The Minute Boys of Boston

by James Otis

  CHAPTER VII

  THE SUMMONS

  It was as if this escape of Archie's had brought an end to anything ofexcitement, so far as we Minute Boys were concerned, and to lads whowere burning with impatience to have a hand in great matters, itappeared that our people were no longer striving to struggle against theking.

  Harvey and I, after having been set ashore by Hiram Griffin, succeededin making our way down from Barton's point without meeting anyone whooffered to molest us. Perhaps because of the disagreeable weather thepatrol had sought shelter; but for whatsoever reason they seeminglydisappeared off the face of the earth I never troubled my head, since itenabled us to gain our homes in safety.

  I had fancied a hue and cry would be raised next morning, when it wasdiscovered that Archie had unceremoniously taken his departure from theprison; but, so far as concerned the outside world, it was as if nothinghad happened. The lobster backs held their peace; but I was not such asimple as to believe no effort would be made toward learning who hadgiven him assistance.

  On that morning when I went down to Dock square after having spent fouror five hours in bed; it was with nervous trembling that I came upon ared uniform, whosoever the wearer, fearing lest I might be charged withhaving aided in the escape of a prisoner.

  No one appeared to give any attention to me however, and then I listenedfor a proclamation by the town crier; but none met my ears, neither didI see printed notices of any kind referring to Archie.

  During the forenoon I came upon Seth Jepson, and believed it was fromhim I would first learn the news; but if that lad had any inkling of thematter he kept a close tongue in his head. Question as I might, it wasimpossible to get from him a single word on the matter, and I finallycame to believe he remained in ignorance of the previous night's doings,more particularly after he asked me with such an innocent air that Icould not believe it assumed, if we did not propose to make some effortfor the relief of our comrade.

  He had nothing of importance to report, and I left him in Dock squareloitering about in the hope of overhearing some conversation among thelobster backs which would interest our friends at Cambridge, as I wentboldly through Queen street.

  There it was I met Harvey Pearson, who had come upon much the sameerrand as I, and when we were within speaking distance he askedanxiously:

  "Have you heard anything?"

  "So far not a word. I have just left Seth Jepson, and it is evident hehas failed of learning the news."

  "Can it be the lobster backs haven't missed him yet?" Harvey asked, andI proposed what might seem reckless:

  "Let us walk past the prison and see if anything has been done towardmending that window."

  This we did, taking care, however, not to gaze too intently at the wallsof the jail; but seeming to have our attention attracted toward theopposite side of the street, yet before we were well come up to thescene of the previous night's adventure it was possible to see that themischief wrought by Hiram Griffin had been partially repaired. The bars,which he had bent with his oaken stick, were not yet straightened, buthad been put into place after a fashion, and the shattered window wasclosed with heavy planks.

  There was no longer any question but that the Britishers were well awaretheir prisoner had given them the slip, yet why they failed to raise ahue and cry passed all my understanding. If searchers had been sent outin the hope of capturing the fugitive, neither Harvey nor I had chancedto come upon them, which was the more strange because there were manyso-called rebels who lived near to my home, and such section of the townwould have seemed to be the best hunting ground for the red-coats.

  Chew it over as we might, neither Harvey nor I could make head nor tailof the matter. Both of us had the good sense to realize that it was bestto let sleeping dogs lie, and the less inquisitive we showed ourselvesto be regarding Archie, the least likelihood there was we would bringsuspicion upon ourselves.

  And now, because during the week that followed nothing of importhappened so far as we Minute Boys were concerned, I will pass over thattime with as few words as may be.

  During these days Hiram failed to keep his word in regard to comingback; Archie remained in camp as a matter of course, since it would havebeen the height of folly for him to venture into Boston, and it was asif Silas had decided to stay with the army.

  Seth Jepson seemed striving to show himself exceedingly busy in the workthat had been set him, and took advantage of every opportunity to reportthe lightest word he heard from the enemy; but, however, bringingnothing of importance which would warrant the sending of a message toour people.

  Harvey and I came to the conclusion that the Britishers believed it bestto keep secret the fact that a prisoner could escape so readily, andsince Archie was no great catch, having been taken into custody onlybecause found prowling around the streets at night, they were fairlywilling to let go their grip of him.

  During this time, however, General Gage had not been idle. It will beremembered that I have set down the substance of an agreement betweenthe selectmen of the town and the king's representative, to the effectthat any person so disposed might leave the town, after having depositedhis weapons at Faneuil Hall.

