"I should say it," responded Andy, with the decision of a Napoleon. "Remember what we heard about Gen. Gage imprisoning some patriots in Boston. These six redcoats will count for six of our own people, don't you see?" "Very well," nodded Phil. "Come on, fellows." Half of the boys followed Andy's sub-commander with alacrity. Phil was a favorite, and the politic Andy had avoided creating any hard feeling by appointing a boy who did not really belong to Concord as his lieutenant. Andy and his cohorts advanced cautiously in the direction of the stalled wagons. Some high bushes and the darkness of the night enabled them to come almost directly upon the British without discovery. Andy silently and effectively disposed his "men" in a semi-circle. Then, his sabre drawn, the naked blade glittering impressively in the lantern light, he stepped from behind a big bush with the single word: "Surrender!" "Hi--hello!" cried the Britisher digging under the front wheel of the gun carriage, and he stared askance at the sudden apparition. "Why, you young jackanapes!" began the other man, dropping his shovel and staring also. "Ready!" said Andy, as immovable as a statue. The two men started back. From the bushes, focussing them as selected targets, the muzzles of numerous muskets told them that the situation was no joke. "Stand out in the middle of the road there," ordered Andy. "Bill, call the others!" hoarsely spoke one of the men. "Raise your voice or make a move outside of what you are ordered, and we fire," said Andy, quietly but firmly. The two men got into the middle of the road. Andy told off four of his company to get ropes from one of the baggage wagons and tie the hands of the captives behind them. This had scarcely been accomplished when Phil and the others appeared upon the scene, driving at the muzzle's point the four men who had been working in the timber. The captives looked immensely sheepish, but they had no weapons, they were completely outnumbered, and Phil had acted all through in a way that convinced them that he and his assistants were in deadly earnest. "I guess this is all there is of them," observed Ralph. "It won't be soon," growled one of the captives. "There'll be a whole army following our men back here." "I fancy you don't quite understand the situation," remarked Andy with a triumphant smile. "Your messengers will be lucky if they come up with the army, as you call it, this side of Boston." "Yes, and then they'll have to run pretty fast!" chuckled old Silas. "I'd tie the other four there," he advised. "Bring 'em to the wagon and take them to the town jail. As to this wagon truck, _et settery_--spoils of war, my friends, spoils of war."