Under the Liberty Tree Part 12

"Do you know what is to be done now?"

"There is to be a town meeting at Faneuil Hall at eleven o'clock, and it is said that Master Samuel Adams will address the people."

"Are you to be there?"

"I wouldn't dare go in a crowd while the wound on my arm is yet unhealed. What have you to do this morning?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I wanted you to come to my home with me; but I suppose that is too much to ask, for of course you intend to be on the street, in order to know what is going on."

"I'll go with you willingly, Chris. I have seen enough of the work which may be done on the street, until the time comes when I can be of some a.s.sistance."

An hour later the boys were at Chris Gore's home, and there they remained until noon, when it was learned that a formal town meeting was appointed for three o'clock in the afternoon. During the informal meeting Master Samuel Adams had made an address to the people, in which he recommended that a committee be sent to the Governor, to tell him once more that peace could not be maintained while the British soldiers virtually held possession of the city, and of this committee was Master Samuel Adams.

At night, when Chris Gore's father came home, he reported all the general public knew regarding the condition of affairs.

Faneuil Hall had proven too small for the throng of citizens a.s.sembled at the hour set, and it became necessary to adjourn to the Old South Meeting-house.

There it was said by some one who claimed to have talked with one of the committee appointed to wait upon the Governor, that while the throng were pa.s.sing from Faneuil Hall to the church a member of the Council said to Hutchinson:

"This mult.i.tude are not such as pulled down your house; but they are men of the best character, men of estates, men of religion, and men who pray over what they do."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

"When Master Adams came into the meeting-house at the head of the committee," Mr. Gore said to the boys, in continuing his story, "he whispered to those who were nearest as he pa.s.sed, and I was one of them, 'Both regiments or none! Both regiments or none!' I did not at the moment understand his meaning; but a few moments later, when the report had been read, all was clear. Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson had decided that both regiments could not be removed; one must remain.

The Twenty-ninth, because it was members of that body who committed the murder, was to be sent to the Castle; but the Fourteenth, so the Lieutenant-Governor declared, was to remain in the city. Then we knew what Master Adams meant by his whispered communication, and the cry went up in such volume as seemed to shake the building, 'Both regiments or none.'

"With this as the sentiment of the people, little business was done, save that of making plain to Governor Hutchinson that our will, not his, must prevail. A new committee, of which were Master Samuel Adams, John Hanc.o.c.k, and Dr. Joseph Warren, was chosen, and sent to the Council-chamber to report. I was so fortunate as to be able to speak with Dr. Warren shortly after they returned, and am, therefore, able to tell you exactly what occurred. Master Adams, in presenting the case for the second time to Governor Hutchinson, argued as he always has, that it is illegal to quarter troops upon the city in time of peace, and that this, if there was no other reason, would be sufficient cause for our demanding their immediate removal. The Lieutenant-Governor insisted it was not only legal, but absolutely necessary, and he lamely concluded by saying the soldiers were not under his control. Then it was Master Adams took advantage of this weak point in His Excellency's remarks, to say that if he had the power to remove one, he could remove both regiments, and he added--I can well fancy with what power--'A mult.i.tude, highly incensed, now awaits the result of this application. The voice of ten thousand freemen demands that both regiments be forthwith removed. Their voice must be respected--their demand obeyed. Fail not, then, at your peril, to comply with this request. On you alone rests the responsibility of this decision; but if the just expectations of the people are disappointed, you must be answerable to G.o.d and your country for the fatal consequences that must ensue.'"

"And then he could do no less than comply with the demands of the people," Chris said, excitedly.

"He did nothing of the kind, my son; but declared that he would not allow himself to be intimidated; that he should not send both regiments away. What the result might have been had the committee returned with this decision, I tremble to contemplate; but Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, who, it seems, has a better idea of the condition of affairs in this city than the men who rule over us, gave his word of honour as a soldier that the troops should be removed at once, and such was the report with which the committee returned to us."

"And does the matter rest there, sir?" Amos asked.

"Yes, to a certain extent. The people, determined there should be no opportunity of breaking faith, either on the part of the Lieutenant-Governor or the military officer, appointed the same gentlemen who had waited on His Excellency, as a Committee of Safety, and from this time out our most reputable citizens will act as night-watch, each doing his share of the duty fully armed, until every soldier shall have left this city. There is to be no unnecessary delay."

