ter Lillie seen that yet?" Snyder asked, gleefully, as he
motioned with his thumb toward the pole.

"I can't say. I have been here only a few moments, and when I came the
throng was as great as you see it now."

"It isn't reasonable to suppose the shopkeeper doesn't know what has
caused so great a gathering," Chris Gore said, placidly, and added,
with a meaning look at Hardy, "If I had taken any part in raising that
warning I should be careful to keep the fact a secret."

"Why?" Hardy asked, quickly, and looking just a trifle disturbed.

"Because more may come of it than in the case of the informer. Master
Theophilus Lillie, although he may not be loved by some of us, is
patronised by Governor Hutchinson."

"Well, and what then? He made an agreement, only to break it before the
words were cold, and should suffer for it," Hardy replied, defiantly.

"I am not defending him, but simply gave words to my thoughts."

"And you believe trouble will come to those who put that up?"

"I said not so, yet I believe it will be well if those who have thus
advised Master Lillie keep the fact that they were concerned in the
work a secret. Who is that now coming from the house?"

"Ebenezer Richardson, the informer, and Amos's uncle. Surely you
should know him."

"I never saw him before, but have heard much of his doings."

"And so have others," Hardy replied, in a significant tone. "If he is
wise he will stay in the house this day, for there yet remains in the
city of Boston plenty of tar and feathers."

"And you think he may get a new coat?"

"It won't be long coming," the barber's apprentice replied, in a
meaning tone, as if his especial mission in life was to correct the
shortcomings of others. "Now that this work has been begun by the boys
of Boston, it will be continued by them."

"You said that this Richardson is a relative of our friend Amos?"

"An uncle, but Amos has cast him off long since," and Hardy's
assumption of importance was almost comical. "He is reading the names
now; perhaps thinks he is called upon to protect Master Lillie. As I
said before, he had best remain hidden from view. How Amos would rage
if he could see his uncle at this moment!"

"Then he has no love for him?"

"As much as a frog has for a red rag."

The mob, who had been in the best possible humour, now began to show
signs of anger as the informer made himself conspicuous, and
half-muttered words soon became loudly-spoken threats.

"