Neal, the Miller | Page 6

should ride, and yet to do so would
delay him greatly, in addition to the possibility of arousing suspicion
against his friend.
By leaving the main road six miles farther on, and striking across a
tract of wooded country, the distance could be reduced materially; but
even then there would remain at least fifty miles to be traversed.
"I can walk to Salem," he said, at length; "and there, William Cotton
will provide me with a horse."
"It is a desperate journey, and dangerous, if some should learn why you
had undertaken it. I--"
"You would not bid me stay, mother, but rather urge me forward. I
have no time to lose."
"You will at least wait until I can put up some food."
"Yes; it will be necessary to eat, I suppose. Bread and cheese will be
enough, and even that must be got together quickly."
Mrs. Neal made no attempt to dissuade her son from his purpose. That
which he had said concerning his father had been sufficient to silence
her on the score of danger; and, when the small store of provisions
were wrapped in a stout piece of cloth and placed in the pocket of his
coat, she kissed him, but did not dare trust her voice to speak.
With a stout hickory stick as a walking-cane, Walter set out, and there
was sufficient in his mind to provide ample food for thought during the
first two hours of the journey. He was not at all certain that, now that
the cost of making an attachment of his property was to be added to the
amount of his tax, Ephraim Foulsham would be willing to advance the
money; and, even if the sum could be raised in such a manner, it was so
much increased that he could not hope to see the wished-for mill under
erection until another season at the earliest.
At the end of the second hour he had accomplished at least nine miles
of the distance, and could well afford to indulge in a brief halt while
partaking of his food.

"Nine miles from home means eleven from Portsmouth," he said aloud,
as if the sound of his own voice gave him encouragement. "By this path
Salem cannot be more than twenty-four miles away, and I must make it
in five hours in order to reach Boston by sunrise. It can be done if I do
not allow myself too much time in which to rest my legs, and-"
He ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that instant, as if they had
descended from the clouds, two horsemen stood before him.
The moss-covered path had deadened the sound of the animals'
approach as they came up from the rear.
Walter recognized both the new-comers. The foremost was Samuel
Haines, a man who had made an unsuccessful attempt to get the
appointment to distribute stamped paper in New Hampshire, and the
other James Albert, a half-breed Indian, who was well known in
Portsmouth as a quarrelsome fellow, ready to take part in any business,
however disreputable, so long as he was provided with an ample supply
of rum.
Walter nodded familiarly to Haines, but paid no attention to the Indian.
"Wait a moment, Master Neal," the former said, gravely, as Walter
attempted to pass him. "Where are you going that you cannot stop for a
short converse? "
"On business which admits of no delay."
"Do you expect to walk from here to Boston before daylight?"
"Who said I was going to Boston?"
"Perhaps I guessed as much."
"Then kindly guess that I can't wait here simply for the pleasure of
talking with Master Haines."
"I shan't try to do that, my rebellious friend. When Jim gets ready---"
Walter half turned to see what part the Indian was to play in this
interview, and as he did so the fellow's arms were around him,
pinioning his own to his side.
"What is the meaning of this?" he cried, angrily, as he tried in vain to
release himself.
"It means, Master Neal, that I wish to see the message you carry," and
Haines, dismounting, hastily searched the prisoner's pockets.
"You have found yourself mistaken as sadly as when you believed the
king would give you the dirty work of selling stamped paper," Walter
said, with a laugh, noting the look of disappointment on Haines's face

when he failed to find any document.
"You have been intrusted to deliver the message by word of mouth, and
it will serve my purpose as well if I prevent you from calling on that
seditious Revere. Here, Jim, tie him to a tree with this," and Haines
drew from his saddle-bags a piece of stout rope.
It was in vain Walter struggled; taken at a disadvantage as he had been,