Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/123

110 here with my regiment, for I have sworn to do my duty by his majesty; but never more as a spy, and, it may be, that when the king's troops are quartered in New York, as speedily they will be, I can make some friendly return to your father for this night's work."

Having thus spoken he swung himself clear of the window-ledge; Scip braced himself to hold the strain on the rope to the end that it might not slip through his hands too quickly, and Lieutenant Fitzroy Oakman, of his majesty's Forty-fourth foot, was lowered gently to the roof of the shed.

Once there he stood erect for an instant to wave adieu to Dorothy and Sarah, and as they leaned far out over the sill, the little maids saw him leap lightly to the ground, where he was speedly swallowed up by the shadows.

"I'se done gwine ter put dis yere line whar I foun' it," Scip said as he carefully reeled in the rope, and Dorothy, thinking only of the pleasing fact that her spy had at least one more chance for life, embraced Sarah fervently.

"How glad everybody will be now that he has gone without making any trouble!" she exclaimed.

"Are you going to tell at once what we have done?" Sarah asked.

"There will be no need of our speaking, for