  I have also stated what Master Nelson and Master Landers had discussed,and it seemed that the Tories of Boston exerted considerable influenceover General Gage, for after having allowed a few of the people to goout with their household belongings under the protection of a passsigned by himself, the governor put his foot down against any women orchildren leaving. It was much the same as if he had said he would notkeep his pledged word.

  We, who were shut up in Boston, learned that the people of Charlestown,who formerly numbered nearly three thousand, had become so alarmed thatthey left their homes, believing the Americans in Cambridge could affordthem better protection than might be had from the king's hirelings. Sothoroughly panic stricken were the inhabitants, that it was said no morethan two hundred now remained in the village.

  We heard now and then of this colony or of that sending troops or moneyto our aid, although how the news came I cannot say, and it waswhispered among the people who were true to the Cause, that Rhode Islandhad sent as many as fifteen hundred men under Brigadier NathanielGreene.

  Connecticut voted to raise six thousand soldiers, and the ProvincialCongress passed an act authorizing the enrollment of two thousand troopsin addition to those who were already in the field.

  Nor did the Britishers content themselves with the large force alreadyin Boston. The Cerberus man-of-war came into the harbor having on board,in addition to the troops, three generals: Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne.

  It was as if General Gage had until this time considered his army toosmall to cope with our people, but now that new troops were arrived,increasing his force to at least ten thousand men, he gathered courageto impose yet further upon us, and issued a proclamation which declaredthe town under martial law, stating in the document that all our peoplewho favored the Cause were "rebels, parricides of the Constitution." Heoffered a free pardon to all who would swear to serve the king loyally,with the exception of Masters John Hancock and Samuel Adams. These lasttwo he declared traitors, and offered a reward for their capture.

  We in Boston had had but little liberty under the British rule, and nowwere to be treated more like prisoners than before, for any red-coatholding the king's commission could seize us on the streets, or eventake us from our homes, without form of law; but simply because of hisown whim or suspicion.

  I had more than once, at the time when it was believed General Gagewould be gentleman enough to keep his word and allow the citizens toleave the town, urged upon my mother that she seek safety near theAmerican army, but she, dear soul, hesitated to abandon her home, and Ifailed to insist as strongly as I might have done, fearing lest hergoing would involve mine also, thus depriving me of an opportunity toserve the Cause with my company.

  Then came the time when the Britisher who called himself a gentleman,went back on his word, refusing to allow women or child
ren to go outfrom the town, and there was no longer an opportunity for her to escape.

  As the days rolled on and we neither saw those of our number who hadfled to Cambridge, nor were called upon for any service, it began toappear to me as if I need not have been so eager to remain in Bostonbecause of the Minute Boys, since most like there were so many menjoining the American army that lads were no longer considered of anyaccount.

  Then came the day when Hiram Griffin suddenly appeared, coming to myhome at the moment when my mother and I were breaking our fast, and onemight have fancied from his manner and the business-like way in which hespoke, that no more than a dozen hours had passed since we last saw him.

  I literally overwhelmed him with questions, so eager was I to learn ofArchie, and what progress our people might have been making against theking which had not come to us in Boston, until before each had satisfiedthe other's curiosity the forenoon was nearly half spent.

  He told me that he and my comrade had arrived at Cambridge the morningafter the escape, having encountered no danger on the way, and beingforced to land at the Penny ferry owing to the fact that the wind blewso strongly they could not hope to pull the boat down to the Charlesriver. Silas had gained the encampment and unfolded his budget of newsbefore they arrived.

  From some of our people who came out of the town under pass from GeneralGage, it was learned that no action had been taken by the Britishersregarding Archie's escape, yet it was not safe for him to venture intoBoston. Silas had remained with the army because, so his fatherbelieved, there was no real need of his coming back until work had beenfound for us Minute Boys to do. Master Brownrigg claimed that there wereenough of us in town to get all the information regarding the Britishersthat could be desired. In fact, as Hiram represented it, there waslittle need for us lads to act the part of spies while so many of ourpeople could procure a British pass.

  Now, however, was come the time when we lads, were called upon to showof what metal we were made, and, therefore, Hiram had been sent tosummon the Minute Boys; not on an expedition of a warlike nature, muchto my sorrow, but simply to aid in the work of gathering supplies forthe army at Cambridge.

  Our soldiers numbered no less than sixteen thousand, so Hiram assuredme, and while the people from the country round about gave generouslyfrom their stores, it was a difficult matter for the leaders, allunprepared as they were to care for such a body of men, to keep up thesupply of provisions. It had been decided that, not only in order toprovide rations for our own people, but to aid in cutting off food fromthe enemy, the farms on the islands near to Boston were to be ravagedand everything eatable, whether belonging to friend or foe, was to betransported to Cambridge, if indeed that might be done.

