But as he pulled the trigger old Jonas stumbled against him and the ball went wide of its mark. The shot did much harm, however, for it frightened the already maddened horse, which leaped to one side, pitching the man completely over its head upon the paving of the yard. The horse fell, too, but outside the gate, and Hadley was able to slam the barrier and drop the bar into place before the dragoons arrived.
The explosion of the colonel’s pistol and that officer’s angry shout warned Hadley of the added and closer danger. He darted to the side of the fallen messenger. The poor fellow had struggled partly up and was tearing at his coat. His face was covered with blood, for he was badly injured by his fall; but one thought kept him conscious.
HE DARTED TOWARD THE FALLEN MESSENGER
“The papers—the papers, lad!” he gasped. “For General Washington—quick!”
But he had only half pulled the packet from his inner pocket when he dropped back upon the flagstones, and, with a groan, lay still.
Hadley seized the precious packet and leaped to his feet. With a clatter of hoofs and amid a cloud of dust the dragoons arrived at the yard gate.
“There he is! He’s down—down!” shouted the leader. “We’ve got him safe! Hi, there landlord! open your gate or we’ll batter it in!”
“They’ve got him safe, that’s a fact,” muttered Hadley, in distress. “But—but they haven’t got the papers!”
He turned swiftly and ran toward the barn.