Neal, the Miller | Page 5

he knew McCleary would be found at
this time of the day.
Before Neal could speak, his friend walked quickly out of the building
toward the shore of the harbour, giving the would-be mill-owner an
expressive look, which plainly told that he was to follow.
Not until McCleary was at a point where no one could approach him
without being seen did he halt, and then Neal was by his side.
"A messenger must be sent to Boston at once," the elder man said, in a
low tone. "It is not generally known that you have been admitted to our
association, therefore you are the one to go."
"When shall I start?"
"At once; there is no time to be lost. Will you ride my horse? "
"My Own will serve me better; suspicions might be aroused if I should
be seen on yours."
"Very true; I had not thought of that. You are to make all speed, and go
direct to Master Revere's. Say to him that George Messerve, who has
been appointed distributor of the tax stamps for New Hampshire, will
arrive in Boston shortly, if, indeed, he is not already there. Tell Master
Revere that the feeling in our section grows stronger against this last
imposition every day, until there is danger lest the excesses which
marked the 26th of August in Boston may be repeated here. He will
understand what it is we want him to do."
"Shall I have time -"
"You will not have time for delay. Start at once, and as you perform
this mission, so will you be benefiting yourself in the project of the
mill."
"It does not require I should know that in order to be faithful to the trust
imposed upon me. I was about to ask if I should have time to attend to
raising the amount of my taxes, for I have twice been warned that they
are due".
"I will see to it that you do not suffer by the delay. Go at once, and let

nothing detain you; we expect the message will be delivered early to-
morrow morning." Neal's home lay two miles west of Portsmouth, and
without waiting to attend to the business for which he had visited the
town, he hastened toward it at a rapid pace. His mind was easy in
regard to the payment of the taxes, for McCleary would keep every
promise made, and when he returned it should be possible to make the
necessary arrangements with Ephraim Foulsham within twenty-four
hours.
When he arrived in view of the log-house which his father had built
twenty years previous, Walter understood that something out of the
ordinary course of events had happened. The doors of the barn were
open, and his mother stood in front of the building, as if in deepest
distress. A portion of the rail-fence which enclosed the buildings was
torn down, and the cart that had been left by the side of the road was no
longer to be seen.
"You could not borrow the money? " his mother said, interrogatively,
while he was yet some distance away.
"I haven't had an opportunity to see Master Foulsham. What has
happened?"
"The worst, my son, that could befall us at this time. The officers have
attached the cattle and the horse. Even if you can borrow money, the
costs of the action will eat up all we had to live on this coming winter."
"The horse gone!" Walter exclaimed, as if in bewilderment.
"We could better spare him just now than the cattle, because of the
work yet to be done."
Neal was not at that moment thinking of the farm duties, nor yet of the
mill, which was more distant in the future than before, but only of the
fact that it was necessary he should be in Boston on the following
morning.
Hurriedly he explained to his mother why it was he must leave home,
and added in conclusion,-
"Master McCleary has promised that I shall not suffer because of the
delay in paying the tax, and I am certain he will keep faith with me."
"And do you intend to leave home now?"
"I must; there are those who depend upon me, and they shall not be
disappointed."
"I am afraid, Walter, you are pursuing the wrong course. It is best that

wiser and older heads than yours should be concerned in the struggle
which must come, if the people resist this new tax."
"Father would have done as I am doing; and, since I am to fill his place,
it is fit I should do what I can."
"But how will you reach Boston without a horse or money?"
Walter hesitated. By returning to Portsmouth he could get the animal
which McCleary had proposed he