"But what about those who committed the murder?"

"They will be tried in due form, and I hope, as must every good citizen, that it will be an impartial trial. Already it is claimed for Captain Preston that he did not give the order for his men to fire; but that some one near him--perhaps one of our own people--seeing the soldiers were threatened with bodily harm, and that there was every danger of their receiving severe injuries, cried: 'Why don't you fire?'"

"And that is exactly what I heard," Amos said, quickly. "I was looking at the captain at that fatal moment, and, although it hadn't occurred to me from that time until this, I am certain he never gave the command to fire. Nevertheless, the soldiers all shot to kill."

"True, lad," Mr. Gore said, sorrowfully, "and if the military remain in the city, it will be impossible for the authorities to prevent further conflicts, more especially now that the people are fully aroused by the bloodshed."

When Amos set out for home at a late hour that evening, he saw the members of the citizens' watch parading the streets, and there came to him a sense of deepest relief after the terrible events of the past week, with the knowledge that for a certain time, at least, the good city of Boston would be properly guarded by her own people.

Despite this new feeling of safety, he started with apprehension, almost alarm, when a dark figure crept cautiously toward him as he was pa.s.sing the head of Water Street, and an instant later he stood with his back against the palings in an att.i.tude of self-defence, for he who had approached so stealthily was Hardy Baker.

"Don't act as if you was going to fight me," the barber's apprentice said, piteously. "Don't do that, Amos! I know I tried to make trouble for you yesterday afternoon; but you served me out for it, and I haven't said a word against you since then."

"I don't know whether you have or not."

"What I tell you is true, Amos," and the listener was thoroughly surprised by the change in the bearing of Master Piemont's apprentice.

"What do you want of me?" he asked, sharply.

"I don't know," Hardy replied, in a tone of despair. "It seems as if everybody was my enemy. I went down to Jim Gray's house this afternoon, and he wouldn't so much as look at me."

"Do you think he has good reason to be friendly with you?"

"You say that because his brother was killed at the Custom House.

Amos, I didn't think anything like murder could happen when I told the crowd the soldier on the steps was the one who had knocked me down. If you had been treated as I was, and saw the man standing there when you believed the soldiers were going to rise against us, you might have done the same thing."

"Well, and if I might, what then, Hardy Baker? What do you want of me?"

"I want you to talk with me, Amos. It seems as if everybody believed I was as much of a murderer as the 'b.l.o.o.d.y backs,' and Master Piemont told me this afternoon never to show my face near his shop again--that I wasn't wholesome even for Britishers to look at."

"I don't think, Hardy," and now Amos's tone was less sharp than before, "that you should expect either the people or the soldiers would be very friendly toward you."

"But I didn't do this thing. I didn't have any more hand in it than you, or Jim Gray, or Chris Snyder."

"But how can you charge us with any concern in it?"

"Wasn't it all a piece of work beginning with what we did to Master Lillie? Hasn't it grown out of that?"

"Of course not. Ebenezer Richardson's b.l.o.o.d.y deed had nothing to do with the soldiers," Amos cried, quickly, but at the same time a terrible fear took possession of him that possibly the tragedy on Hanover Street might have had some connection with that at the Custom House.

"But, Amos," Hardy continued, imploringly, "when poor little Chris Snyder was killed through what we did to Master Lillie, and you were as much concerned in the matter as I, you didn't accuse me then of being at fault."

"No," Amos said, slowly and thoughtfully, "because that which we did, so Master Revere said, was not done with any idea or possibility in our minds that bloodshed might follow."

"Nor was there in my mind any idea that bloodshed might follow when I told the crowd the soldier at the Custom House was the one who had knocked me down."

During several moments Amos stood silent and motionless.

Hardy's offending seemed less heinous in his eyes than it had a few moments previous, and he said, in a milder tone:

"I won't be one to accuse you, Hardy; but let me advise you to leave the affairs of the city to those who are older and have better judgment. Don't go about any more with such companions as have been yours during the past few days."

"Will you forgive me, Amos, for what I did yesterday?"

"I surely ought to, after we settled it with our fists."

"May I walk home with you?" Hardy asked, meekly, after a brief pause.

"To what end?"