  Now it seems, as I learned later, for he himself was all too modest toadmit having been given command of an important undertaking, that Hiramhad been charged with the work of seizing on Noddle and Hog islands suchprovisions as might be found, to which end he was provided with twosmall sloops, and had selected from the army four men whom he couldtrust to aid him in the task.

  As a matter of course such small force was all insufficient to performthe necessary labor; but he had hit upon the plan of impressing usMinute Boys into service, and therefore it was that during the night,and despite the strict guard kept by the Britishers, one of his vessels,taking advantage of a stiff breeze, had set him ashore near to Hudson'spoint, from which place he made his way to my home.

  "Now this is my plan;" he said to me when we were done with swappinginformation. "You have from now until nearly midnight to call yourcompany together at the rope walk where I landed. Sometime between thenand daybreak my comrades will either come near to the land in one of thesloops, or send two or three boats to bring you off, and an hour aftersunrise, if so be everything goes as I have reckoned, we will be puttingaboard a cargo of such stuff as shall fill the stomachs of those who areloitering near to Cambridge awaiting a good chance to slap his majestyin the face."

  At the time it did not appear to me we Minute Boys were called upon toplay any very heroic part in the so-called "rebellion." It seemed thatthere would be little of glory gained in loading the sloops with livestock, wheat and corn, and yet before the task was accomplished weMinute Boys of Boston saw what was a veritable battle, although on asmall scale, but with as good an opportunity of shedding one's blood asthe most ardent warrior could have desired.

  I smile even at this late day when I think of what a simple I showedmyself to be while setting about the task, for on summoning my comradesI was ashamed to tell them we were to work like drovers and farmersrather than as soldiers, therefore led each to understand we were benton some secret mission to an island near by. And when one and anotherspeculated as to the possible danger to be encountered, or of theopportunities of showing ourselves worthy to be called soldiers, Inursed such fancies until they believed we were going as an independentcompany to slaughter or to capture whole squads of trained, red-coatedsoldiers.

  As a matter of course I set about the work of getting speech with eachof my company immediately Hiram had finished explaining matters, and sodifficult was it to find them all, scattered about the town as theywere, that night had come before I returned to my home.

  Then I had succeeded in warning every member of the company, evenincluding Seth Jepson, to be at the rope walk on Barton's point,recommending that they come singly, rather than in couples or squads, sothat there might be less chance to arouse suspicion, and right weary wasI from much running to and fro.

  Mother had made ready a hearty supper because of my having fasted atnoon, and Hiram and I ate until the wonder was that we were not so heavyas to be incapable of active exercise. But when we set out for therendezvous I speedily learned that whether my companion had spared thefood, or devoured more than his share, it was possible for him to moveat such a pace as caused me to breathe quickly and hard in the effort tokeep at his heels.

  It is not to be supposed that we could go from my home to Barton's pointthrough the streets without coming upon some of the lobster backs, forsince the town was put under martial law the watch had been replaced bysoldiers, and there were so many of them patrolling the streets 'twixtsunset and sunrise that one could hardly poke his nose outside the doorwithout brushing it against half a dozen.

  We were not delayed in the short journey, however, because of myfamiliarity with the gardens and byways on the route, which admitted ofour making fair progress while shunning the streets, and he who couldhave pounced upon us would indeed have been a quicker-witted lobsterback than I have yet seen.

  When we arrived at the rope walk we found some of the lads overlyimpatient, as indeed they had good cause to be, for those whom I warnedearlier in the day had gone immediately to the rendezvous, thereforewere forced to cool their heels there from six to eight hours, whichmust have seemed a long time when you realize that they were literallyburning with impatience to play the part of soldiers, and I could notbut ask myself with somewhat of anxiety, how they might view thesituation when coming to understand that they were to be employed asdrovers, or in carrying bags of grain from the shore to the vessels?

  "Are they all here?" Hiram asked me when standing beneath the shelter ofa lean-to which served as store-house, as he surveyed my company.

  "Ay, every one of them," I replied carelessly, believing it was possibleto see them all, and as I spoke Harvey Pearson piped up in his shrillvoice:

  "All save Seth Jepson. An hour ago he suddenly remembered that he mustattend to some work which his mother had laid out for him, and went offat full speed, promising to come back before you showed yourselves."

  "So! He's the lad you believed might have a leaning toward Toryism,"Hiram said sharply as he wheeled about to face me, and on the instant Iunderstood that he doubted the truth of Seth Jepson's excuse for leavingthe company.

  "How long did he stay here?" I asked of Harvey, whom I knew to have beenone of the first to arrive at the rendezvous.

