Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/54

Rh the girls from their feet as they held fast to his coat.

"Don't go so near!" Dorothy cried when the old darkey's headway was checked momentarily as he came in contact with a chair.

"Why not, honey? I'se only gwine ter open de shutter de littlest bit ob a ways."

"If you so much as unfasten it some one can get in! Please don't do it, Scip, please don't!"

"Now see here, chile, it stands to de reasonableness ob tings dat I'se specially forced fur ter look out, kase yer father's gwine ter arsk me wha's been goin' on, an' how can I tell him ef I don' stick de end ob my nose out?"

"You mustn't do it!" Sarah screamed in an agony of fear. "Wait till Master Dean comes, and then you may do as you please."

"But honey, does you 'spect dem men am gwine ter wait so long? By de time Massa an' Missus come dis yere square will be des like er grabeyard, kase eberybody will be gone out'er it. Ef I don' get an inklin' now, it'll be too late."

"It is of no use to talk, Scip," Dorothy said, striving to imitate her mother's tone and manner when any certain matter had been definitely decided. "We cannot have the shutters opened!"

The old man was burning with curiosity to know what was being done outside, for the pursuers were yet within the square, but at such a