d
de b'ilin' water we'll fight 'em!" she shouted.

Ruth, keeping watch, saw a squad of men. One of them rattled the
knocker.

"What do you wish?" she asked, raising a window.

"I am commissioned to search for property belonging to the crown."

"Who are you?"

"I am a lieutenant in the command of Colonel Brush."

"I do not recognize your authority, neither that of Colonel Brush nor
General Howe, who has taken his departure."

"I shall be under the necessity of entering by force if you do not
open the door."

"You will do so at your peril."

"Break down the door, men!"

The soldiers pounded with the butts of their muskets, but the panels
did not yield.

"Smash a window!"

A bayonet was thrust through a pane, and the glass rattled to the
ground; the butt of a musket smashed the sash, and a pair of hands
grasped the window-sill. Memory recalled a day when two soldiers
assaulted her; from that hour a redcoat had been hateful. She seized
one of the pistols. Remembering what Pompey had said, she picked the
lighted candle from its socket and thrust it into the weapon. The
ruffian was astride the window-sill. There was a flash, a loud report,
and he dropped with a thud to the ground.

From the balcony came a flood of boiling water upon the astonished
ruffians.

"I'll give it to ye, b'ilin' hot!" shouted Phillis. The ruffians saw
the muzzle of a gun pointed towards them from the window, and the
stalwart form of Pompey as he raised it to take aim. The astonished
villains fled, leaving Ruth, Pompey, and Phillis victors in the
encounter.

* * * * *

Morning dawned fair and beautiful. The robins and bluebirds were
singing in the garden. Ruth heard again the beating of drums, the
blast of bugles. General Washington was entering the town. By his side
rode Major Robert Walden.

What surprise! A white handkerchief was waving from the balcony of the
Newville home. She was there, more beautiful and queenly than ever
before! Not an alien, not an exile, but loyal to liberty, to him! He
must leap from his saddle and clasp her in his arms! No. He must
accompany his great commander in the triumphal entry. That
accomplished, then the unspeakable joy.

* * * * *

There came an evening when the Newville home was aglow with lights,
and Pompey was bowing low to General and Mrs. Washington, Generals
Greene, Putnam, Thomas, to colonels, majors, captains, councilo