"Nothing but the opportunity of doing so without injury to those of our own people who are still therein," replied the commander-in-chief.

Great events had happened in the past few months. Not the least of these was the recall of General Gage by the British ministry and the appointment of Howe in his place. Washington had practically discharged one army and recruited another in the face of the enemy. The colonies were making a united effort toward liberty; for until this time New England had borne alone the brunt of the uprising.

The lads found the Porcupine at their quarters, and in a conversation with that small but very shrewd person, they learned a great deal of what had taken place.

"Last month," said the dwarf, as he sat cross-legged before them upon a wide settle, while they ate of the good food set before them, "there was a party of British light infantry landed at Lechmere's Point. They desired to take off some cattle; but Colonel Patterson and our riflemen objected and there was a brisk fight in which the British were driven off."

"Have our men been keeping their hearts up?" asked Ezra.

"Fairly well. But last month things were very bad indeed in this camp.

We had nothing-no food to speak of, no quarters to keep out of the weather, no fire to warm ourselves by, no clothing but rags to hide our nakedness."

"Well," remarked Ben Cooper, "so long as it was kept from the knowledge of the British, it was not at its worst."

"But it was not kept from their knowledge," returned the Porcupine.

"General Howe knew of our situation all the time!"

"And he did not attack!" cried Ezra, wonderingly.

"He had been expecting reinforcements, so our spies learned," replied the dwarf with a wise nod of the head. "And as they did not arrive, he kept waiting. You know," and here a wide grin spread across the speaker's face, "that he's tried our mettle once, and so he was in no hurry to do so again without a good force behind him."

"And the general?" asked Ben, "how did he take it all?"

"He went about as calm as the morning," replied the Porcupine in high admiration. "You'd never have thought but what everything was as well as it could be. He seemed always planning and building defenses. General Putnam was told to occupy and fortify Cobble Hill. Two half moon batteries were thrown up between Lechmere's Point and Cambridge River.

Three places between Sewall's Point and Roxbury Neck were also strengthened, to be manned in case of a sortie when the bay is frozen over."

"But that things have taken a turn, I can see plainly," said Ezra. "The camp has a brisk look; the men look content; the officers hold their heads high."

"It all began with Captain Manly's capture of the 'Nancy' brig," said the Porcupine. "Ah, there is a brave and enterprising officer; if there are many on the sea like him, they'll give the King's admirals trouble enough."

"The 'Nancy' is probably the ordnance brig we heard Colonel Prescott mention," said Ben to Ezra.

The Porcupine nodded his head.

"It's more than likely," said he. "All have talked of it more or less.

You see Captain Manly, who is in command of the 'Lee,' took the 'Nancy'

as she came into the bay, and carried her into Cape Ann. And she proved to be a most wonderful treasure ship-crammed to the hatches with military stores of every sort."

"Excellent!" cried both listeners together.

"So full was she, and so struck was General Washington by her value, that he at once sent a strong guard to protect her. He felt sure that the British would not rest until they had done something to recover a vessel so desirable."

"And did they?"

"They had not the time, so prompt were the general's orders, and so rapidly were they carried out. Teams were impressed, the minutemen about Cape Ann were called out to give their help; and in a little while the cargo was discharged and removed to a safe place within our lines."

"Now that was an admirable stroke of fortune," cried Ben Cooper. "The stores must have pleased everybody much, to change the complexion of things so."

"They would have pleased a king," said the Porcupine. "There were two thousand muskets; one hundred thousand flints, thirty thousand round shot for one, six and twelve-pounders; thirty tons of musket shot; eleven mortar beds; and one great thirteen-inch bra.s.s mortar that weighs not an ounce less than twenty-seven hundred pounds."

"A most astonishing ship, indeed!" said Ezra Prentiss.

"Then there came powder and sh.e.l.ls from New York about the same time.

Barracks were built to house the troops during the severe weather. Other ships were taken by Captain Manly and seamen of his quality. Among the cargo were thousands of uniforms intended for the British soldiers, and hundreds of barrels of salt beef and pork; woolen goods in vast quant.i.ties; flour, hard biscuit and other things were taken. And, so then, as we were very well off, indeed, the recruits began to take heart and offer themselves for service: the regiments are filling up, and we will soon be quite strong once more."

"But the British," asked Ezra, "how do they like all their winter's wear and provisions falling into other hands?"

"Why," answered the dwarf with a shake of his big head, "they endure it very ill indeed. As we advanced into comfort, so did they fall in need.

