The informer himself should hang from that pole!"

"Where are the feathers? He needs a new coat!"

"Down with the informer!"

Richardson turned toward the mob an instant, as if to defy it, and
then, as the threats grew louder, entered the house.

"Whoever did that bit of work should be well paid for it," some one in
the crowd said, sufficiently loud for Hardy to hear, and the latter
looked triumphantly toward Chris Snyder. "I'll wager it came from
under the Liberty Tree."

"You're right, my friend," the barber's apprentice said, in a loud
tone, and in another moment he would have revealed that which should
be kept a secret, had not the arrival of several British officers
given him, in his opinion, an opportunity of yet further
distinguishing himself.

"There is Lieutenant Draper," he said, sufficiently loud for all in
the immediate vicinity to hear, "and this time he shall listen to what
I have to say, unless he is willing to settle his account."

"Are you going to speak to that officer?" Chris Gore asked, as he
detained Hardy for an instant by stepping in front of him.

"Why not? He should pay that which he owes."

"But this is not the proper time to speak of business affairs. No man
would listen to a barber's apprentice in public, like this."

"He shall listen to me," Master Piemont's assistant replied, loftily.
"It is to me he owes the money, and I do not intend to be defrauded."

Before his companion could check him, the valiant Hardy stepped
quickly up to Lieutenant Draper, who was in company with two brother
officers, and said, in an offensive tone:

"I was at the Custom House yesterday to see you, sir."

"And pray, why did you take it upon yourself to go there?" the
lieutenant asked.

"Because I wanted the money you owe Master Piemont for dressing your
hair, and I went where I was most likely to find you."

The lieutenant's face grew pale with anger, and he made a motion as if
to strike the impudent boy, but one of his companions said, in a
warning whisper:

"Be careful what you do, Draper. An injudicious word or act now might
arouse this apparently peaceable assemblage into an unruly mob!"

Glancing around him, the officer realised the truth of the remark, and
would have turned away but that Hardy stepped yet nearer, and, in a
louder voice, cried:

"Will you give me the money now, or shall I visit the Custom House
again?"

"Hark you, lad," Lieutenant Draper said, angrily, but speaking so