to buy the stamped paper necessary for the lawful making of your
contracts unless you dispose of your outfit for war or hunting, which
is the best to be found in Portsmouth."

"That I shall never do, even if I fail in getting the mill. Do you
know, Stephen, that I was admitted to the ranks of the Sons of Liberty
last night?"

"The honours are being heaped high on the head of the would-be miller
of the Pascataqua," Kidder replied, with a laugh. "Do you expect the
Sons of Liberty will do away with the necessity for stamped paper?"

"Who shall say? Much can--"

Walter Neal did not conclude the sentence, for at that instant two men
passed, and a signal, so slight as not to be observed by his companion,
was given by one of the new-comers, causing the young man to hasten
away without so much as a word in explanation of his sudden departure,
while Stephen Kidder stood gazing after him in blank amazement.

The two friends whose conversation was so suddenly interrupted were
natives of the town of Portsmouth, in the Province of New Hampshire;
and, had either had occasion to set down the date of this accidental
meeting, it would have been written, October 26th, 1765.

As has been suggested, Walter Neal's ambition was to erect a grist-mill
a certain distance up the Pascataqua River, where was great need of
one, since land in that portion of the province was being rapidly
settled; and, although without capital, he believed it might be
possible for him to accomplish his desires.

He was favourably known to the merchants of Portsmouth, and thanks to
the efforts of his friend, Andrew McCleary,--ten years his
senior,--several tradesmen had intimated that perhaps they might
advance sufficient money to start the enterprise in a limited way.

Neal had inherited a small amount of property from his father; but,
like many of the farmers in the New World, he was sadly hampered by the
lack of ready money. During several weeks prior to this accidental
meeting with Stephen Kidder, he had been forced to temporarily abandon
his scheming in regard to the mill, that he might try to raise
sufficient money with which to pay the annual tax, already more than
burdensome, upon his small estate.

As Neal hastened after the two men who had given him the signal to
follow them, the most engrossing thought in his mind was as to how the
amount of four pounds and seven shillings in cash could be raised
without a sacrifice of the cattle from the home