And in the street it was still darker. The boys were among the last to leave the hall, and as they stepped outside they could hear the rattle of small arms and the sound of cheering away to the north. “It’s an attack on the town,” whispered Jud excitedly. “That’s just what it is--a big attack!” But, positive as Jud was, he was wrong, as both boys found out later. General Putnam had sent a party of perhaps two hundred Continentals under the command of Major Knowlton to destroy fourteen houses along Mill Street in Charlestown and to capture the British guards who were stationed in them. Through a mistake some of the houses were fired too soon, and the flames gave the alarm to the enemy on Bunker Hill. But the daring attempt was by no means unsuccessful. Major Knowlton succeeded in burning eight of the houses and in capturing five prisoners. Washington himself was well pleased with the venture. But the thing that pleased Don and Jud most was the untimely ending of the night’s entertainment. No one thought of returning to the hall. “Here comes Bluster,” said Jud, stepping into a doorway on King Street to let the Redcoat pass. “I don’t want him to see me.” When the sergeant-major had passed, the boys made their way hurriedly to Don’s house in Pudding Lane, which they reached shortly before eleven o’clock. “Well,” said Aunt Martha, “did you hear anything of interest at the hall?” “Did we?” repeated Don. “You tell what happened, Jud!” And Jud told her, not omitting the incident of the snuff-box. And when he had finished, Don thought his aunt laughed more heartily than she had laughed since the blockade began. “I’m glad you boys went,” she said. “I’m glad you could see the fine officers discomfited. They deserve it for the way some of them have acted.” Jud was suddenly thoughtful. “What in the world will I tell fat Bluster if he ever asks me about the snuff-box?” he inquired. “Tell him the truth, Judson,” said Aunt Martha. “But don’t tell him unless he asks you,” she added with a smile. “I’ll tell you what to tell him,” said Don. “Tell him that the last time he used snuff he sneezed and blew the box over the Old South Meeting-House, and that when it came down it landed right on top of his hat.” “Donald!” exclaimed his aunt. “Now you boys scat to bed--quick!” “That’s the second time we’ve been scatted to-night,” said Jud as he followed Don up-stairs. CHAPTER XIV A BROKEN LOCK For many days the townsfolk and the soldiers talked of the performance that the Continental assault on Charlestown had interrupted. Don and Jud joked about it frequently, but they were always careful that neither Hawkins nor Snell should overhear them.