His co-operation would no doubt strengthen our hands,"
suggested Ephraim Williams.
If the danger of Hamlin's escape had not been a sufficient motive in
Woodbridge's mind for hastening matters, the possibility that his
rival might return in time to share the credit of the undertaking
would have been. But he merely said, coldly:
"The success of our measures will scarcely depend on the co-operation
of one man more or less, and seeing that we have broached the
business, as little time as possible should intervene ere its
execution lest some whisper get abroad and warn the rabble, for it is
clear that it is only by a surprise that we can be sure of beating
them."
He then proceeded to lay before them a scheme of action which was at
once so bold and so prudent that it obtained the immediate and
admiring approval of all present. Just before dawn, at three o'clock
in the morning of Thursday, the next day but one, that being the hour
at which the village was most completely wrapped in repose, the
conspirators were secretly to rendezvous at Captain Jones' house, and
such as had not arms and ammunition of their own were there to be
supplied from the town stock. Issuing thence and dividing into parties
the arrest of Hamlin, Abner Rathbun, Peleg Bidwell, Israel Goodrich,
Meshech Little, and other men regarded as leaders of the mob, was to
be simultaneously effected.
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