into your house, Enos Stoddard."

"How soon will you come, father?" asked Anne, hopefully.

"I think 'twill not be longer than another spring before the British leave
us in peace," replied her father. "But we need more soldiers to let them
know we are ready for war."

Captain Enos nodded. "There's a half dozen good Province Town men ready to
come, and as many more from Truro, if a dozen would help," he found a
chance to whisper.

"We'll talk of this later," said Anne's father. "I only hope you'll get
safe back to Province Town harbor from this trip."

"No fear," laughed Captain Enos. "General Gage is doing his best to starve
Boston out. Maybe we Province Town men can do the cause of Liberty good
service if we can bring in loads of fish for the people."

"It's hard to have British troops quartered on us," replied Nelson.
"General Gage is taking rough measures with everybody who opposes him. Dr.
Joseph Warren tried to stop the fortifications on Boston Neck, but 'twas
no use. And word is being sent to settlements to be ready to furnish men.
We've got supplies in Concord, and Americans have been drilling for some
time. We'll be ready for war if war comes. I've a message for the
Newburyport men to be ready to join us, but I see no way of getting out of
Boston. You're a brave man, Captain Stoddard, to come into harbor."

Captain Enos's face brightened as he listened to John Nelson.

"I'd find no trouble in slipping down the coast to Newburyport," he said
eagerly.

"Maybe," responded Nelson, "tho' there's no need for my telling you that
there's British craft cruising all about, and a man caught with a message
to 'rebels,' as they call us, stands no chance."

"I'd keep my message to myself," answered Captain Enos.

"So you could, a message by word of mouth; but this is written, and has a
drawing as well. I have it under the lining of my coat. But there's no way
for me to get out of the town. I'm well known by many of the English."

"Let me take it." Captain Stoddard's voice was eager. "'Tis ill-luck that
we Province Town men are to have no part in this affair. I'll get the
paper safe to Newburyport. Tell me to whom I am to give it."

But John Nelson shook his head. "You'd be caught, and maybe sent to
England," he answered.

"I'll not be caught. And if they catch me they'd not find the papers," he
promised, and before they parted Nelson had agreed to deliver the package
that day. "I'll give it to Anne," he promis