as followed by another and another, until while we ran it seemed
as if we were actually being pursued by these missiles--as if there was
a force in the air to guide them out of a direct course to where they
might work destruction.

By this time Pierre had overtaken us, for the lad could ever run more
swiftly than either Saul or I, and seizing me by the arm as if I was a
child who needed guidance, shouted in a tone of triumph even amid all
that peril:

"If any one had told us when Abel Hunt was following so close at our
heels, that we might have worked this trick, it would have seemed like a
fairy tale, and yet we have come through thus far in safety, with every
chance of gaining old Mary's cabin unmolested."

"If so be we get in the path of one of these messengers," I said,
motioning toward a cannon ball which was ploughing up the earth not
twenty yards away, "then shall we find that we have been molested for
all time."

"If we have worked our will in this encampment of my Lord Cornwallis's,
we two lads alone, then I predict that we shall come through in safety,
at least so far as this work is concerned. What may happen before the
battle is ended I care not, so that we have kept faith with those who
waited for us."

It can thus be seen that Pierre, quick-witted and versed in military
matters though he was, believed as did I, that this cannonading
betokened a regular battle, whereas, as we afterward came to know, it
was simply the investment of York, the beginning of a regular siege.

There is no good reason why I should use many words in telling of that
flight across the village, although again and again were we in danger of
death from the missiles sent by the Americans, even though I might make
an interesting story of that which we saw and feared; but it is enough
that we were finally arrived at our destination.

I, who at the end of the race was leading the way, dashed into the cabin
without realizing the alarm that I might thus cause Uncle 'Rasmus; but I
understood instantly I was inside, that it would have been better had I
entered in a more seemly fashion, for the old negro leaped to his feet,
his black face grey with the pallor of fear, believing from my sudden,
noisy entering that the enemy had come to work him harm.

Because of the dim light in the cabin it was a dozen seconds before he
could distinguish our faces, and then while we three stood in front of
him he sank back in the chair where he had so l