at you do not suffer by the delay. Go at once, and
let nothing detain you; we expect the message will be delivered early
to-morrow morning." Neal's home lay two miles west of Portsmouth, and
without waiting to attend to the business for which he had visited the
town, he hastened toward it at a rapid pace. His mind was easy in
regard to the payment of the taxes, for McCleary would keep every
promise made, and when he returned it should be possible to make the
necessary arrangements with Ephraim Foulsham within twenty-four hours.

When he arrived in view of the log-house which his father had built
twenty years previous, Walter understood that something out of the
ordinary course of events had happened. The doors of the barn were
open, and his mother stood in front of the building, as if in deepest
distress. A portion of the rail-fence which enclosed the buildings was
torn down, and the cart that had been left by the side of the road was
no longer to be seen.

"You could not borrow the money?" his mother said, interrogatively,
while he was yet some distance away.

"I haven't had an opportunity to see Master Foulsham. What has
happened?"

"The worst, my son, that could befall us at this time. The officers
have attached the cattle and the horse. Even if you can borrow money,
the costs of the action will eat up all we had to live on this coming
winter."

"The horse gone!" Walter exclaimed, as if in bewilderment.

"We could better spare him just now than the cattle, because of the
work yet to be done."

Neal was not at that moment thinking of the farm duties, nor yet of the
mill, which was more distant in the future than before, but only of the
fact that it was necessary he should be in Boston on the following
morning.

Hurriedly he explained to his mother why it was he must leave home, and
added in conclusion,--

"Master McCleary has promised that I shall not suffer because of the
delay in paying the tax, and I am certain he will keep faith with me."

"And do you intend to leave home now?"

"I must; there are those who depend upon me, and they shall not be
disappointed."

"I am afraid, Walter, you are pursuing the wrong course. It is best
that wiser and older heads than yours should be concerned in the
struggle which must come, if the people resist this new tax."

"Father would have done as I am doing; and, since I am to fill his
place, it is fit I should do what I can."

"But how will you reach Boston wit