Afterward the boys learned that the man was Colonel Prescott and that his apparent disregard for the fire of the British was for the purpose of heartening the men within the fort. About mid-afternoon all the fire from the men-of-war and the British batteries seemed to concentrate on the little fort. “There they go!” cried Short. “The attack’s begun.” The regulars were advancing in two divisions; one division moved straight up the hill toward the fort; the other moved toward the fortifications beyond the hill--which could not be seen from the roof. Burdened with heavy equipment, and with the hot sun blazing down on their heads, the British walked slowly over the uneven ground. When they had gone some distance they opened fire and continued to fire as they advanced. A few scattering shots from the hill answered them. “Our men are withholding their fire till it’ll count,” said Short. “A wise thing to do.” “Well, I wish they’d hurry and fire,” said Jud. “Just see how close the Redcoats are to the fort!” The stretch of green and brown field between the redoubt and the front line of advancing regulars was growing smaller and smaller. From beyond the hill came a rattling roar of muskets and of field-pieces. Then came a heavy volley from the fort. “Look! Look!” cried Short and in his excitement almost let go his hold. The regulars returned the fire, and then amid the rattling, crackling hail of musket balls the ranks wavered and then broke. Down the hill haphazard the trained troops of King George retreated; but they left many of their number behind on the slope. Meanwhile shells that had fallen inside Charlestown had set many of the wooden buildings on fire, and the flames were spreading with great rapidity. Blue smoke was curling upward from the spires of the public buildings to mingle with the deeper blue of the sky. Little tongues of yellow flame were licking the sides and roofs of many of the smaller houses. In a few minutes the crash of falling beams mingled with the roar and rattle of cannon and musket. The regulars rallied and advanced again, but they could not go far in the face of the terrible fire that poured down upon them. As at Lexington, Don could see red-coated officers urging and threatening their men with brightly gleaming swords, but it was of no use. Again the lines broke, and the King’s troops retreated, this time in greater disorder than the first. “They’re brave men; I’ll say that for them,” said Short. Don and Jud thought so too, but neither said a word; the terrible spectacle seemed to have taken away their power to speak. It was a long time before the Redcoats rallied and advanced for the third time. “They’ve left off their knapsacks this trip,” said Short. “They’ll do better, I’m thinking.”