“He’s gone inside here; the door’s barred. Get something to force it.”
Lights sprang up and danced upon the stone walls of the mill; a heavy log thundered upon the door.
“It was she that tripped me,” thought George. “And she’s hurried her brother inside, thinking to escape notice. But they are trapped.”
The door fell in with a crash, and Nat leaped over the threshold.
“Empty!” he cried. “See, there is another door!”
Sure enough, there was—one that had escaped George’s notice, but which Peggy had evidently observed. And while they stood staring at it, the sudden rattle of hoofs told the patriots that their man had made good his escape.
CHAPTER XIV
SHOWS HOW THE BRITISH SHIPS CAME INTO THE BAY
At a few words from his friends, George Prentiss was released; but Hickey and some others who had been taken were marched to a place of security and put under guard.
Next day all was in a turmoil; the Tories in and about the city feared for their lives. As Nat Brewster had predicted, Matthews, the mayor of New York, was arrested by a detachment of Greene’s brigade; his house and person were searched, but no incriminating papers were found. Those of the Tories who had prepared for an outbreak fled, upon learning that their leaders had been taken.
Washington struck swiftly and strongly; those of the plotters who belonged to the army were at once brought before a courtmartial; the others were handed over to the civic power. Of the members of the general’s guard taken, only Hickey was convicted; he was promptly hanged on June 28th.