The light in the chamber was extinguished, and he turned away.
Once more he lingered by the gray walls of King's Chapel to take a
parting look at the white-curtained window, and then walked to Queen
Street, past the jail and printing office. It would be a pleasure to
stand once more upon the spot where first he met her.

He heard a commotion in the direction of Dock Square,--oaths and
curses; and suddenly beheld citizens running, followed by soldiers,
whose swords were flashing in the moonlight. They followed the fleeing
people nearly to the town pump, then turned and disappeared in an
alley.

"What has happened?" Robert asked of a man who had a pail of oysters
in his hand.

"What? Just see what I've got from the hellish rascals," the man
replied, setting down the pail and pointing to a gash on his shoulder.
"The red-coated devils are cutting and slashing everybody. They are
ripping and swearing they'll kill every blasted Son of Liberty."

While the oysterman was speaking, a little boy came along, piteously
crying.

"What's the matter, my boy?" Robert asked.

Amid his sobs it was learned that the boy's father sent him on an
errand; that while peacefully walking the street, a soldier rushed
upon him swearing, aiming a blow, felling him to the ground with his
sword.

"I'll kill every Yankee whelp in Boston," said the redcoat.

Again there was a commotion--soldiers rushing towards Dock Square.

"Where are the blackguards? let's kill 'em," they shouted.

"Come on, you dirty cowards; we are ready for ye," the answering
shout.

Robert could hear oaths and vile words, and then the whacking of
clubs, and saw the soldiers fleeing towards their barracks followed by
the people. A man with a stout club came along the street.

"What's going on?" Robert asked.

"We are giving it to the poltroons. We'll drive 'em off Long Wharf.
They rushed out upon us just now, with shovels, tongs, swords, and
baggernets, and called us cowards. We whacked 'em with our clubs and
drove the ruffians--blast their picters."

The commotion was increasing. Robert walked towards the barracks to
learn the meaning of it. Reaching an alley, he saw a crowd of
soldiers, and that the officers were trying to get them within the
barrack gates. Towards Dock Square was a group of young men
flourishing cudgels, and daring the lobsters to come on.

"Let's set the bell ringing," he heard one say, and two apprentices
rushed past him towards the meetin