Now and then the strong box changed hands; but the five never stopped for anything else, tramping steadily on until they sighted the town.
Concord at that time was a fair-sized place and contained a church, a jail and a court-house. There were two spans across the river, one called the Old South and the other the Old North Bridge. The parade ground was near the meeting-house, and upon it were companies of minutemen, their ranks constantly swelling, and even now being put through their routine by careful officers. Anxious inquiry on the part of Revere told them that the last of the stores had been carted away to safe hiding-places hours before; and also that the militia at Lincoln was already upon the ground.
“Now,” said Nat to Ben Cooper, after Mr. Hancock’s property had been placed in security, “let us stand close together in whatever befalls. Because if you get away from me again, of course you’ll not take the trouble to hunt me up.”
The latter part of this speech was uttered in a jesting tone, but for all that Ben saw that his cousin more than half meant it.
“You know, Nat,” said Ben, “it was not altogether my fault that I did not find you at once upon my return to these parts. But you had left the ‘Dragon’ and I did not care to make inquiries of Dr. Warren or Mr. Revere because—well, because I knew that Ezra would rather I should not.”
At Revere’s solicitation, rifles were given to Ben, George, Nat and himself, also powder and ball; then they hurried out to join the patriot band upon the square. A party of the Lincoln minutemen had gone forward on the Lexington road to meet the British, but they now came pouring back into the town.
“The ministerial troops are only about two miles away,” announced the Lincoln captain, William Smith, “and they are more than treble the number of all that we can muster!”
With that the entire American force fell back to an eminence behind the town and formed in two battalions. Colonel Barrett, who had worked all the night superintending the removal of the stores, joined them here and at once placed himself in touch with the situation.
“I am none too soon,” remarked this officer, pointing with his hanger down the Lexington road. “Here they are, and marching as though they meant to finish us without delay.”
Sure enough the British had come in sight. The early sunshine struck their burnished arms and they glittered bravely in response; the red coats, white cross belts and high head pieces added to the gallant appearance of the compact column. Hotheads among the Americans were for at once offering battle. But the wise Colonel Barrett shook his head.