obs trying to enforce wicked
laws," said an old man.

"Yes, and keeps two regiments of lobsters here to insult us."

"That's so," responded Peter Bushwick, whom Robert recognized. "If the
laws were just the people wouldn't smuggle. If there was no smuggling
there wouldn't be any spies, and Ebe Richardson, instead of being a
sneaking informer, would have been earning an honest living. He
wouldn't have been called Poke Nose; there wouldn't have been any
snowballs nor brickbats nor shooting. Ever since I was a little boy
Parliament has been passing laws to cripple us; that's what's brought
on smuggling; that's what keeps the troops here. Ebe Richardson is
part of the system."

There was a louder buzzing as the sheriff entered the hall and made
his way through the crowd with his prisoner, who stood pale and
trembling before the justices while the indictment was read. Witnesses
were sworn and examined, and the sheriff ordered to commit the accused
to the jail for trial.

"No other incident," said Mr. John Adams, "has so stirred the people
as the shooting of this boy. Nothing has so brought to the
consciousness of the community the meaning of the ministerial system.
Instinctively they connect the death of Christopher with the attempt
to enforce the unrighteous laws. Richardson is in the employ of the
government. There is no evidence that Theodore Newville or Nathaniel
Coffin or any of the officers of the customs engaged him to remove the
effigy; he did it on his own account, and must suffer for it, but the
obloquy falls, nevertheless, upon the officers of the crown, and
especially upon the soldiers, who are a constant menace. I fear this
is but the beginning of trouble."

Tom had been called upon to testify as a witness in regard to the
shooting. He had heard the informer ask the peddler of charcoal and
the farmer to run against the effigy with their teams; had seen the
snowballs and brickbat fly, the shooting, and had assisted in caring
for the wounded and summoning Doctor Warren.

"Have you any idea, Tom, who placed the effigy there?" Mrs. Brandon
asked.

"I might have an idea, which might be correct or which might not be. A
supposition isn't testimony. I don't think I'll say anything about
it," said Tom.

"Can you guess who carved it?" Berinthia asked earnestly.

"Anybody can guess, Brinth, but the guess might not be worth anything;
I'll not try."

"You Sons of Liberty don't let out your secrets," Berinthia s