"Three days ago," pursued Ralph, "we got word that Gage was ready to make some big move. We couldn't find out his plans. Day before yesterday the first part of his plan came down upon the colony like a thunder clap. He put Boston in a state of blockade, martial law was ordered. As I told you, no one could leave or come into Boston without a Tory passport." "Why was that, I wonder?" murmured Andy. "Why, to prevent the outside colonists from getting word from the city. Yesterday a courier reached Mr. Eaton, and then went on to warn Lexington, Concord and the other principal towns. The redcoats are drilling, massing and getting ready to leave Boston for a raid on outside towns. We don't know exactly when they are going to strike, but we shall know before they leave." "How? Why?" spoke Andy in rapt interest. "We have men inside the lines who are watching every move of the British. The moment they make a definite start, a signal will be given to our agents just outside of Boston. Then the arrangements are such that the news will be spread to the outside towns like wildfire." Andy was so wrought up that he was pacing the floor restlessly while Ralph was talking. Phil was thinking of his folks and his friends. Phil knew more about Boston than Ralph or Andy. He realized more than they did the seriousness of the high-handed outrage on the part of the Tories in striving to subdue the valiant spirits of the patriots. He knew that the effect of such action would be to deeply arouse the Musket Boys of Boston to the fighting fever point. "There will be bloodshed," he said with conviction, to himself. "If the war never breaks out, this will lead to trouble for the redcoats." Then Phil thought of something else, and arose to his feet with the words: "Ralph, I have something important to tell Mr. Eaton." "Hold on, though," was the response--"you've a story to tell first. Where have you been? Your folks have been inquiring for you everywhere. They have been worried to death about you." Phil detailed the various experiences of his friend and himself since they had left Concord. Ralph's face worked with interest as they told of the adventure at the Lowell town hall. It was when they came to their imprisonment on the _Vixen_ and their escape in the sailboat, that he became so excited that he could scarcely sit still. "Grand!" was his comment, when Phil told of the cutting of the cable. "Superb!" he added, when they related how they had sailed the boat into Sandy Creek. "Famous!" he fairly shouted, when Phil narrated the run across the swamp lake. "And there she stuck," concluded Andy, breaking in on the narrative. "There she is now, and nobody knows how many kegs of powder and how many muskets she has aboard." "Boys," said Ralph starting for the front of the house in a state of intense excitement, "You've done a big thing. Just one or two clever tricks like this, and we'll be able to whip the Tories and the redcoats with our hands behind our backs!"