as best I could, rapidly until the barrel of the weapon was so hot that
I threw it on the deck, running into the cabin to get from the spare
weapons a cool one.

As I came up the companion-way, brushing past Hiram who shouted
something in my ear, I know not what, I was dimly conscious of seeing
the laden sloop standing well over on the northern shore, every inch of
canvas set and drawing.

Then I began to charge the weapon, and while so doing glanced
involuntarily across the deck, seeing here and there a tiny thread of
dull red. On the instant my heart turned cold, for until then I had had
no thought that any of our lads were hurt.

"Some of the boys are wounded!" I cried shrilly, turning to Hiram, and
then I saw that his left arm hung by his side as if useless, while he
held the tiller with his right hand, standing astride it that his legs
might aid him in the grip.

"Ay, lad, some of us must pay the price, although I reckon we are making
it tolerably expensive for the lobster backs."

It was the first time since the action began that I could see clearly,
and glancing across the narrow space of water which separated the two
vessels, I saw that the mass of red had dwindled until no more than six
or seven lobster backs stood opposed to us, while three sailors were
doing whatsoever they could toward wearing ship in order to take to
their heels.

It was a sight which filled me with astonishment and pride. That the
Minute Boys of Boston, not one of whom was above fifteen years old, had
saved for the American army all the provisions that were on board the
sloop which was now sailing away to the westward, seemed too good to be
true, and, what was absolutely amazing, these same lads had thrashed the
king's men, those who had come to the colony for the purpose of whipping
us into subjection--thrashed them, until their only desire was to run!

[Illustration: "'WHO SHALL SAY NOW THAT WE HAVEN'T THE RIGHT TO CALL
OURSELVES MINUTE BOYS?'"]

I became as wildly delirious with joy and pride as I had been during the
turmoil of battle, and, waving the ramrod of the musket above my head, I
cried triumphantly to the lads who were still pouring lead into the
red-coats:

"Who shall say now that we haven't the right to call ourselves Minute
Boys, and to take our stand side by side with the men at Cambridge?"

Half a dozen of the lads cheered wildly, after which they again devoted
their attention to the human targets, while Hiram