Page:Dorothy's spy; a story of the first "fovrth of Jvly" celebration, New York, 1776.djvu/89

78 "Why not keep it a secret from everybody, and we may get a chance to slip him down the front stairs to-morrow, when your mother is in the kitchen?"

"Sarah Lamb! Do you think I would bring a Britisher into this house and not tell my parents?"

"But if it was to save the poor man's life?" young Mistress Lamb persisted.

"I couldn't do such a thing, no matter how much depended on it, because"

"Inside there! Are you goin' to open this door, or shall we stave it in?" came in angry tones from the outside.

"You must say something to them," and Sarah pushed her friend through the long hallway.

Dorothy grew brave once more, remembering that it was a man's life she was trying to save, and, with her mouth close to the keyhole, she cried at the full strength of her lungs:

"There is nobody in here except Sarah Lamb, daughter of Master Anthony Lamb, and me—Dorothy Dean! We can't let you in until father comes, and he should be here soon, for I have just sent Scip after him."

"We can't wait for any such foolishness. A British spy ran into one of these houses; we have searched the others, and know he must be here. Open the door. There is nobody with us who will harm a couple of children."