Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/124

Rh when we went out of the room both father and mother must have known that we would do as they wished. I'll just look into the living room so they may understand it's all over, and then we'll sit in the kitchen until you are ready to go home. Scip shall light a candle, and it will be real cosy there."

While speaking Dorothy was leading the way down-stairs, arriving at the lower floor just as Scip, having replaced the clothes-line, entered the room.

"I 'spects dat yere job am been done proper," he said in a tone of satisfaction. "De Britisher am gone widout trubblin' yer folks, an' we'se comin' out'er de scrape a heap sight better dan I reckoned on one spell."

Then the old darkey, in obedience to Dorothy's request, set about striking a spark from the flint to the cotton, and while he was thus engaged, for the task sometimes proved a long one, the occupants of the kitchen were startled by hearing the hum of many voices from the square.

"Oh dear, can it be that those wicked men have caught our spy?" Dorothy cried in alarm; but old Scip quickly reassured her.

"Ef dey'd gone cotched de Britisher, honey, you wouldn't be hearin' any sich littly noise as dat; but it would be a great big yellin' an' screechin' fit to kill."