“But you did not tell them,” said Nat.
“I did,” declared Revere, proudly; “and in return I suffered great abuse. But one of the officers seemed much of a gentleman, for he said to me that none should do me harm. What I told them seemed to startle them much; they started toward Lexington with me in the midst of them, my horse being led and a man with a drawn pistol on each side of me. We were nearing a meeting-house when we heard a gun fired and a bell begin to ring.
“Then they took my horse and dashed away toward Cambridge, leaving me standing in the road. I returned at once to Clark’s. Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams had not yet gone, and I warned them of what had occurred. They departed at once from the house, I going with them several miles on the way. Mr. Hancock then told me of a trunk filled with papers which he had left at the village inn and asked me if I’d return for it. After I had rested a bit, I did so and Ezra and Ben bore me company.”
“And where did you come upon them?” asked Nat.
“They were at Mr. Clark’s when I returned there, and were urging Mr. Adams and his friend to flee.”
Nat turned to Ben, a question in his eye. But Ben laughed.
“I know what you’re going to ask me,” he said. “But I’ll not answer, for I think,” with a nod of the head toward the Prentiss brothers, who stood some little distance off, “there is a great deal for you to hear, and as my little story is mixed up with it, you’d better hear all together.”
Nat noticed that while Revere and Ben both kept casting marveling glances at the twins, neither of them seemed greatly astonished.
“Is it possible that you have known of this twin brother all along?” he demanded.
“Not I,” and Revere shook his head. “I heard of him for the first time last night.”