Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/118

Rh "It's more work to get rid of the officer than it was to find him," Sarah said with a sigh, and added as if for her own encouragement, "But there ain't so much about it to make us afraid."

"How glad father will be when he knows we've done exactly as he wanted us to." Dorothy said half to herself, for she had given no attention to Sarah's remark, so full was her mind of repairing the mischief which had been wrought through her.

"Here's des de figger," Scip whispered as he re-entered the kitchen, holding a long length of clothes-line. "Dis yere's gwin ter do de business for de Britisher!"

"Come up-stairs at once, or father will be angry because we are so slow," Dorothy said, and there was no thought in her mind but that she was doing exactly that which her parents had virtually commanded.

Softly, but rapidly, Dorothy led the way, Sarah following immediately behind, and Scipio bringing up the rear. Not until arriving in the attic did she halt, and then it was that she might whisper cautiously:

"I'd better speak to him first, for the poor dear spy might be frightened and fire off his pistol at us, if he didn't know who was here."

"Don' fool away de time wid talkin'," the old darkey said nervously. "Dis yere ain't any place