James Otis Kaler

“ Dorothy said half to herself, for she had given no attention to Sarah's remark, so full was her mind of repairing the mischief which had been wrought through her.
"Here's des de figger," Scip whispered as he re-entered the kitchen, holding a long length of clothes-line. "Dis yere's gwin ter do de business for de Britisher!"
"Come up-stairs at once, or father will be angry because we are so slow," Dorothy said, and there was no thought in her mind but that she was doing exactly that which her parents had virtually commanded. ”

“ Such an uproar did the children make that the two ladies were forced to quiet them, in order that the situation might be rationally discussed by the gentlemen, and then Master Lamb said with an evident effort:
"We are equally concerned in this matter, friend Dean, for even though I did not say much to the citizens, I agreed with your angry remarks by remaining silent, and it would seem that my daughter has had nearly as much of a hand in this affair as yours. Let us consider it calmly."
"I am not in a proper frame of mind to consider anything in a quiet manner! ”

“ Sarah is here too, and Scip has come with the clothes-line. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, child," came in a muffled tone from the inside of the chest.
"Shall I open the lid?"
"Certainly."
Dorothy pushed into the lock the key she had been holding in her hand since the moment of receiving her father's supposed commands, and when it was possible the lieutenant sat upright.
"What shall I do?" he asked, and Dorothy replied:
"Father is terribly fussed because you are here, and wants you to escape. If we let you out of the back window can you get to your soldiers?" ”

“ Will the people who were here believe that you knew nothing regarding his whereabouts at the time you so stated to them, or will they claim that you wanted all the praise, and all the reward, for bringing in the Britisher? These be perilous times, friend Dean; the enemy will probably be in possession of the city very soon, for Howe has force enough to crush our army, and it behooves us to stand well with the public if we would save our own skins and property. ”

“ Then the old darkey, in obedience to Dorothy's request, set about striking a spark from the flint to the cotton, and while he was thus engaged, for the task sometimes proved a long one, the occupants of the kitchen were startled by hearing the hum of many voices from the square.
"Oh dear, can it be that those wicked men have caught our spy?" Dorothy cried in alarm; but old Scip quickly reassured her.
"Ef dey'd gone cotched de Britisher, honey, you wouldn't be hearin' any sich littly noise as dat; but it would be a great big yellin' an' screechin' fit to kill." ”

“ You know better than I what should be done; but as it appears to me, we are both equally in a way to be blamed regarding this matter, and I surely have the right to question concerning the possible outcome of our movements. ”