Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/22

Rh she was prepared to set out toward the common to witness the ceremonies.

At five o'clock the two ladies and the children emerged from the house on their sight-seeing tour, with the understanding that Masters Dean and Lamb would join them at Bowling Green, after the Sons of Liberty had kindled the bonfire.

Once on the streets, which were thronged with citizens in holiday garb, the two girls decided that it was indeed a fine thing for the Congress to make a declaration of independence if it resulted in such a spectacle as had been promised, and never once did they realize that those brave men who signed it had, with due knowledge of all the dangers which threatened, "mutually pledged to each other, their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor."

Up Wall street to Broad Way the little party went, meeting many friends and acquaintances, and from some of these the two ladies learned that it was indeed a British spy who had been chased from Old Slip through Hanover square. The man had escaped capture for the time being, so it was said; but a strong guard had been set around the docks, and it was believed he must surely be taken before morning.

Arrived on the Broad Way, a halt was made to view a parade of sailors led by Captain Bevan, who had made himself famous by having