e
was seized by a file of soldiers and thrust into the guardhouse for
buying anything of a soldier against the law. He had only the bare
floor to sleep on. In the morning, Lieutenant-Colonel Nesbit ordered
the soldiers to strip off Ditson's clothes, and tar and feather him.

It was a pitiful spectacle which Ruth Newville saw,--Colonel Nesbit
marching at the head of his regiment, the soldiers with their bayonets
surrounding a man stripped to the waist, smeared with tar, covered
with feathers, the fifes playing, and the drums beating the Rogue's
March.

"It is disgraceful," she said, with flashing eyes, to her mother.
"Colonel Nesbit ought to be ashamed of himself. If he ever calls here
again, I'll not speak to him."

Fast Day came, and again the eyes of Miss Newville flashed when she
saw the king's troops parading the streets; the drummers and fifers
taking their stations by the doors of the meetinghouses to annoy the
people, playing so loud they could scarcely hear a word of what the
minister was saying.

"Do you think, father, that General Gage will win back the affections
of the people, or even retain their respect by permitting such
outrages?" Ruth asked.

"Perhaps it is not the wisest course to pursue. Quite likely the
officers of the regiments did it of their own notion," Mr. Newville
replied.

If Lord North and King George thought a show of military force would
overawe the people of Boston town, they were mistaken. Possibly they
did not reflect that military repression might beget resistance by
arms; but when the regiments began to arrive, the Sons of Liberty
resolved to prepare for whatever might happen. They appointed a
committee of safety to protect the rights of the people.

* * * * *

Winter was over, and with their singing the birds were making the
April mornings melodious. The Provincial Congress was in session at
Cambridge, and Samuel Adams and John Hancock had left Boston and with
Dorothy Quincy were with Reverend Mr. Clark in Lexington. Abraham
Duncan discovered that General Gage had sent Captain Brown and Ensign
De Berniere into the country to see the roads.[53] Sharp-eyed Sons of
Liberty watched the movements of the soldiers. They saw Lord Percy
march his brigade to Roxbury, and return as if for exercise, with no
one opposing them.

[Footnote 53: Captain Brown and Ensign De Berniere, March 20, visited
Concord and Worcester and intermediate towns, dressed as c