Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/157

144 reason to believe were my enemies, and particularly Master Newcomb. He has been so bitter, even when it was dangerous to show hatred of Whigs, that I felt positive he would lose no time in paying off what he fancies are old scores."

"We have very much to be thankful for," Master Dean said devoutly. "Of a verity God has been good to us, and we should not neglect to give Him thanks."

Then the entire family, even including Scipio, knelt at prayer, and when the devotions had come to an end, and the children were in bed, Sarah said in a tone of relief:

"How good it seems not to be frightened all the time!"

"Indeed it does, and perhaps now we can go out of doors once in a while, or, at least, have the shutters open," Dorothy replied with a laugh of content, and then the two tiny maids who had saved the life of Lieutenant Oakman, turned their entire attention to crossing the borders of dreamland.

Half an hour after midnight the children awakened in terror as Master Dean cried shrilly:

"It appears as if the entire city was on fire! Awaken, Anthony Lamb, for now has come our time of trial, if I mistake not! The Britishers count on smoking us out like rats!"

Hardly more than sixty seconds elapsed before