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

about the house, he could not read, and under almost any other circumstances he would have regarded the time as wasted. The next day was Sunday, and Enoch and his mother were very much opposed

ld not be doing any wrong by attempting to seize the officers

e pit than the sheep of old fell into," said Enoch. "If the king does n

the floor. His mother thought he was growing down-hearted, and that would not do for a provincial; so she began and related some adventures of which his father had been the hero after he resigned his commission

He got the yeast, promised that he would be on hand when that cheer was sounded on the morrow, and went out. Something, we don't know what it was, p

ame a timid knock at the kitchen door. Wondering who could want to see any of his family at that hour Enoch opened it and found Mrs. Young on the threshold. Enoch thought she l

asked, in a trembling voice. "I sent

me," said Mrs. Crosby. "Have

the nearest chair and sinking into it. "He has

suppose he i

after him," replied Mrs. Young. "He does

mpanion. "He generally does your bidding right up to the handle; and h

!" exclaimed Mrs.

"But you will remember that h

t each other but d

that that magistrate is going to collect that po

ed him for it?" st

ind out," replied Enoch. "I wil

the hands of the Tories yourself," said Mrs. C

t know what sort of stories James has told about me, but I know that I took Caleb a

Tory, and that wi

took more than a supposition to alarm them. Mrs. Young felt uneasy in regard to Caleb, and Mrs. Crosby felt that Way when she

m and set off at a rapid run for Zeke's house. "He must be in

and presently was standing on Zeke's back steps. It was all dark in the house and that proved that the man he wanted to see had gone to bed; bu

that out

e boy. "You'll have to get up and

ng Zeke out of bed and to his feet. He

in the world that I ever heard

ouse to borrow something of his mother, and he had never gone ho

w he did not pay his fine to-day, and I will bet tha

d Zeke, hurrying on his clothes. "If he is in

re. You will have to take a lante

at he did not carry in the daytime. It was a huge club, and he had fashioned it after a style of his own. The club looked too heavy for

ght, do you?" asked the boy. "If you do I

has brought up some of them fellows from the Margaretta to act as his guards. I don't know that he has done it, but it is well enou

f yourself," said his wife,

captured yet, did you?" asked

ad struggled so hard for his freedom. Almost the first thing he saw was the bucket which had contained

rn from Enoch's hand and carefully examining all the footprints in t

he dark in more respects than one,

of his long strides which compelled Enoch to strike a trot in

ing to get some h

and as soon as he knows my voice he will op

ifted his club and pounded loudly upon the door. It seemed as if the echoes would arouse every

You are not a constable, I know, for they do not make such a n

than before; whereupon there was the creaking of a bed and

the inquiry this time; and it was not

u want to see this door stay where it

en the door directly. Why did

r?" said Zeke, hitting Enoch in the

pped inside of it. The Tory was frightened, and he grew more

f night?" asked the jailer. "I haven'

r keys," int

d the Tory, who was really frightened now. "You

the jailer by the collar with one hand while with the other he raised hi

our keys,"

aid the jailer, going to his bed and feeling under his pillow.

y two heavy horse pistols, of which he took immediate possession. "I will leave these things on the other side of the way and you

ailer. "There is not but one man in he

hich gave entrance into the cell-room, the doors of which were all open with one exception, and that one confined a prisoner. Enoch and Zeke

it, Caleb

hat he would be here to keep company with me to-night because he could not pay his fine

end. "And now the next question is, Where is he? I got that boy in a scrape, and I am bound

och in reply. "If you have let us go. I will tell you wh