tched the lobster backs as
they were embarked in barges, some from Long wharf, and some from the
North battery, making such a scene of warlike array as I had never
before witnessed.

Even though they were our enemies, it was a glorious sight to see the
precision with which detachment after detachment came up, took their
places in the boats, and remained motionless as statues while the
oarsmen pulled them across, heading for Morton's point, as it seemed to
me.

Now the cannons from the _Lively_ and the _Falcon_ began to belch forth
flame and iron missiles, sweeping all that plain between our redoubt and
the water as if to prevent us from making any attempt at opposing the
landing.

Had General Gage, or whosoever gave the orders for the vessels of war to
open fire, known how weary, how thirsty and nearly exhausted we were,
their powder and balls might well have been saved, for I question if
even Colonel Prescott, warrior though he was, or Doctor Warren, whom I
had not seen until just before noon, would have given the word for us to
charge in the hope of checking that advance of well-trained soldiers, or
to prevent them from stepping foot on shore.

"How many men think you are in yonder barges?" I heard Silas ask Hiram,
and he replied with never a tremor in his voice:

"Nigh about three thousand, lad, and if they don't make us wish for
water 'twixt now and night I'll agree never to satisfy my thirst
again."

CHAPTER X

ON BREED'S HILL

It was somewhere near about this time when our numbers were slightly
increased by the arrival of a portion of Colonel Stark's regiment, and I
verily believe that the coming of those men did more to dishearten us
than if they had stayed away. After having had sight of such a small
force, a few of the faint-hearted cried out in anger, declaring we were
to be left to our fate, or that some one had blundered in sending us
where there could be no question but that an assault would be provoked.

Hiram allowed no one to say aught against our leaders in his hearing. He
aroused us all by calling this man a coward, and accusing another of
showing the white feather, when any grumbling was indulged in, fairly
shaming the timorous one into silence by declaring that he who raised
his voice in protest against embracing the first opportunity to measure
strength with the Britishers, despite the fact that the odds were
greatly against us, was an enemy to the Cause. He even went so far as t