Fuel and food are very high in Boston at this time; and the citizens are suffering much more than the soldiery. Some few vessels have gotten safely by our privateers, but Howe has kept their stores for the use of his troops."

"They have made no advance, then?" said Ben.

"Rather they have fallen back," answered the dwarf, and he grinned delightedly. "They had begun to build barracks on Bunker Hill, but building materials were so scarce, the winds grew so keen, and the snow fell so constantly that Howe at length bid Clinton strike his tents and return to Boston. Lieutenant-Colonel Agnew and seven hundred are left to man the three redoubts that are now upon the hill."

The middle of December found Boston all but upon the verge of starvation. The townspeople were desperate and Lord Howe feared that they might rise against him. He offered to allow any of those who desired to leave the city, and like Gage, covertly threatened the torch in case he were attacked from within. As a protection from an a.s.sault by Washington, which he daily dreaded, there came an outbreak of smallpox among his troops.

"That will keep the rebels out, even if our guns fail to do so," he said.

British cannon were planted all about in the city's hills and open places; its churches and unoccupied houses were torn down by the soldiers for fuel; Faneuil Hall was a playhouse in which mocking comedies were presented; Old South Church was used as a riding school.

Under a strict martial law the people of the city were all but prisoners. Thousands now took advantage of Howe's permission, crossed in boats to Point Shirly and dispersed into the country.

On the first day of January, in that most memorable year of 1776, the first continental flag was thrown to breeze, and as its thirteen stripes rippled at the top of the pole, it was saluted with tremendous shouting; and thirteen guns were fired by way of a salute. Upon the same day, the King's speech upon the opening of Parliament was received in camp. For the first time the Americans heard that King George contemplated the hiring of foreign troops to help subdue them. At this, their rage was without bounds; they hooted the King, his Parliament and his army; then they burnt his speech and otherwise bid him defiance.

A little later than this came the news of the American defeat at Quebec and the death of the heroic young Montgomery, whom Washington had selected to lead the expedition against that city. Appeals were then sent out to various colonies to hurry some fresh regiments to Cambridge; and Congress formally authorized Washington to attack Boston at any time and in any manner that he thought most efficient.

When the army was finally in sufficient strength to warrant his so doing, Washington took the step that he long knew would bring him victory or defeat.

"It will bring on a general attack," he was heard to say; "we will either be forced from our position, or the British will be compelled to take to their ships."

This step was the occupation of Dorchester Heights. From this elevation Washington could reach Boston with the heavy guns from Ticonderoga, which had in the meantime been brought in by Colonel Knox. It was March when preparations were begun, and Ezra and his friends were in the thick of the matter.

Gilbert Scarlett was especially valuable in the designing of chandeliers, fascines and such like, necessary in the erection of the works; also with the aid of his boy friends, he worked with the spirit of a dozen in the collection of bateaux in which to transport the men.

When the time for movement arrived, Washington had forty-five of these clumsy craft, each capable of seating eighty men. Two floating batteries were held with them in the Charles River; hundreds of militia came pouring into camp to lend what aid they could to the enterprise.

The design was kept secret; to divert the attention of the enemy a brisk bombardment and cannonade was begun on the night of the second of March, from Cobble Hill, Roxbury and Lechmere's Point. Many houses were shattered by this fire; the British returned it with spirit, but did little damage. On the night of March fourth this was repeated, and about seven o'clock, General Thomas with about two thousand men marched to take possession of Dorchester Heights. The entrenching tools, under care of a large detachment, were sent on ahead; later the main body, with three hundred carts, loaded with fascines and twisted hay, followed.

All night the Americans labored; the moon was brilliant, the guns roared, the arching sh.e.l.ls burst high in the air. And when morning dawned, two forts were in a sufficient state of advancement to resist small arms and grape-shot.

If the British had been surprised to see the works raised in a night upon Breed's Hill, they were astounded at the sight of those which now met their gaze upon Dorchester Heights.

"It looks like the work of twelve thousand men," declared Lord Howe to his generals. "The rebels have done more in one night than my army has done in a month. The genii must have aided them."

These works commanded both the harbor and town of Boston. The British admiral at once decided that the fleet could not ride in safety unless the Americans were displaced.

"We must do one of two things," he told General Howe. "The Yankees must be driven from that post, or we must evacuate Boston."

This enraged the governor. He had a very high notion of British honor and military superiority.