house; and Reub, I found my brother Reub, rotting to death in
Barrington jail."

"By gosh, I forgot baout Reub, I declar I did," exclaimed Meshech,
contritely.

"Give us yer hand," said Israel, "I forgot same ez Meshech, an I
misdoubted ye. This be Ezra Phelps, ez owns the new mill."

"Shake agin," said Peleg, extending his hand.

There was exhilaration as well as cordiality in the faces of the men,
who now crowded around Perez, an exhilaration which had its source in
the fact, that one whose appearance and bearing identified him with
the gentlemen, was on their side. It filled them with more
encouragement, than would have done the accession of a score of their
own rank and sort. Brawn and muscle they could themselves supply, but
for leadership, social, political and religious, they had always been
accustomed to look to the gentlemen of the community, and from this
lifelong and inherited habit, came the new sense of confidence and
moral sanction, which they felt in having upon their side in the
present crisis, one in whom they had instinctively recognized the
traits of the superior caste.

"Hev ye hearn the news from Northampton, Perez?" asked Israel.

"Yes, and if you men are as much in earnest as I am, there'll be news
from Barrington to-morrow," replied Perez, glancing around.

"Ef thar ain't, there'll be a lot on us disappinted, fer we be all a