ld follow close at
our heels.

Saul had kept a tight grip on my hand from the moment he came into the
open air, and we two ran side by side, thus yoked together by token of
friendship, on the alert for the first show of a red coat in our path.

It seemed to me that we might have raced around and around that village
until we were spent with the exertion, and never have come upon one of
the king's men, for they rushed into the outer works at the first alarm,
officers, soldiers, camp-followers, and even the sentries, all of them
most like believing it would only be necessary for them to give token of
being ready for battle in order to make the Americans turn tail in
terror.

Surely this time they were making a grievous mistake, for the fire from
the front was continued with vigor as I understood full well before we
were a dozen yards from the guard-house, for then a cannon ball came so
near to me that I could feel the wind of it, and I started back in
surprise as if having supposed that our people had been firing blank
cartridges.

Saul laughed at my show of fear, and asked as though he found something
comical in the situation:

"Did you think that amid all this noise there were no shots flying?"

"To tell the truth, Saul Ogden, I haven't had time to think since the
cannonading began. Then Pierre and I were on the Gloucester shore,
having made up our minds it would be useless to try to get into York
before another night had come. When we found it might be possible, as
has been proven, such a fever of excitement seized upon me that I have
had no clear knowledge of what has been going on."

"It seems that you knew sufficient to understand the moment had come
when you might set me free," the lad said in a tone of exultation, and
I, determined that the credit should go where it belonged, replied
promptly:

"It was not me, Saul Ogden, who was quick-witted enough to think that we
might find the guard-house without sentries around it. Pierre Laurens is
the one to whom your release is due, and save for him I dare venture to
say at this moment I would be with you inside the Widow Marshall's house
with red-coated sentinels standing guard over me."

"Why? How? What has happened since I have been shut up yonder?"

It was no time for story telling just then, as Saul must have
understood, for the first cannon ball which had reminded me that there
was danger in the air and that danger coming from the ranks of our own
army, w