We had scarcely succeeded in reaching the corner of the yard, and the body of the chaise was now safe from bullets, when a British major galloped into the green, motioning violently to the militia with his drawn sword.
"Disperse! Disperse!" he called out, angrily.
"Stand your ground!" roared the militia captain. "Don't fire unless fired upon! But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!"
"Disperse!" shouted the British major. "Lay down your arms! Why don't you lay down your arms and disperse—"
A shot cut him short; his horse gave a great bound, backed, lashed out with both hind feet, then reared in agony.
"My God! they've shot his horse!" cried Foxcroft.
"'Tis his own men, then," broke in Mount; "I marked the smoke."
"Disperse!" bellowed the maddened officer, dragging his horse to a stand-still—"disperse, ye rebels!"
Behind a stone wall a farmer rose and presented his firelock, but the piece flashed in the pan. A shot rang out, but I could not see who fired.
Far down the Boston Road the solid front of a second British column appeared.