“Ahem,” said Governor Leverett. “What would you council us to do next, friend Soam?”
“Saw the board,” counseled John. “It was a rare good fit, but it had best be sawed.”
The platform was now changed and one after another the five citizens plied the saw, for the board was wet, and to saw above one’s head is irksome in a high degree. Yet at length the cut was made, at one end, and those below could thrust the imprisoning plank upward. Being still stoutly nailed at the further end, the board scraped off some buttons, erstwhile sewn to John’s waistcoat, and it otherwise harassed him before it was high enough to permit the carpenter to emerge from his attic. He appeared at last, however, red of countenance and in a fine condition to do some private blaspheming, had the opportunity been present for the exercise of this, man’s inalienable function. His friends were immeasurably relieved to see him, safe.
“Friend John,” said David Donner, “we have come hither on matters of state. When you are rehabilitated we shall, I believe, be glad of your further counsel.”
CHAPTER X.
TO FOIL A SPY.
His friends, forming a hollow square, now escorted John to the house at a quick walk. He disappeared like a Jack into its box, when the door was finally opened, while the grave citizens entered the parlor and awaited his return. Clothed decorously once more, he was presently with them again, when the council of five, with Wainsworth sitting near, drew up to the heavy, oaken table.
They now listened to Governor Winslow, who had journeyed from Plymouth for this meeting.
“I have begun to lose hope,” he said, “that we shall be able to postpone much longer the day of evil. We thought our charter was threatened ten or twelve years ago and we have held it by sheer power of procrastination and tactics of elusiveness, but Randolph has been with us here in Boston for seven years, and the harm he did to our independence in seventy-six has been accumulating interest in trouble for us, one might say, ever since. He has mastered our methods; he is closing in upon us every day. It is now a desperate case, requiring a desperate remedy. The only question is, what means can we undertake to offset some of the ill repute in which he has caused King Charles to hold us, and to nullify his further machinations.”
“It would not be safe, would it, to expel the man Randolph from the colony?” said Leverett, who had first coughed behind his hand.