, a few miles
to the north of Tom's River. Here their number was augmented by the
addition of a band of refugees under the Tory, Davenport. A vidette
dashed into the village with the news at midnight. Almost instantly
came the order:

"Every man to the blockhouse! The British and refugees are
approaching!"

CHAPTER XV

THE ATTACK ON THE BLOCKHOUSE

"Last noon beheld them full of lusty life,
Last eve in beauty's circle, proudly gay,
The midnight brought the signal-sound of strife,
The morn the marshaling in arms,--the day,
Battle's magnificently-stern array!"

--_Byron._

The cry echoed and reechoed through the streets of Tom's River:

"Every man to the blockhouse! The British and refugees are
approaching!"

It seemed but an instant until the village was aroused. Candles
flashed in the windows, and lanthorns gleamed in the streets as the
people prepared for the foe. Every man and boy capable of bearing a
musket hurried to the fort, while white-faced women snatched their
little ones from their cots, and huddled together for mutual comfort
and consolation.

Peggy and Sally had awakened at the first alarm. Often the former had
been thankful for the Quaker teaching which enabled her to retain her
self-control. She felt doubly grateful for it now in the midst of a
confusion that was terrifying. Men shouted hoarsely as they ran
through the town: sometimes repeating the orders of their captain,
sometimes calling reassuringly to the women. The wailing and crying of
the children, added to the screaming of the mothers, made a commotion
that was frightful. The girls were pale, but they managed to retain
composure.

"Is thee afraid, Peggy?" whispered Sally.

"Yes," admitted Peggy squeezing her friend's hand. "I am, Sally, but
'twill not help matters to give way to it."

"Ye are brave girls," commented Mrs. Ashley joining them. "Let us go
down-stairs. 'Tis planned to have all of the women and children come
here, as this is the largest house, and 'twill give comfort to be
together. If some of us remain calm it will help to quiet the others.
You can aid greatly in this."

So the Quakeresses went down among the assembled women, and, by
assisting to quiet the children, helped Mrs. Ashley, Nurse Johnson,
and others to bring a sort of order out of the tumult. An hour went
by; then another, yet there was no sign of the enemy, and the tension
relaxed among the waiting, frightened wome