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"Is this true?"
"Every word. I stole the wallet containing the writs, and here theyare. I took them out of the wallet and threw that away, 'cause theymight recognize it and find out how it was lost. Then I tore thegovernor's seal off the writs, 'cause that would be treason to stealthem."
Eben handed the mutilated writs to Allen, and he saw that they weregenuine enough.
"Will they come, now that they have lost the writs?" asked Warner.
"Yes, they will make believe they have got them."
"Then we must rally all the boys. Eben, you are a brave boy."
"Thank you, colonel. Do you want to shake me now?"
"No, my boy, and you can break off the bolts from every door in thehouse if you like."
"I'll go and fetch the boys."
"You are tired."
"No, Col. Allen, running never tired me yet. Let Ira go one way and Iwill go the other, for no time must be lost."
"You ought to be a general; you know just what should be done."
If Eben had been tired, those words of praise would have been enough totake away all feeling of fatigue.
Ethan made out a list of the men he wanted and gave each boy a copy.
"Keep as quiet as you can. Whisper your instructions. All you needsay is, 'The moon will rise tonight,' and then the answer will be, 'Atwhat time?' to which you will reply, 'As early as you are ready to seeit.' That is all you need say."
"Will they come here then?"
"Yes, at once."
Warner hurried home to see that all was in readiness there to withstandan attack, and he left a speedy messenger to hurry to Allen's house incase the sheriff should go to Warner's first.
The first man met by Eben was Silvanus Brown.
"Silvanus, the moon will rise to-night."
Silvanus looked at the boy for a moment as though bewildered, but thatfeeling passed away, and he asked:
"At what time?"
"As early as you are ready to see it."
"Good! I am ready."
Silvanus stepped quite lively, and Eben, on looking back, saw him goingtoward the colonel's with his musket over his shoulder.
The next farm was occupied by John Smith.
"John Smith, are you there?" shouted Eben, as he opened the door andlooked in.
"Ah, my boy! What brings you here now?"
"The moon will rise to-night."
"Is that so? That is great news. At what time?"
