On the instant came shouts from the watch and from the soldiers for us
to halt, and a few seconds later the crackle of musketry telling that
they had opened fire, most like on Hiram Griffin, for by this time I was
well hidden from view.

I listened with painful intentness for a cry from Hiram which would
betoken that one of the British bullets had found its billet, because he
would be like to cry out in case of being wounded.

Happily no such dismal warning came to my ears, and believing I was safe
from pursuit because of knowing my way through the gardens hereabout,
and having close at hand many a safe hiding place, I asked myself for
the first time what might have been Archie's fate.

I had not seen the lad escaping; he was two or three paces in advance of
me when we turned the corner, and the chances were that the poor fellow
had been made prisoner before having had time to realize the danger
which we had come upon so suddenly. While one might have counted ten I
stood irresolute, wondering whether it was not my duty to learn his fate
even at the expense of being captured, in order that I might do
something toward aiding him; but then I come to understand that such a
course would be sheer folly. I could do nothing toward effecting his
release, and it seemed necessary, at whatever hazard, that I make my way
to Cambridge according to orders.

Yet even when I would have continued the flight came the thought that it
was cowardly to thus desert a comrade; that as captain of the Minute
Boys duty demanded that I stand by every member of the company, however
great their peril, yet of what avail would it be?

Even while these thoughts were in my mind I was running as does the hare
when the dogs are close on his scent, and at the same time that I
reproached myself I strained every effort to gain the goal, which was
the ship-yard, where I believed Hiram Griffin would sooner or later make
his way.

Behind me I could still hear the cries of the watch and the crackle of
musketry as the lobster backs fired at random, for it was not possible
that Hiram yet remained in view, and with this noise were mingled the
shouts of citizens who had been wakened from their slumbers, until there
was a perfect bedlam at that corner of Hull and Salem streets.

To my relief I came to understand that the noise grew fainter and
fainter as I advanced, and, therefore, was it certain that the
Britishers were not on my trail; but with such pleasing