s
who had come down from the North to rid our colony of Virginia from
red-coated invaders.

During all the while, whether by day or by night, one of us three lads
remained in the loft doing guard duty, while the other two, if by any
fortunate chance we had a small store of provisions on hand, were at
liberty to watch our people. It can well be understood how greedily we
gazed out upon that army which we counted friendly, watching for the
least change of position, and even questioning with impatience how long
it would be before the end came.

It was as if the Britishers gave no heed whatsoever to anything save
their own defense, and I question whether we lads might not have boldly
presented ourselves to the quartermaster begging for food and receiving
it, instead of striving as we did to keep ourselves from their
particular notice.

We could see day after day our people bringing up heavy guns, digging
ditches which Pierre called parallels, meaning embankments thrown up to
protect the advance of a besieging army, and otherwise seemingly making
preparations to fall upon the enemy in overwhelming force.

I remember well on going out early one morning, after it seemed to me
that we had been shut up in this town of York weeks and weeks instead of
only a few days, and seeing much to my surprise a parallel, or
embankment, not more than five or six hundred yards from the outermost
of the British works, which had been completed during the hours of
darkness. With a great joy in my heart I ran into the cabin to make
known the welcome news, for surely did it seem as if the American army
had taken their first step toward entering the village.

We expected each moment to hear sounds of conflict; those who were not
on duty in the loft remained out of doors watching the soldiers in the
distance, and greatly disappointed were we when night came and nothing
decisive, so far as we could see, had been done.

Next day Pierre pointed out to me as he and I stood overlooking the
American lines, that two or three redoubts were being thrown up, and
batteries placed in position. Then came that for which we had been
hoping and praying--the sounds of conflict.

It was in the afternoon that our people opened fire upon the enemy with
great vigor, and until the end came the earth trembled continuously
beneath the heavy detonations, while the smoke of the burning powder
hung over us until our throats were parched and smarting.

It is impossibl