On his return to the kitchen Tony found that his aunt had left the room, and he sat down in the chimney corner to wait for supper. In a few moments the door opened, and Larry stood before him, his eyes flashing, his cheeks flushed.
“Did you get the spectacles, Larry?�
“Spectacles! I haven’t even thought of them. Listen, Tony! I have a secret—a great secret. After I left you I hurried up to the meeting-house and as I stepped inside the entry I thought I heard a queer noise, as if some one were digging. So I opened the door softly and peeped in—and there—as sure as you are alive, I saw two men digging a great, deep hole under the pulpit. They were talking so low I couldn’t hear more than half they said. But I made out that uncle and Captain Sullivan and some others are going to meet there to-night and go off in boats on some wonderful expedition. And, Tony, I am going to find out what it is. We’ll go to our room as usual after supper, but instead of going to bed, we’ll creep downstairs and go up to the meeting-house and hide inside, and wait there.�
“But will it be right to listen, Larry?� asked Tony gravely. “You know Aunt Mercy says ‘Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves.’�
“But this isn’t eavesdropping, Tony. Listening is a mean trick. But this is different. Uncle is going into danger of some sort and I ought to learn what it is. I can’t believe that is wrong.�
Tony finally consented, thinking he would rather watch with Larry in the church than stay in his room at home alone in the dark.
When Aunt Mercy returned, she filled the big iron pot with water, hung it on the crane and swung it over the blazing logs. “We are going to have pudding and milk for supper,� she said, “and we won’t wait for your uncle; he’s away, and may not be back until late into the night.�
At these words Larry glanced significantly at Tony and gave a wise little nod.
With the going down of the sun the cold rapidly increased. The night was clear and frosty. In front of the little wooden meeting-house on Durham Hill stood the two brothers shivering with cold and excitement. “Whew!� exclaimed Larry, pulling his cap down over his ears, “it’s a sharp night, Tony. Come farther this way; the meeting-house will keep off the wind.