Page:Tomlinson--The rider of the black horse.djvu/102

86 Clinton and Fort Montgomery, to say nothing about the chains that have been stretched across the river. I rather think the redcoats won't sail past them right away."

"Hannah," said her mother warningly, "you are talking too much."

"I know it. That's what my mother always says to me when I go to see any of the neighbors," she explained to Robert, as Mrs. Nott left the house for a moment. "‘Don't tell all you know, Hannah,' is the last word I hear."

"You have n't told me any news. I know already"—

Robert stopped abruptly as Mrs. Nott re-entered the house, her manner at once betraying great excitement. "What is it, mother?" inquired Hannah hastily.

"There are four men on horseback in the road and they 're going to stop here."

"Do you know who they are?"

"I think it's Claud Brown and some of his gang."

For a moment there was consternation depicted on every face, but Hannah was the first to recover, as she hastily bade Robert follow her and at once rushed from the room.