ugh he may
believe all that scoundrel can tell him, he has other fish to fry than
that of capturing three boys and a negro. I tell you, lads, we are not
beaten yet, for within four and twenty hours there will be a wondrous
change come over this village of York, and even though the Britishers
may not have been taken, our forces, seeing the advantage that can be
gained, will advance their earthworks; when there's a chance we shall be
able to get word to them."

This caused me to have what, for the instant, I believed to be a
brilliant thought, and straightway I cried out:

"Why is not now the time when we might have speech with our people?
While the tempest rages as it does, I dare venture to say it will be
possible to cross the British lines--"

"Less possible than if the moon was shining. The red-coats will be in
their works and along the intrenchments to screen themselves from the
storm, instead of moving around, and therefore you have no chance of
making your way across. It would be death to attempt it."

"And it is very near like death to stay here?"

"In this cabin we may die fighting, as Minute Boys should, which to my
mind is far better than being killed like rats in a ditch, as would be
the fate of him who attempted now to cross the lines. The red-coats in
yonder fortifications are not fools. Every man jack of them understands
that this attempted retreat is a failure, and must of a necessity be yet
more keenly on the alert, therefore I say, you had best have tried to
get across the lines this morning, in the light of day, than just now
when Cornwallis's troops are smarting under what is very much like
signal defeat."

I was silenced if not convinced by what Pierre had said, yet did not
resign myself to the inevitable as a lad of Virginia should have done.

Instead of accepting the consequences of our blunder with cheerful face
as Pierre and Uncle 'Rasmus were doing, I threw myself down by the side
of Saul in sulky humor, never offering to lend a hand toward putting the
cabin in a state of defense until the old negro and little Frenchie had
worked desperately ten minutes or more, after the fire was kindled, to
barricade the door.

Then it was I grew ashamed of myself; realized what a miserable part I
was playing, I who had conceived the idea of forming a company of Minute
Boys with the thought that I might stand at their head, and, springing
up, I joined Pierre and Uncle 'Rasmus until Saul, in turn taking