  "Perhaps a couple of hours. I did not
take much heed of the timebecause we were all speculating as to what duty might be required of us,and therefore the minutes passed swiftly."

  "Are all the others here?" and Hiram turned once more to me.

  In order to be certain this time I called the names of each lad in turn,and, counting them, found we had thirteen present, which, with Archieand Silas, whom Hiram said were on board one of the sloops, made up ourfull number.

  It could readily be seen that Griffin was sorely disturbed in mindbecause of Seth's absence, and his uneasiness was speedily shared byHarvey and me as we put our heads together, trying to make out how thelad might do us harm.

  Once more I came to believe him an arrant Tory who had joined thecompany only that he might betray it. This was the first opportunity hehad had to play the traitor, and it seemed of a verity he counted totake advantage of it, understanding that now was come the time when theking's men might find us in unlawful assemblage with a member of theAmerican army in our midst.

  "He had no chance to betray us before, and has therefore acted as if hisdesires and ours run in the same channel," I said bitterly to Harvey,striving in vain to hit upon some plan by which we could thwart Seth'spurpose. "Now has come the time when he may lay us all by the heels, andhe intends to do it as surely as you and I stand here."

  "Ay, so it appears to me," Harvey replied. "It is not reasonable tosuppose the fellow would have left home knowing he was like to be goneseveral days, without first having made everything ready for hisabsence. Thus suddenly remembering something his mother told him to do,is a childish excuse, and shows that he thinks we are a party of idiotsto take any stock in him."

  "How long think you would it take a lad to go from here to thegovernor's house, have speech with him, and come back?" Hiram asked, andI knew full well he was trying to figure how many moments of freedomwere left to us.

  Harvey declared it might be done in less than two hours; but I was ofthe mind that much more time would be required, because even a Tory ladwould not speedily be admitted into the presence of his high-mightiness,Governor Gage. Then there were the chances that this governor sent bythe king might not be at home, or, receiving Seth at once, some littletime would be required to muster a squad of soldiers, for it was likelythat if they counted on taking into custody thirteen lads and a man aconsiderable show of force would be made. Therefore it was I set it downas three hours before we had good right to expect any result from Seth'ssudden remembrance of his mother's desires.

  "We'll make it two hours and run no risk," Hiram said after a moment'sthought, and fell to pacing to and fro as if struggling to solve somequestion which he found difficult of answer.

  Little was said by us lads as we stood there beneath the shelter of thelean-to. Each realized that in a short time he might be a prisoner, andall knew, or believed they knew, that there was much trouble in storefor us through Seth Jepson.

  During an hour I believe the only words I heard spoken were concerningwhat this lad or that would do to the traitor when the opportunity came,until tiring of hearing such idle words I said to Harvey impatiently:

  "It is of little use for us who are in the frying pan to talk aboutthrowing another into the fire. Instead of striving to decide how youmay serve out Seth Jepson, when it is likely he will get the first blowat us, spend your time hunting for a means of escape, if so be thelobster backs come upon us."

  "There is nothing to be done in that line," one of the lads saidbitterly, "unless perchance we turn tail now and go to our homes. Thenwould Seth Jepson be in a pretty muddle because of having led thelobster backs here on what appeared as a false scent."

  This idea caught the fancy of many. By our dispersing instantly Sethwould seemingly show himself a lad ready to make mischief among theking's people. It would be a mighty neat way of turning the tables onthe traitor, and right thoroughly would I have loved to do it but forthe fact that we would be abandoning Hiram.

  Before many minutes had passed I came to understand that there wascertain danger of our failing in this the first real work which had beengiven us to do, for as the lads discussed the matter they became moreand more impressed with the idea of hoodwinking the traitorous Tory andthe lobster backs at the same time. They began to believe it would be ofmore importance thus to prove Seth a liar, than to join in the businesson which Hiram was engaged.

  It required all the arguments I could bring to mind, to hold them therein a body, and so insistent on carrying out their plan did some of thembecome, that I was forced to call on Hiram, who speedily put an end totheir insubordination by saying in a scornful tone:

  "A fine set of lads are you to call yourselves Minute Boys, who haven'tlearned that a soldier's first and last duty is to obey! Because ofseeing some chance to play a trick on a scurvy Tory, you wouldstraightway throw all orders to the wind, leaving me to return toCambridge to make report that the Minute Boys of Boston refuse to followwhere duty calls. Do you not realize that if Seth Jepson brought thelobster backs here, and failed to find you, he would give to whatsoeverofficer accompanied him the name of each and every one, to the end that'twixt now and morning you might be ferreted out and lodged in prison?There's like to be two ends to such a trick as you would play, and I'mthinking he would come out best in the end."

