"'Noise!' exclaimed Revere, 'you'll have noise enough before long; the regulars are coming!'
"They were quickly admitted then, roused Hancock and Adams, and knowing how unlikely to escape being taken prisoners they were, should they remain in Lexington, persuaded them to retire to Woburn.
"Then Revere and Dawes pushed on to Concord to give the alarm there.
"By two o'clock in the morning a hundred and thirty of the Lexington militia were collected at the meeting-house upon the green. The roll was called; then, as the early morning air was very chilly, they were dismissed with orders to remain within drum-beat."
"Papa, the British marched very quietly, didn't they?" asked Max.
"Yes, in perfect silence; hoping and believing that none of the Americans were aware of their movements."
"Ha, ha, how mistaken they were!" laughed Max.
"Yes," his father said, "there were vigilant eyes upon them. As they passed through West Cambridge they were seen by Lee, Gerry, and Orne,—members of the Provincial Congress,—and as I have told you, others learned the secret also.
"As the British neared Lexington their ears were greeted by the sound of bells and guns, warning them that their expedition was known."