Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/61

50 reach it while standing on the floor, and she, keeping her face turned resolutely toward Sarah lest she should see something horrible amid the gloomy corners of the room, pushed a chair forward.

The noise made by the heavy piece of furniture as it was forced across the sanded floor sounded unearthly in the ears of the children; but Dorothy, with a wonderful display of heroism, continued at the task until the chair was directly under the oaken shelf.

"Stand close by me so that I shan't fall, and we'll soon make Master Scip feel sorry for having played such a trick on us," Dorothy commanded, and Sarah obeyed, rather because it gave her a trifle more courage to take hold of her friend's garments, than because she had any great desire to assist in this marvelous display of courage, which absolutely frightened her.

Dorothy succeeded in getting the candle; but her hands trembled so violently that her bodice and gown were streaked with melted tallow before she had clambered down from the chair.

"Surely you are never going to open that door?" Sarah whispered as Dorothy walked forward timidly, and perhaps these words of incredulity forced Master Dean's daughter to do what she would otherwise have failed at. Having boldly announced her purpose, it seemed necessary now