off his coat to examine the wound on his arm.

It was rather deeper than a scratch, but yet nothing more serious than
to cause a goodly show of blood, and Walter put on his coat again
without a thought that any bandaging might be necessary.

This done, he rode on at a more leisurely pace, but listening intently
for any sound betokening the approach of his enemy.

Nothing occurred to cause him alarm, and it was not yet sunset when he
drew rein in front of William Cotton's store.

That gentleman was in and disengaged, as was seen when he came to the
door for a view of the new arrival.

"What! Is it you, Walter Neal?"

"There is no doubt about it in my mind, although my joints are so stiff
from long riding that if I was less acquainted with myself I might
believe I was only a portion of the saddle," Walter said, laughingly,
as he dismounted, and added, in a graver tone, "I must speak with you
alone, Friend Cotton."

"I am alone now. Take your horse to the stable, and come back at once."

"I will leave him where he is; perhaps it will not be well for you to
know anything about him." And then hurriedly entering the store, Walter
explained why he must reach Boston without delay, after which he gave a
brief account of his misadventures.

William Cotton, although a sympathizer with those who were about to
offer resistance to the commands of his most gracious majesty, was a
prudent man, and feared to be known as a disloyal citizen.

The fact that Samuel Haines would probably soon arrive in search of his
horse caused Master Cotton no little disquietude of mind, and he said,
reprovingly,--

"It is well to be zealous in a good cause, Walter; but it is wrong to
commit a crime in order to compass your own ends."

"What crime have I committed?"

"The theft of the horse will be charged against you, and those who are
intrusted with the execution of the law do not favour such an
association as that in which you have enlisted."

"My getting possession of him was the fortune of war, not a theft. I
was a prisoner, made so unlawfully, and had the right to escape as best
I could."

"That argument is good here; but will be of little avail to those who
look upon you as a disloyal youth, who should be deprived of his
liberty.'

"If I am to be charged with horse-stealing because of what has been
done, it cannot be avoided now. Before I am arrested I must carry the
message with which I have been entrusted, and to do so I need a