"My orders," he explained, "were to return to headquarters and report any discovery of importance, where it was of local interest, though, I was also to advise a leading patriot in the vicinity. Here is a letter," and he handed the envelope to Andy. "Why," exclaimed the latter, peering at the superscription by the aid of the candle--"this is addressed to my father!" "Yes," nodded Burt. "Be very careful of it. It tells where I have hidden the powder--where it can be found by the people who need it worst, when the first gun is fired." "Hello!" shouted Andy sharply just then--"that sounds like it now!" for of a sudden at the big front door of the old mill there rang out a vivid, echoing-- _BANG!_ CHAPTER VI DOWN THE RIVER Burt Noble blew out the candle quickly, but not until Phil had noticed a keen look of alarm in his eyes. Then Burt ran to a window looking down from the front of the building, and Phil darted to the same opening. "What was that?--Who is it?" asked Andy sharply. "It's the Brams, bag and baggage," replied Phil, staring down through the gathering gloom. "Yes, and, Adam Woods, an officer of the law, is with them." "And two others!" added Burt Noble in a gasp. "Oh, I feared this! I shouldn't have come back here. At least, I shouldn't have stayed." Burt had run to one side window and then to another. Then he backed to a bench and stood wavering undecidedly, and evidently frightened. Phil had followed his movements quickly. He also glanced out of the two side windows in turn just as Burt had done. On the ground at the south side of the mill was Bram's hired man. He was armed with a musket, and was looking up at the old building. On the north side of the building, evidently keeping guard in that direction, was a man whom Phil recognized as one of the town watchmen. "They have got a big log in front there," said Burt. "There they go again! They are trying to break down the front door. I guess they have got me this time." "Not yet," declared Andy with vim, his eyes snapping with excitement. "Warrant, due process of law, and all that, eh? The old Tory curmudgeon! trying to get you into his clutches and shut you up as his slave, and shut you out from doing your duty by the country he hates! That's his game, is it? Well, it won't work. We're just going to circumvent them." "I am afraid it is hopeless," said Burt. "Bram has a right to arrest me as a runaway." "Come here for a minute, Phil," came from Andy, paying no attention to Burt's last words. There came another tremendous bang at the door down stairs. Andy whispered something rapidly to Phil. "Come on, Burt Noble," said Phil. "Go ahead, Andy. Hold those fellows in check as long as you can."