“They aim to fasten a quarrel upon us,” breathed Ben. “Have you your pistol?”
“No,” replied Ezra. “It is in my holster.”
“And mine,” said Ben. “I had no idea that we’d ever need them here.”
Ben was ready enough when left to himself but when accompanied by Ezra, usually left the planning of any important step to him. And now, as he looked at him, expecting some ready ruse that would enable them to evade danger, he was not disappointed. Ezra’s face was confident and unruffled. Indeed, there was a humorous twinkle in his eyes, as he said:
“I want you to make some sort of an excuse to go outside. It must be a good one or they will prevent your going. When you get there, slip off the bridles of two of their horses and loosen their saddle girths. Do you understand?”
The four men were whispering together and casting undisguisedly hostile glances at the boys. The landlord and some of the inn’s people who lingered about noticed this, and began to exhibit concern.
Ben Cooper arose with much self-possession.
“Landlord,” said he, “what is our bill? Your inn is a fairly good one, but much too uncomfortable for persons who desire to be unmolested.”
The stout host mentioned the sum, and Ben put a hand in his pocket. A look of dismay came into his face, and turning quickly to Ezra he said:
“I’ll have to see to my saddle-bags. I’m growing very careless of late.”
He hastily crossed to the door, and went out. The hard-faced man rose and went to a window overlooking the space before the inn; he stood there with his back turned to those in the room, his whole attitude indicative of watchfulness.
“That won’t do,” said Ezra to himself. “If my plan is to come to anything he must not stand there.”
He was casting about in his mind for a means of drawing the man’s attention from Ben, when Jason Collyer spoke to the host.
“Landlord, I take it that you are not troubled a great deal with Tories in these parts.”
“No, gentlemen,” replied the stout man fervently, “I am thankful to say that we are not. Those who were of that way of thinking went their way into Boston; you see, it was made unpleasant for them hereabouts. If they loved Gage and his army so well, we thought it better that they should be there where they could see them every day.”