o partially allay our
hunger, and took good care that the prisoners should not suffer from
lack of food, even though we ourselves might be forced to fast.

Once during these times of excitement a bomb struck that portion of the
cabin which had already been shattered, and on the instant the dry
timbers were in a flame. Fortunately, however, we had a full bucket of
water in the house, and by aid of this, with what could hurriedly be
brought from the well near at hand, we succeeded in extinguishing the
fire before it gained headway.

"If that had happened in the night, then had we all been burned to
death," Saul said thoughtfully, and Pierre laughed him to scorn as he
replied:

"If so be we lads haven't sense enough to go out of doors when the heat
inside becomes too great, then of a verity do we deserve to be burnt
alive. No danger which may come to us from our people can cause me to
grumble, for it is all in the way of teaching the king's soldiers a
lesson, and my life counts for nothing."

I believe we had all come to cheapen the value of a human life by this
time, having seen so many of the red-coated soldiers shot down. Until we
were come to this village of York I had shuddered at the very thought of
shedding blood; but now so hardened was I become to such scenes that I
gave no heed to those who fell within view of the cabin, nor did I hold
my own life as of great importance even to myself.

He who has followed thus far my attempt to tell the story of what
certain lads who called themselves Minute Boys of York Town did during
this time of the siege, must strive to picture for himself our goings-in
and comings-out while we were thus tied to old Mary's cabin. They must
see in their minds' eye Pierre and I foraging, or mentally be with us
when we divided our scanty store of food, giving to the helpless ones in
the loft more than we took ourselves, for I cannot set all this down so
that another may see it clearly, without using so many words that the
most patient reader would turn aside from the pages wearied.

Therefore it is that I shall come directly to that evening so near the
end of the siege when my Lord Cornwallis attempted to turn tail, leaving
the sick and wounded behind him as he strove to gain a shelter in New
York.

That forenoon Pierre and I had gone to the commissary's quarters when
the rations were dealt out, and stood in line to receive our share, for
during the past few days there had been no ques