may this young gentleman be?" the doctor asked as he pointed at
Silas Brownrigg, who was striving to make himself look as large as
possible to the end that he might attract attention.

"My father is Robert Brownrigg, who has been enrolled among the Minute
Men these many days, and has called himself a Son of Liberty since I can
remember."

"I know him well, and now believe that one or all of you can serve me
well and faithfully, meaning that you will be serving the Cause. I
desire to send a message with all speed to Colonel James Barrett, who
can be found about a mile this side the town of Lexington, at Samuel
Hadley's home."

"We will carry your message, sir, and bind ourselves to deliver it
before sunrise," I cried, burning with the desire to have a finger in
this pie of rebellion against the king and General Gage.

"It is a written message I would send, and it will not be necessary for
all three of you lads to undertake the journey--one can perform the task
as well as a dozen."

"We three have always been close comrades, sir," Archie interrupted,
"and while it may not be necessary that all should aid in carrying the
message itself, two more hands in the skiff will shorten the journey to
the Penny ferry, for there it would be well to take to the shore, rather
than striving to work entirely around this town in order to gain the
Cambridge river."

"The three shall have a part in the work," Doctor Warren cried, as if he
had but just understood how eager we were to be of service to the Cause.
"It is important that Colonel Barrett receive the missive before
sunrise, and you are to set about the task as seems best to you, with
the understanding that all are of equal rank in this matter. I will call
you Minute Boys, and pledge my word that by seeking out the colonel at
the earliest possible moment, you will be doing as valuable work as any
Minute Men in the colony."

There was little need for him to say more. We were literally burning
with desire to be off on our first task that had to do with the Cause,
and he could not have worked us up to greater enthusiasm had he preached
all night.

"You have first to make your parents acquainted with what you are about
to do," the doctor said with a smile because of our eagerness. "I have
the message with me; but there is no good reason why you should carry it
while making arrangements for departure, lest it be lost or seized,
therefore do what may be necessary, and meet me at