r
about three hours." The neighbors had fled, and poor Mrs. Moulton was
left with "no person near but an old man of eighty-five years, and
myself seventy-one years old, and both very infirm. It may easily be
imagined what a sad condition your petitioner must be in." But she
committed herself to Providence, "and was very remarkably helpt with so
much fortitude of mind, as to wait on them, as they called, with what we
had,--chairs for Major Pitcairn and four or five more officers,--who sat
at the door viewing their men. At length your petitioner had, by
degrees, cultivated so much favor as to talk a little with them. When
all on a sudden they had set fire to the great gun-carriages just by the
house, and while they were in flames your petitioner saw smoke arise out
of the Town House higher than the ridge of the house. Then your
petitioner did put her life, as it were, in her hand, and ventured to
beg of the officers to send some of their men to put out the fire; but
they took no notice, only sneered. Your petitioner, seeing the Town
House on fire, and must in a few minutes be past recovery, did yet
venture to expostulate with the officers just by her, as she stood with
a pail of water in her hand, begging them to send, &c. When they only
said, 'O, mother, we won't do you any harm!' 'Don't be concerned,
mother,' and such like talk." But the widow Moulton persisted, until "at
last, by one pail of water and another, they did send and extinguish the
fire."[67] It is pleasant to know that the courageous old lady received
three pounds for her services, and that the smoke which rose higher than
the Town House served only to give the signal for Concord fight.

All this while the numbers of the militia had been growing. They were
stationed on the slope of Punkatasset Hill, and from minute to minute
squads and companies came in from the neighboring towns. It has been
made a reproach to Concord that so few of her men were there, but they
were engaged in the far more important duty of saving the stores.
Nevertheless, one of her militia companies was on the ground, with those
individuals who were able to hurry back after putting the stores in
safety. The Carlisle and Acton men had joined the waiting provincials,
whose numbers at last became so threatening that the guard at the
bridge, in full sight of them, became uneasy.

The militia became uneasy also. Beyond the bridge, in the town, they saw
more smoke than seemed warranted by mer