“But not far enough to be of any service, Mr. Dimisdale, as you know,” insisted Royce, stubbornly.

The two men had paused and leaned their elbows upon the wall at no greater distance than two yards from the spot where Nat was crouched.

“I know the general estimate placed upon the importance of these two Adams’,” said Dimisdale.

“They are dangerous to the best interests of the crown,” declared Royce. “They are of the type of men who lead the people astray by false doctrines. The country will never be at peace while they are at large. Did not the eldest of them—the one named Samuel—have the effrontery to shake his fist in the face of an English governor and warn him that British redcoats—our safeguards—must be removed from Boston. And all because a few[46] rebellious rascals had been shot in the streets for an open defiance of the law!”

[46]

The indignation of the burly Tory as he conjured up this scene almost made Nat laugh outright, but he stifled the impulse as Dimisdale began to speak.

“Please allow me to finish,” said that gentleman. “When you interrupted me I was about to show you that these two brothers are not the only persons of consequence in this movement.”

“Go on,” said Royce, sullenly.

“The prospects of our intercepting the men from Virginia are good,” said Dimisdale. “If we succeed, we will, beyond a doubt, have made as important a capture, if not one of more importance, than the one you so regret missing.”

“It will require a great deal to convince me of that,” remarked Royce, with doubt plain in his voice.

“First,” said Dimisdale, impressively, “there will be Edward Pendleton, one of the Virginia aristocrats, a man of fine distinction and attainments, of many friendships and vast influence in his own colony and far beyond to the southward.”

[47]“I know that,” said the big man.

[47]

“Then there will be Patrick Henry, whose name has already gone across the sea and whose tongue is as a flame in arousing rebellion among the discontented. And last—but in my private opinion—standing head and shoulders above them all—is one whom I consider to be the most dangerous man of the period. His very silence up to this time makes him all 

 Prev. P 21/157 next