Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/65

54 standing; a man with pale face, and torn clothing.

Brief as was the glance bestowed upon the unexpected and startling sight, the children could see that one hand and arm of the unwelcome visitor was stained with blood, while his fingers clutched a huge pistol.

With one shrill scream the children ran at full speed to the refuge of the fireplace, dropping the candle in their flight, and there, in close embrace, they cowered trembling, almost beside themselves with fear, against the soot-covered bricks.

"I shall die! I shall die! Why don't mother come?" Sarah moaned, pressing her face against Dorothy's dirty hand. "What was that in the best room?"

"A man, Sarah, and it must be that he has come to kill us, though why he should do so I can't say, for we've never done anything wrong to him!"

During ten seconds or more the girls remained silent, and, save for the sobs which shook their small bodies, motionless.

The silence was most profound, and this absence of any evidence of life was more terrifying than the greatest tumult could have been.

"Can't you pray, Dorothy?" Sarah moaned. "We must do something, you know, before he comes in here."