughts. Both leaped up at the sight of the newcomers.

"Something told us that you would get back this evening," cried George, as they shook hands all around.

"And we asked Mrs. Parslow, as a special favor, to delay supper," spoke Nat Brewster.

"That was thoughtful enough, eh, Ben?" laughed Ezra. "And to show how we appreciate it," to Nat, "we'll try to do it full justice."

While Mrs. Parslow, a good-humored, elderly woman, was bringing in the smoking dishes, the four lads related their experiences. George and Nat had ridden together upon the same mission as the other two, but had gone in the direction of Milton and Braintree.

"And the people listened to the Committee's warnings with their hearts in their eyes," said Nat Brewster. "Let there be only action, and General Ward will not want for men."

"But Ma.s.sachusetts cannot be expected to do it all," said Ben. "The other colonies must bear their share of the burden."

"They will, never fear," said Ezra. "Only this afternoon I heard of a company of riflemen being recruited as far south as Virginia. Then there are the Connecticut men and those from New Hampshire. And don't forget that these last bring leaders with them. The British themselves acknowledge the ability of Putnam, Stark and Greene."

Ezra and George sat side by side and Mrs. Parslow looked bewilderedly at them.

"One of you likes griddle-cakes with honey," she said, "but for the life of me I can't tell which of you it is."

"It's George," spoke Ben Cooper, with a grin.

"And which is George?" asked the good woman, looking from one to the other.

"Here he is," responded George, reaching for the much-prized griddle-cakes. "I'll never fail to acknowledge myself for these, Mrs.

Parslow; and I've never seen any one that made them like you."

Mrs. Parslow looked vastly gratified.

"I'm sure I'm glad to please you," she said. "But how your mother ever told you two apart, I'll never be able to say."

The Prentiss brothers had been a puzzle and a delight to her ever since the four came to lodge with her. Nat Brewster, with his grave, competent ways and manly face of character, she had taken to at once; and the chubby face of Ben Cooper, his merry eye and ready laugh, had always pleased her. But the twins were a perpetual bewilderment and mystery to her, as indeed they might be to many with greater observation and sharper eyes than she.

After supper George and Ben got out the draughts, while Ezra and Nat drew their chairs together and discussed the features of the situation as each saw it.

"I heard a long talk between Dr. Warren and Colonel Prescott, only to-day," said Nat. "I had come to make report of our work and the two were deeply engaged with each other. It would seem that each has a great respect for General Ward, but no large idea of his military ability."

"It requires, I should say, a man of much power to grasp things and bring them into a state of order," said Ezra. "The Congress at Philadelphia is, I believe, to name a commander-in-chief for the colonial army; and let us hope that their choice will be one that will bring the best results for the cause."

"He will have no great soldier to fight in Gage," spoke Nat, "if the opinions of the experienced Englishman, Charles Lee, and our own General Putnam, have any weight. I have heard it said that Lee has repeatedly declared that Gage is woefully incompetent; and that his every move has been a blunder since the first gun was fired."

"At any rate," said Ezra, "he has permitted General Ward to compa.s.s him about. He is as tightly boxed up as a tame badger."

"If it were not that the sea is open to him, we'd starve him out in a very little while. However, King George will see to it that his servants do not go hungry."

"But it will be salt beef and hardtack that will keep them from it. The colonial lines and earthworks so hedge them in that they'll never get a sc.r.a.p of fresh meat or measure of vegetables."

"But what of our own people who are closed up in the town along with the enemy?" questioned Nat, gravely. "If the British are in want of palatable things, can we be sure that the townspeople have sufficient food of any sort?"

"You're right," said Ezra, thoughtfully. He leaned his head upon his hands and stared at the floor. Nat watched him for some time and then said:

"Your grandfather is not in Cambridge?"

"No," replied Ezra, "in Boston."

There was another pause; then Nat spoke:

"But, then, I don't think you need trouble for him." He placed a hand on Ezra's shoulder. "Forgive me for saying it, but your grandfather will not be likely to come to harm."

"Not from the British, no," Ezra's voice was bitter and low. "But from the patriot people of Boston, yes." He paused a moment and looked into the frank, friendly face of the youth from Wyoming. "You understand how it is with me. And there are many like me. In the war that has just begun, there will be countless families divided like mine has been."

"Take heart," said Nat Brewster. "One can hardly expect an old man, and one born on British soil in the bargain, to be other than a friend to the King. There are some who have greater cause for regret than you.

They say that the New Hampshire Colonel Stark's very brother has gone over to the British."