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

shouted one of the provincials, when they cam

ng to jail, but remember that we are not done with it yet. It will not be long before we shall see some British regular

round him. "If the regulars come at us, we'll serve them

presence of his mother in safety, they were Mr. O'Brien, Joseph Wheaton and Enoch Crosby. They did not have much to say about what had happened in the court-room, but Caleb knew why they went with him. On their way to his house they passed within plain sight of the harb

here, I would not have thought o

g Wheaton by the hand. "It did not sound like you in the first place, but, when somebody else prop

I lived in New York until a few months ago, and I thought the proposition had better come from an older inhabit

hinking what a fool I was not to think of it long ago. Wheat

s going to wave over us as an emblem of tyranny, we want it pulled down. But the fac

have that flag hauled down, and that is all we

Zeke for what he had done; but Zeke patted him on the back and said tha

e to come down and help capture that schooner," said he. "An

her, and I know that they will stand by their captain. We shall not have as

t with a report like that of a pistol. "But I would stick a pitchfork into my own

bareheaded, started homeward on a rapid run. He did not find his mother as excited as she ought to have been. She was sitting in her easy-chair

s steady as usual, "you have had an e

about it?" asked

his mother. "How did Caleb get the f

ve got up a rebellion now, and we may have some soldiers to settle w

er's eyes flashed and she laid down her knitting. He even told her about the plans that had been laid for seizin

to go too, mo

ll have to be cleaned up. And you will need some bullets, too. Remember that when your fa

any more shooting at our side of the house," said Enoch, getting up i

lean it up bright for the least little speck of rust in it will throw your ball where you don'

ey don't-t

exington, and we don't know whether he was killed or not. He did not miss, ei

said, I can make a noise. I can handle the halyar

lean and bright without a particle of rust in it. He had been outside the kitchen door engaged in his occupation

no business to do

formed always go wild, and you cannot do good shooting with them. Now, Enoch, have you got some powder? That you have in the horn ha

He wished that that cheer would sound out now, so that he could go into danger with his comrades and see Wheaton haul that flag down; but he chec

hat it will strike fire every

ittle sparks of fire shot down into the chamber. The gun was all right. It onl

t through we will show the redcoats that they are making war upon th

g along as if somebody had sent for him. His face, whenever he met Enoch, was always wrinkled up with smiles, and it proved o

ets," said Caleb; and he rubbed his hands together as if he could hardly wai

place she would not sleep at all to-night. She told me to give them one shot and think of the

ms Howard has been aboard that boat for. You see, we were watching that boat to find out whether or

robably been telling the captain about

," said Zeke. "If he turns

aid Caleb. "War has n

turn them loose; we have got two four-pounders that we could bring to bear on the schooner, and make her drop down away fro

g in such a hurry,

it. If you hear that cheer sounded to-

nt on to tell him what they had done to get ready for the ass

e would have easy times of it. I haven't got any gun to take; but I have a pi

said Enoch. "We will get a bi

ight," interrupted Caleb. "I will wager that you will see so

Emerson Miller there, but he was not so talkative as he was a little while ago. The boys did not like the way the storekeeper acted. He

haven't you?" said Enoch. "Well,

are getting powder for," said the man. "Do

to be all ready for them when they do come. We will

iercely upon the boys. "What would you do if the M

aleb. "She can't do it. She must wait unti

u any powder or not," said the man.

le Caleb was angry in an instant. "If you don'

s was not his reason. If he refused to give him what he called for, how long would it be before all the provincials in the village would hear of it and come there to see him about it? And if Zeke came he was su