“Does your father believe it is by such a course we can be relieved of oppression?” Walter asked in surprise, as John Revere concluded his story with an account of the violence offered to several others of the king’s officers.

“By no means.  He was among those who gave public expressions of regret that such deeds should have been done.”

Then young Revere told of the town-meeting which was held immediately following the scenes of violence, and by the time he had concluded, the boys were on North Square again, where Master Revere was ready to deliver the message Walter was to take back to Portsmouth.  “I have seen Master George Messerve,” he said, “and believe he fully sympathizes with us.  He has already publicly resigned the office of stamp distributor, and I doubt not will be found on our side when the decisive moment comes.”

Walter understood that with the message given was an intimation for him to depart, and although he could have done full justice to a dinner, he took his leave without delay.

There is no question but that Master Revere would have been more than willing to both feed the young messenger and provide him with sufficient funds to pay his passage across to Charlestown in the ferry-boat had he any idea that Walter was penniless.  The boy made no explanations, and his host could not but believe he was fully and properly prepared for the long journey before him.

Walter did not have as good fortune on his return as in the morning.  When he arrived at the shore he saw several boats going to and fro, but the afternoon was considerably more than half spent before he succeeded in finding a boatman who would allow him to work his passage.

Then, when he finally landed on the opposite shore, an hour was spent in searching for the horse, which had wandered into the woods, and by the time the boy was ready to begin the return journey the sun hung low in the sky.

“It will be another night-ride,” he muttered, as he leaped into the saddle.  “I did hope to reach Salem early in the evening, and so I might have done had I been possessed of enough money to pay my ferriage.  Master Revere would have given it to me, but I could not tell him that I, who had been received into the ranks of the Sons of Liberty, had not so much as a shilling.”

He was comparatively fresh when he drew rein in front of Master Cotton’s stable shortly before midnight, and although the time could well have been spent in slumber, he devoted an hour to caring for the weary steed who had borne him so bravely.

To awaken Master Cotton was not a portion of Walter’s plan.  That gentleman had shown himself to be of such a timid nature that the young messenger believed he would pot be pleased at receiving any information; therefore, as soon as the horse had been cared for, he started out of Salem on foot, intending to make himself a bed on the ground when he should be within shelter of the woods.