With that Phil had to be satisfied. He and Andy proceeded directly homewards, after leaving the boy who seemed to be so strangely and importantly mixed up with the destinies of the American conflict. Phil told his mother of his meeting with Burt Noble, and Mrs. Warrington was in a flutter of mingled anxiety and hope. Phil and Andy amused themselves about the house, playing checkers and rather impatiently waiting for nightfall. It was just after dark that the two young patriots stole by unfrequented streets out of the neighborhood of the Warrington home. As they came nearer to Fanueil Hall, they found the public thoroughfare pretty well crowded. They were watching a British company gaily bedecked march by, when Burt came between them. "It's exactly the best time ever was for our enterprise," he said. "A regiment of regulars has arrived from London, and the redcoats are having a jubilee. There will be great carousals before morning, and spirits distributed pretty freely. Things will be free and easy for the soldiers, so I hope for the best." The speaker led his companions from the spot and threaded several dark streets. He bade them wait for him finally outside of a little shop, in front of which hung an enormous wooden key. When he came out, a grey-haired old man carrying a bag, evidently containing some tools, was with him. "All right, Mr. Bond," he said. "These are friends,--Phil Warrington and a chum." "Friends, indeed," spoke the old man, "if he is the son of the man I'd like to serve. John Warrington provided me with the means of starting in business." "You'll have a chance to-night to show him how well you have learned the trade," said Burt. The speaker himself carried a large official envelope, but made no explanation concerning it for the time being. However, as he halted in the shadow of a large building, he said: "I shall leave you here, Phil. I have a message to deliver for a British officer in this building. There are exactly four men guarding the stores and incidentally the prisoners here. They are two rooms away from them. Only the north half of the building they occupy. If you can manage to get into the untenanted half and reach the room next to that where the prisoners are kept, the rest will be easy. Trust me to keep the sentinels entertained while you are at work. I have gone into details about the situation with Mr. Bond here. Follow his lead, and do all you can to help him." "Why," exclaimed Phil to Andy, as Burt moved away, "this is my father's old warehouse!" "Yes," nodded the old locksmith quietly, "and as both of us know something of its interior, I fancy we will not have a very difficult task in reaching the prisoners."