The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill Part 41

"My friend, you are a stout fellow enough, but you make overmuch noise for even one of your girth."

And with that he took the butcher by the scruff of the neck and shook him like a rat. The man sputtered and coughed and fought back. But he was but as an infant in the hands of the slender but powerful adventurer, and as they witnessed his discomfiture, some of the crowd began to laugh. Then a roar of mirth went up; and seeing the good nature of the crowd, Ezra held up his hand for silence and cried:

"Boston is now in the hands of General Washington and his army. Justice will be done every man. It is your place to see to it that no good American, through a spirit of revenge, falls into the usages of the British. Go to your homes. If you have a complaint to make of any man, make it to the proper authorities. To take the law into your own hands is dangerous, for you cannot see the end of such a thing."

There were a few scattered cheers to show that the people realized the force of this reasoning. But at the same time was heard the quick tramp of a body of Continental infantry, one of the many sent to patrol the city; and Ezra never knew but what their arrival had more to do with the mob's change of front than anything he had said. At any rate, they were instantly seized with a huge admiration at this display of their national force, and burst into loud huzzas. The officer in command of the troop bid them disperse, as it was against the general's orders for any crowds to collect until the city had come under control; and as both townfolk and troop pa.s.sed out of Sun Court, Nat Brewster said:

"It was a fortunate circ.u.mstance that brought this finish about. I had thought to have harder work of it."

"And I," said a voice behind them.

All turned. The door of the mansion had opened and Seth Prentiss stood before them. He was dressed in gown and slippers; and large silver-rimmed spectacles seemed to add to the harshness of his face.

Regarding both Ezra and George for a moment in silence, he said:

"I had not expected to ever bid either of you welcome to my house. But if I were to say that I did not silently welcome you when those good friends of mine came hammering at my door, I would not be speaking the truth."

He ran his eyes over them with an expression upon his face that neither of his grandsons had ever seen there before; then he continued:

"Neither did I ever think that you would make a better selection of government than myself."

"Grandfather!" both boys flung themselves from their steeds and approached him, joy in their faces.

"I mean it," cried the old merchant. "None has kept faith with the King more loyally than I have done. But he has deserted me-he has deserted his city. And now I desert him!"

He wrung the hands of his delighted grandsons, then shook his gnarled fist in the direction of the bay.

"Their ships are there, crowded with armed men; they have fled, and in so doing showed me that they are not competent to rule." Just then another compact body of Continentals went by with throbbing drums and squealing fife. The old man watched them to the turn of the street.

"Your General Washington is not of the fleeing kind," spoke he. "He believes in a cause and holds to it like a true man should."

"In that, Master Prentiss, you say rightly," said Gilbert Scarlett. "And not only is he a true man, but a great soldier as well-a soldier destined to gain many victories. One victory already he has gained beside the taking of Boston Town," with a laugh. "And that is over Gilbert Scarlett, soldier of fortune. A commission is mine, they have told me, for the asking. Always have I loved great leaders; and you may be sure that I will not delay longer now in asking for it."

"Sir," responded Seth Prentiss, "you show yourself a man of sense. And now," with a bow, "will you dismount and enter? Also you, young gentlemen," to Nat and Ben. "From now on the friends of my grandsons will be very welcome here."

And so they tied their horses and entered the fine old house. As the door shut behind him, closing out the distant huzzas and the throbbing of the Continental drums, a sense of great peace filled Ezra's heart.

THE END.