Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/112

Rh me, friend Lamb, and we will soon have the scoundrel out of hiding."

"Have a care for your safety, father," Mistress Dean said warningly. "He must be a desperate fellow, and no one knows what he may attempt to do. Are the pistols loaded?"

"I declare I hadn't thought of that," and straightway Master Dean set about charging the weapons with great care.

"There!" he exclaimed in a tone of triumph when the task was completed, the occupants of the room watching him with breathless interest. "I have put in charges large enough to kill an ox, and the Britisher won't have much chance against me."

"He has a pistol bigger than either of those," Sarah said with a sob, whereat the silversmith looked dismayed; but recovered himself an instant later to reply with a smile of content:

"He can't use it to advantage while he is locked in the chest, and the weapon shall be delivered up before we open the lid very wide. Come, friend Lamb, we will strike our first real blow against the enemies of the colony."

Master Dean had forgotten in his eagerness, that Dorothy claimed to have the key of the chest in her pocket; but would have advanced boldly, so much courage did the loaded pistols impart.