  "But by staying we are like to be taken into custody, if so be yourvessels or boats fail to come on time," one of the company suggested,and Hiram replied in ringing words:

  "Ay, and then would you have no reason for shame, since to be capturedwhile performing a duty is often the fate of a soldier, and does notwork to his discredit; but suppose you refuse to obey the orders which Ihave brought, and then are taken, like rats in their nests, false to theCause, false to your friends, and false to yourselves? How about itthen?"

  It was as if he had lashed them with a whip. The lads shrank back intothe further corner of the lean-to as if unable to stand against hisanger and scorn, and I noted well that those who talked the loudest ofthe pleasure of playing the trick on Seth, were showing the greatestfear of Hiram.

  It was all very well, however, to speak of doing our duty; but not sopleasant to remain there with no means of escape, knowing beyond aperadventure that within a couple of hours at the longest the lobsterbacks would be upon us. While there was no thought in my mind ofsneaking away, I was frightened by the prospect before me, and all themore so because Hiram appeared so disturbed. He went from the buildingto the edge of the water twenty times in as many minutes, striving topierce the gloom with his eyes, hoping to see the boats which, accordingto his arrangements, should have been there before then.

  Finally, when he had remained on the shore gazing seaward longer thanusual, I went to him and asked in a whisper:

  "Is there any chance they may have mistaken your plans, and will fail tocome to-night?"

  "None whatever, lad, unless some accident has befallen them, foreverything was mapped out as plainly as could be done by words. It wason Hog island we were to do our first work; one of the sloops was to gothere, while the other, towing all our small boats, should have been offthis point an hour ago."

  "What is to be done?" I asked helplessly.

  "Nothing save stand here and take our medicine like men. We won't giveover hope until the last minute, for even when the red-coats are insight, there may be a chance for us to slip off in the darkness if so bethe boats are at hand."

  Then came a weary time of waiting which seemed long because of ouranxiety. I could well fancy there was in the mind of every lad, as inmine, a picture of the prison into which we would speedily be thrust,and thus an end be put to all our dreams of glory that was to come whileworking for the Cause.

  As the minutes passed and we failed to hear any sound from out over thewaters betokening the coming of those who were to meet us, it was onlywith difficulty I refrained from crying aloud in my impatience and fear,and when one of the boys moved suddenly, breaking the silence, I startedin alarm, believing the lobster backs were close at hand.

  When two full hours
had passed, and we knew beyond a peradventure thatSeth had played the traitor, it seemed as if our time of trial was closeat hand. Hiram paced to and fro along the shore, ceasing either toreturn to the building, or make reply when I attempted to speak withhim. All his mind was fixed upon that vague space in the darkness fromout of which he was striving to see that which we so sorely needed, andthen when it did come he was like unto one who has received a cruelblow. Staggering as if drunken, he said hoarsely to me who chanced to bestanding by his side:

  "They are coming, and just in time to save our necks, for I questionwhether the red-coats would give us much more of a breathing spell!"

  The lads who had been crouching in the lean-to, most like trembling withfear, now rushed out to where Hiram and I stood knee-deep in the wateras if the enemy was so near that a few more inches of distance mightsave us, and there we remained, alternatingly turning landward expectingto hear the tread of armed men, and straining our eyes into the gloomto see more clearly the approaching boats.

  The first craft which came ashore brought Archie Hemming, and no soonerdid her bow grate upon the shingle than he leaped over, clasping me inhis arms as if I had only recently escaped from the grave, but to mymind there was no time to indulge in any show of affection, and almostthrusting him from me, I whispered:

  "It is plain Seth Jepson has played the traitor, by going after thelobster backs to take us into custody while we remain here. There is notime to be lost; we must embark on the instant."

  There was little need for me to urge that the moments were precious.

  As three boats, one after another, came up to the shore, our company ofMinute Boys leaped into them until each had its full cargo, and Ibelieve not more than four minutes passed from the time Archie hadclasped me in his arms before we pushed off and were heading out intothe darkness toward where the sloop lay.

  And we had left that shore none too soon, for our little fleet couldhardly have been swallowed up by the gloom before we heard the tramp ofmen, and a few seconds later came the sound of angry voices, telling ofthe Britishers' disappointment in failing to trap us.

  We had turned a neater trick on Seth Jepson than would have beenpossible had we gone back to our homes when the matter was firstsuggested, for now he might indeed give our names to the king'sofficers; but they would fail to find us in Boston town, and who couldsay when we had left?