“All right. I’ll go to part of the houses and give the alarm, you go to the rest.”
Then they hastened from house to house, warning the settlers, and in a less number of minutes than it takes to tell, the men were gathered at the edge of the settlement, rifles in hand, ready for the redcoats.
The women and children were told to leave the houses and retire up the mountain-side, in the shelter of the rocks, and they promptly did so.
“We’ll protect ourselves by hiding behind the houses and fire at the redcoats, and hold them back or drive them away,” asserted one of the settlers, who seemed to be looked upon as the leader. “If we can save our houses and household goods, we will do so; but if they are too strong for us, we can retreat up the mountainside.”
“We can drive them away, I think, sir,” said Tom.
“I hope so, young man.” And then the settler added: “We thank you for bringing us warning of the approach of the British.”
“You are welcome, sir. I am a patriot, and a member of the patriot army under General Greene, whose army is about sixty or seventy miles east and north from here. I was captured by the British and made to join their force, but did so with the intention of making my escape at the earliest possible moment.”
“Well, it is lucky for us that you brought us the news of the coming of the redcoats just when you did.”
“They are almost within rifle-shot distance now,” said one of the settlers.
“All right,” replied the leader. “Keep your eyes on them, and as soon as they are within range, begin firing. Take aim, and make every shot tell.”