"There will be no further thought of foul play, now that the people are amused; but if those two lads had not rescued the tax-collector when he was nigh to death, we should have a pretty hornets' nest about our ears by this time."
It filled me with pride as I realized that Sidney and I had done so much for the cause, and I could well understand how important was our work of mercy, by glancing at the governor's troops.
Had Sandy Wells been killed, as he would have been but for us two lads, then had Tryon such a weapon against us as must have doomed the Regulation to everlasting shame and contempt.
We held our line until the governor's soldiers disappeared behind the court-house, and then the command was given to break ranks, after which General Hamilton rode up to Sidney and me, saying as he faced about to check our forward movement:
"I thank you, lads, in the name of the Regulation, for having made it possible for us to throw ridicule upon the enemy. May you ride long in the ranks of the Sons of Liberty!"
I was as proud as any turkey cock at being publicly praised by one of the foremost men in the colony, and when we were alone in our lean-to Sidney said:
"I reckon we ought to be well satisfied with ourselves. There's many a one in this company who would give half he possessed to win such words as we received from the general."
"But for you Sandy would have been killed, and the governor had just cause to imprison every Regulator he could come at. I have taken my share of the praise, but without having earned it."
"I say you're entitled to as much as myself," the lad cried hotly. "I had no idea anything very serious was on foot when I dragged you from your mother, and once we were in the crowd it was impossible to do other than exactly as we did."
Sidney's generous heart prompted him to give me a full share in the work when I had but followed him, and during the remainder of that day I took good care to make every one who spoke of the matter understand exactly the position of affairs.