Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/72

Rh "He went in here somewhere, for it is certain there was no chance to get out of the square! Search the houses!"

The officer drew the pistol which he had concealed in his pocket during the conversation with the children, and stood ready for an attack, yet undecided as to what course he should pursue.

"Surely you are not going out, sir, while those wicked men are so near?" Dorothy cried as she laid one small hand on his arm.

"It must be, unless there is a rear door which leads to some other street."

As if to convince the fugitive that there was no way of escape, shouts arose from behind the dwelling, and a voice was heard crying:

"This way, half a dozen of you men! Stand guard here, and see to it that no one is allowed to leave these three buildings. The Britisher is in one of them, and, unless a mistake is made by us, we'll soon smoke him out!"

"It seems that these worthy Americans are not to be caught napping, and I must face them. Better that the end comes in such manner, than at the tail of a rope to amuse the herd of so-called patriots," the officer said half to himself, and was on the point of entering the hall when Dorothy stopped him once more.

"You must not go out, sir. Wait until my