“But,” said Nat, “will it not be much more harmful to allow this boy to continue as he is doing? He occupies a position which endangers——”
But Dr. Warren interrupted him.
“He will not occupy it for long,” said he, quietly. “I will despatch word to Samuel Adams to-morrow detailing everything and asking him to act upon the matter as he thinks best. And that will mean only one thing—that Ezra Prentiss will be entrusted with no more important work.”
It was late at night when Revere and Nat Brewster left Dr. Warren’s house and proceeded along Hanover Street.
“I never expected to hear anything like this,” said the engraver, as he shook his head sadly. “I’d have trusted that boy with my life if need be.”
“I can understand that,” replied Nat. “And that is the feeling that made me hold my tongue till now.”
“However,” spoke the man, “we have other matters to think about. It’s a sore thing to lose a friend, but we’ve no time for grieving. Work is ahead for all of us—work that will mean much for the colonies if we can perform it properly.”
CHAPTER XIX
IN WHICH A WINTER PASSES, BRINGING MANY
THINGS
The very next night, Nat Brewster was admitted with all due formality to membership of that devoted band of patriots known as the “Sons of Liberty,” of which Paul Revere was a leading spirit. This organization met in one of the upper rooms of the “Green Dragon,” and the young mountaineer was astonished to find how complete were their plans of resistance should the time come when it should be necessary to take up arms.
Immediately, after another consultation with Dr. Warren, the boy took up the work that had been assigned to him.