Hiram's
reply was a cheery one:

"Aye, that I did, lad; but I'm not minded he shall get any advantage
because of them, since it won't be a great exertion to plug the holes
with rags."

It was evident that Hiram had given more thought to the situation, and
to the possibility of turning it to our advantage, than had any of us.
From that moment I was well content to do as he suggested, save in one
particular, and that was as to which of us should make the first
venture, therefore I demanded to know why he claimed the right.

"Because in the first place, so far as the lobster backs know, I haven't
been mixed up in the doings of the Minute Boys as have the rest of you."

"How do you make that out?" Archie cried sharply. "Seth Jepson has told
the Britishers all he knows, and your name has been put down with the
others."

"Seeing's how I am the least known in this town of Boston, it strikes me
there is nobody who can go out with less danger than myself," Hiram
declared, and straightway I put an end to his pretensions by saying:

"You would not be able to effect one half as much as any of us three,
because of being unacquainted with the town and the people. Besides, you
would be missed more quickly by Master Lord; the chances are if he
should come, and you were asleep, he would insist upon awakening you,
for you have acted as spokesman all the way through this business. Now I
am the one who has the right to go, and I can be of more service than
any other."

As a matter of course all hands insisted on knowing upon what I based my
claims, and I put the matter plainly, perhaps with some show of
arrogance:

"In the first place because I was chosen captain of the Minute Boys,
which gives me the right to say what shall or shall not be done; then
again I am as well acquainted with the people in this town as any other,
knowing who may be trusted and whom we need fear."

"What would you do in case we agreed you should be the first to venture
out?" Hiram asked, and I could well understand that he was inclined to
believe me in the right.

"First I would go to my own home, and it would be safe to do so because
no one save Master Lord has any idea that I am in town. My mother must
know somewhat of the doings hereabouts since we left, and may be able to
give valuable information."

"Is that all?" Archie asked as if he considered my plan to be of little
importance so far as the work of releasing Silas was concerned.

"I would