[Illustration: _A BROAD-SHOULDERED YOUTH OF SEVENTEEN_] The Young Continentals at Lexington _by_ John T. M^cIntyre _Author of_ “With John Paul Jones” “The Boy Tars of 1812” [Illustration] Illustrated by Ralph L. Boyer. _The Penn Publishing Company Philadelphia_ _MCMIX_ COPYRIGHT 1909 BY THE PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY [Illustration] Introduction “THE YOUNG CONTINENTALS AT LEXINGTON” begins with that vital period of our country’s history when the great forces that made the Revolution were slowly coming together. The port of Boston was closed; an army under Gage occupied the city; Massachusetts Bay was thronged with troop-ships and frigates, and the colonies were writhing under a series of unjust and oppressive laws. It was at this time that the four boys who play the leading parts in the story began their experiences. Historical events that led up to the war for independence are met with in every chapter; the great personages of the time figure upon almost every page. From the meeting of the first Congress at Carpenter’s Hall to the stand of the minutemen at Lexington and Concord Bridge, every important step in the movement for national life is touched on. The second book of the series, “The Young Continentals at Bunker Hill,” takes up the thread of history where this book leaves it. It will show the siege of Boston, and the glorious defeat on the Hill. It will tell how Washington was given command of the army; how he sent word to Ethan Allen; how the heavy guns he captured at Ticonderoga were hauled through the winter wilderness upon sledges to Boston; also how Washington mounted them upon Dorchester Heights and finally drove the army of Gage from the city. Contents I. SHOWS HOW BEN COOPER SAW THE WAR A LONG WAY OFF 9 II. TELLS WHY NAT BREWSTER WALKED TOWARD CLIVEDEN IN THE DARK 20 III. SHOWS HOW NAT MET “GRUMPY COMEGIES” AND WHAT CAME OF IT 31 IV. SHOWS HOW STARTLING NEWS WAS NAT’S REWARD AT CHEW HOUSE 38 V. HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE 50 VI. SHOWS HOW NAT BREWSTER AND THE PORCUPINE RODE THROUGH THE NIGHT 64 VII. SHOWS HOW NAT BREWSTER MET WITH MR. WASHINGTON 81 VIII. TELLS HOW THINGS BEGAN TO LOOK BAD FOR EZRA PRENTISS 105 IX. NAT BREWSTER FINDS MORE PROOF 120 X. WHAT THE PORCUPINE SAW AT CHEW HOUSE 130 XI. SHOWS HOW NAT BREWSTER SPOKE TO HIS UNCLE AND WHAT THEIR RESOLUTIONS WERE 147 XII. WHAT HAPPENED ON THE NORTH ROAD 159 XIII. SHOWS HOW NAT MET ONE STRANGER AND HOW THE PORCUPINE MET ANOTHER 174 XIV. THE NIGHT PROMISES WELL 192