Free Revolution by Edward Cline Page B

my machine of knowledge is…gutless! They have left me a brain without words!” Travis Barret stood in a corner of the cramped room with Cletus, the apprentice slave.
    Jack Frake asked with genuine perplexity, “Why did they not take the press?”
    “They could not have stolen it without breaking it up, Mr. Frake! Assembled, it will not fit through the door! Besides, his honor the Governor could not be accused of
censoring
the press when he has left it intact! But, the thing is useless without
words
, sir, and those are now gone!”
    Lucas Rittles, Barret’s neighboring grocer, volunteered to Jack Frake, “Mr. Walthoe’s warrant stated that he had the authority to remove all the type cases, even the ones used for printing account book pages and such.”
    Jack Frake scoffed. “But, he
can
be accused of censorship,” he said. “He has suspended the
Gazette
, as well.”
    “Bosh!” exclaimed Barret. “I’ll wager that Mr. Royle is well compensated for
his
inconvenience, and that he still has his type cases! He won’t mind the suspension! Saves him the bother of courage to say what’s on his mind!” Barret waved a hand around the shop. “Half my revenue came from the county’s advertisements. Royle is on the same budget!”
    Reverend Albert Acland, who had joined the crowd in the shop, said, “I don’t see the injustice, sir. You were granted a license to operate a press.There were conditions. You violated them. Your license has been suspended, that is all.”
    Barret glared at his pastor. “I should not require a license to operate a press, sir, no more than you should require a license to shovel food into your hasty maw!”
    Jack Frake turned to the minister and remarked, “Or to offer an unsolicited opinion.”
    Acland, offended, turned and left the shop.
    Jack turned to Hugh. “This must be protested. I will ride to Williamsburg tomorrow and demand to see the Governor.”
    “My thought, too. We will go together.”
    Jack Frake and Hugh Kenrick approached Barret. “Sir,” said Jack, “Hugh and I will ride to Williamsburg tomorrow and accost the Governor for an explanation of this outrage. Will you come with us?”
    “Yes,” replied the printer without hesitation, “if you trust me enough not to call him out for pistols at twenty feet!”
    “We trust you. I’ll lend you my sulky,” said Hugh. Then he asked, “Where are the rest of the broadsides?”
    “They took those, too!” roared Barret, but he paused to chuckle. “But, I have a bundle of them stashed under my bed next door. Not many, but some.” He glanced at his two apprentices. “You there, son!” he said to Travis. “You be sure when I die, one of those is buried with me!”
    Travis Barret nodded solemnly.
    “And you, Cletus,” said the printer to the black boy, “you be sure to remind him!”
    “Yes, sir,” answered the boy.
    Jack looked around and saw Israel Beck in the back of the crowd. “Well, Mr. Beck here has some purchases to make. We’ll talk later in the day, Mr. Barret.”
    Outside, Jack, Hugh, and Proudlocks rode down to the King’s Arms and went inside. When they were seated at a table, Jack asked, “Who do you think told the Governor?”
    “Mr. Cullis,” answered Hugh immediately. “He was the only one of our party last May who doubted the wisdom of printing Mr. Henry’s resolves. And he opposed the last resolves, and refused to vote again for any of the ones that had already passed.” He paused. “And I believe he helped persuade some of the others to change their votes, as well.”
    “Do you think he has been bought?”
    “No,” answered Hugh. “I believe he is afraid.”
    “Frightened men can be bought with security against that which frightens them.”
    “True. We must call on Mr. Cullis.”
    An hour later, after making arrangements with Wendel Barret for the journey the next morning, Jack, Hugh, and Proudlocks rode to Cullis Hall, the easternmost plantation in the county. But Hetty Cullis