just because he
happens to have an uncle who is no honour to the family."

"We shouldn't have known anything about it, but for the barber, and if
you think he hasn't had enough, we'll finish flogging him."

Hardy, who had not dared to move from the moment Amos ceased punishing
him, now looked even more terrified than before, until the latter
replied:

"No good will come of abusing him. Let him alone, and in the future I
reckon he'll tell the truth."

"He will never tell us anything again that we shall believe," one of
the attacking party said. "I'm sorry we let a liar like him lead us on
to what we've done against you, and I'll agree we won't make such a
mistake again, if you'll call it settled. Come down to the Liberty
Tree with us, you two fellows, and let's see what's going on there."

Amos, eager to get the throng away from his father's house, accepted
the invitation at once, and he and Jim marched in the midst of their
late enemies, while Master Piemont's assistant was left alone to
nurse, at the same time, his wounds and his anger.

The throng at Liberty Hall was as great as Amos had ever seen it at
any time; but decidedly more quiet and orderly than on the previous
evening.

It was as if, having decided upon a definite plan, the people were
willing to wait quietly until the hour set for action should arrive.

It was rumoured that the Sons of Liberty, as an organisation, had
agreed to head the populace in a peremptory demand for the removal of
the troops, which was to be made on the following Monday; but Amos
failed to learn that there was any good foundation for this rumour. It
was known positively that the Sons of Liberty had laid the grievances
of the people before the Governor and Council, but there were many at
Liberty Hall who doubted if the members of the Society would
countenance the actions of the mob.

"It seems as if poor little Chris was forgotten already," Jim Gray
said, after he and Amos had listened to several hot-headed speakers
urging the people to rise in their might. "Now they talk only of the
attack upon the rope-makers, and hardly mention his name."

"That is because the trouble at your father's ropewalk was brought about
by the soldiers, while Chris was murdered by one of our own people, if
we are willing to acknowledge that Ebenezer Richardson was one of us."

"Does he never visit at your house?"

"He hasn't since the day Master John Hancock was arrested in regard to
the seizu