as had been shown many
times under similar circumstances, made a suggestion which met with
the unqualified approval of all.

"I have at home the figurehead of the old sloop _Faith and Prudence_.
It is the image of a man, with a nose not unlike the one Master Lillie
carries on his face. Let us saw the head off, nail it to a pole, and
set it up in front of his shop with a notice attached warning all
honest citizens against trading with him."

"Hurrah for Jim Gray's plan!" a member of the party cried, and
heartily the others responded, causing one of two old gentlemen, who
chanced to be passing at that moment, to say, with many an ominous
shake of his white head:

"If the children are allowed to display signs of disloyalty thus
publicly, it is not difficult to say how treasonable must be their
parents. Governor Hutchinson shows far too mild a spirit, or some of
these young sparks would be adorning the pillory. It was not so when I
was a boy."

"But it may be they are bent only on some youthful frolic, Friend
Johnson, and we gray-heads must make allowance for young blood."

"The only allowance they should have is a dozen strokes of the whip.
They are indulging in treasonable practices, otherwise the meeting-place
would not be under what is already known throughout the colony as the
Liberty Tree. I shall speak with Governor Hutchinson to-morrow, and if
he still insists upon faint-hearted measures, word must be sent to his
majesty. Unless this lawless spirit is speedily checked, trouble will
follow. The fathers of these young scoundrels may prudently contrive to
keep themselves from publicly committing any overt act against the laws;
but they can be taught a lesson through their sons."

Before the old gentlemen were beyond sight of the Tree, the meeting
had noisily adjourned to Jim Gray's home on Cross Street, the entire
party marching with something approaching military precision through
the streets, as if fancying this semblance of order was necessary to
give proper dignity to what they knew would be a riotous act.

[Illustration]

The figurehead of the sloop had been long exposed to the weather in
the rear of the house, and perhaps no one save Jim and his assistants
could have traced a resemblance in the roughly-hewn contour of the
face to that of the prosperous merchant. They, however, were well
satisfied with the instrument which might bring Master Lillie to a
realisation of his offence, and Hardy Baker was pos