ansports, and the town. The provincials
must be driven from the spot at once; otherwise, there could be no
safety for the fleet, neither for his army. He called his officers
together in council.

"We must drive the rebels just as we did at Bunker Hill, or they will
drive us out of the town. There is nothing else to be done," said
General Clinton.

General Howe agreed with him. A battle must be fought, and the sooner
the better. Every moment saw the fortifications growing stronger. But
what would be the outcome of a battle? Could he embark his army in
boats, land at the foot of the hill, climb the steep ascent, and
drive the rebels with the bayonet? At Bunker Hill there was only a
rabble,--regiments without a commander; but now Mr. Washington was in
command; his troops were in a measure disciplined. That he was
energetic, far-seeing, and calculating, he could not doubt. Had he not
transported heavy cannon across the country from Lake Champlain to
bombard the town? Evidently Mr. Washington was a man who could bide
his time. Such men were not likely to leave anything at haphazard. One
third of those assaulting Bunker Hill had been cut down by the fire of
the rebels. Could he hope for any less a sacrifice of his army in
attacking a more formidable position, with the rebels more securely
intrenched? It was not pleasant to contemplate the possible result,
but an assault must be made.

From the housetop, Berinthia saw boats from the vessels in the harbor,
gathering at Long Wharf. Drums were beating, troops marching. Abraham
Duncan came with the information that four or five thousand men were
to assault the works and drive the provincials pell-mell across the
marshes to Roxbury. At any rate, that was the plan. He was sure it
would be a bloody battle. Possibly, while General Howe was engaged at
Dorchester Heights, Mr. Washington might be doing something else.

Neither General Howe nor any one within the British lines knew just
what the provincial commander had planned,--that the moment the
redcoats began the attack, General Israel Putnam, on Cobble Hill,
between Charlestown and Cambridge, with four thousand men, would leap
into boats, cross the Charles, and land on the Common; that General
Nathanael Greene with a large force would advance from Roxbury, and
together they would grind the British to powder, like corn in a mill.

It was mid-forenoon when Major Walden escorted General Washington
across the marsh land and along