"He did nothing of the kind, my son; but declared that he would not allow himself to be intimidated; that he should not send both regiments away. What the result might have been had the committee returned with this decision, I tremble to contemplate; but Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, who, it seems, has a better idea of the condition of affairs in this city than the men who rule over us, gave his word of honour as a soldier that the troops should be removed at once, and such was the report with which the committee returned to us." "And does the matter rest there, sir?" Amos asked. "Yes, to a certain extent. The people, determined there should be no opportunity of breaking faith, either on the part of the Lieutenant-Governor or the military officer, appointed the same gentlemen who had waited on His Excellency, as a Committee of Safety, and from this time out our most reputable citizens will act as night-watch, each doing his share of the duty fully armed, until every soldier shall have left this city. There is to be no unnecessary delay." "But what about those who committed the murder?" "They will be tried in due form, and I hope, as must every good citizen, that it will be an impartial trial. Already it is claimed for Captain Preston that he did not give the order for his men to fire; but that some one near him--perhaps one of our own people--seeing the soldiers were threatened with bodily harm, and that there was every danger of their receiving severe injuries, cried: 'Why don't you fire?'" "And that is exactly what I heard," Amos said, quickly. "I was looking at the captain at that fatal moment, and, although it hadn't occurred to me from that time until this, I am certain he never gave the command to fire. Nevertheless, the soldiers all shot to kill." "True, lad," Mr. Gore said, sorrowfully, "and if the military remain in the city, it will be impossible for the authorities to prevent further conflicts, more especially now that the people are fully aroused by the bloodshed." When Amos set out for home at a late hour that evening, he saw the members of the citizens' watch parading the streets, and there came to him a sense of deepest relief after the terrible events of the past week, with the knowledge that for a certain time, at least, the good city of Boston would be properly guarded by her own people. Despite this new feeling of safety, he started with apprehension, almost alarm, when a dark figure crept cautiously toward him as he was passing the head of Water Street, and an instant later he stood with his back against the palings in an attitude of self-defence, for he who had approached so stealthily was Hardy Baker. "Don't act as if you was going to fight me," the barber's apprentice said, piteously. "Don't do that, Amos! I know I tried to make trouble for you yesterday afternoon; but you served me out for it, and I haven't said a word against you since then." "I don't know whether you have or not."