ith joins Major Pitcairn, and, glorying over the easy
victory, they swing their hats, hurrah for King George, and march on
towards Concord.

XVII.

BEGINNING OF A NEW ERA.

Roger Stanley, asleep in the old farmhouse on the banks of Concord
River, was aroused from slumber by his mother.

"Roger! Roger! the meetinghouse bell is ringing!" she shouted up the
stairs to him.

With a bound he was on his feet, raised the window and heard the
sweet-toned bell. He understood its meaning, that the redcoats were
coming. Quickly putting on his clothes, he seized the powder-horn and
bullet-pouch which his father carried at Louisburg.

"You must eat something, Roger, before you go," said his mother.

A moment later and his breakfast was on the table, bread and butter, a
slice of cold beef, a mug of cider.

"There's no knowing when I shall be back, mother, for if the war has
begun, as I fear it has, I shall be in the ranks till the last redcoat
is driven from the country."

"I know it, Roger. Your father would have done just what you are
doing. I know you'll do your duty. You won't show the white feather.
Here's some lunch for you," she said, putting a package into his
knapsack.

"Good-by."

[Illustration: ROBERT MUNROE'S HOUSE Joseph Comee, a minute-man, was
wounded at the doorway]

Her arms were about his neck; tears were on her cheeks as she kissed
his lips.

[Illustration: Route of the British to Concord.]

He ran across the meadow to the village. The minute-men and militia
were gathering. In the stillness of the morning they could hear the
report of guns far away, and knew that they of Sudbury and Acton were
hearing the alarm. People were hurrying to and fro in the village,
loading barrels of flour into carts, removing the supplies purchased
by the Committee of Safety. Reverend Mr. Emerson was there with his
gun and powder-horn. Many times Roger had listened to his preaching.
It was gratifying to see him ready to stand in the ranks with his
parishioners. He told the women not to be frightened, and smiled upon
the boys who took off their hats, and the girls who courtesied to him.

They heard, far away, the drumbeat of the advancing British.

No messengers had arrived to inform the minute-men of Concord what had
happened at Lexington; for Doctor Prescott did not know that British
muskets had fired a fatal volley.

From the burial ground Roger could look far down the road and see the
sunlight glinting