The First Capture; or, Hauling Down the Flag of England

mes, who was the first to begin th

gument with some of those young rebels and you have got the knock-down end of

"but Caleb was the only one who struck me. Now, father, what am

d that he struck you only once?" exclaimed Mr. H

that fellow's arms," whined James. "I would just as soon hav

this thing is settled. These young rebels are getting altogether too brash. They want to be shut up for a while. I wish I had

said James. He began to be all excitement now. To see Caleb Young

to try it. How did the argum

at he had given Caleb good reason for knocking him down. He might have to make the complaint under oath whe

ere in that massacre would b

. You told h

and haul him up," continued James. "Caleb or Enoch, I have forgotten which one, rep

u did perfectly right in saying what you did, and if I were m

itants of Machias could not get over it. Every one knew what was the matter with James without any telling. The provincials smiled and nodded their heads in a way that showed young Howard that he was served just right, while the

apers which were slowly being made out for them. The magistrate was surprised when he saw such a company of men coming into his office, for be it known

n he saw James' battered face

n an injured tone. "A young rebel got mad at me

wn opinions. "Do you want to make out a complaint against him? I will fine him a pound at least. These rebels have got to be kept within bounds. I will make out the papers right away. Here are two con

ut upon the crowd that had followed them in. There were more rebels than Tories in the party, and that was easy enough to be

hand. "Kelly, take this, go up to Young's house and arrest Caleb in the name of the king

there alone," whispered the constabl

d two constables to arrest a boy! Take notice of

thing which the magistrate himself would have shrunk from if he had been i

er you from shutting him up for three or four days? If the rebels are to

ut you can't do that for assault and battery. If you

kill him?" asked Mr. Howard. "He knoc

it when he comes. I wil

at home, she said; she had not seen him since that man brought the news of the battle of Lexington. She guessed he was down at Crosby's house; but what did they want to arrest him for? The constables gave her no sa

" said Kelly. "Com

ames Howard in front of the house, because she knew it all along. The tussle that Enoch made in getting Caleb

id Caleb, "at an

ot kill him?" exc

at I just knocked him down. It will teach him better

s feet and pick up his hat, he took it as a signal that it was high time he was doing something. He jumped up and ran out of the house bareheaded and hurried o

b!" said he, so impatient to tell what he knew

d Zeke. "What has h

wn James Howar

something that he had no business to

d Zeke all the time nodded his head as if he knew all about it. Wh

Caleb has not got any money," said he. "He will have to go to

I have been that way myself, and we wi

s complaint had found plenty of friends to tell it to, and by the time they reached the street they saw any number of people, all hastening with eager footsteps toward the magistrate's office.

panion, "you don't

ke. "I have got to s

an and if you want any

e magistrate's desk, but his size and weight had a good deal to do with it, and Enoch kept close behind

James down?" was t

" answered Caleb.

ow what you did. You knocked him down and left him lying there. You did not ca

much chance of getting it as he did to fine him one pound. Caleb had never seen so much money in his life

," said he. "You will then pay it at the rate of one shilling a day. I think

d that was more than they had power to do. Working his way further toward the desk he seized Caleb by the arm and pulled him back by

as that?" demanded the judge.

by what had happened. "That boy ain't a-going to be shut up, and, furthermore, he has not money t

claimed one of Z

te. "Kelly, you and Norton arrest the first man who inte

hing," said Zeke. "Come o

m where you are," stammered the magist

d what he thought of the magistrate's order by pulling Caleb's arm through his own and starting for the door with him. The provincials moved on one side to let him pass, and two or three of them gave him a cheer. The magistrate was utterly confounded. He called upo