_Pitcairn sees the unwavering line of Minute Men and pulls his horse up sharp._] PITCAIRN Halt! [_The Britishers halt, the order being repeated down the column. For an instant there is no motion of any kind. No sound except an occasional throb of a kettledrum, defying rhythm now as the shots will do in a moment._ _Pitcairn comes a few steps forward. He looks at the colonists. He laughs bitterly._] PITCAIRN Throw down your arms, you damned rebels! [_No one moves._] D’ye hear me? [_Slowly Parker turns and looks upon his little, feeble line of men. Then he looks again at the Britishers. Then we see him realize the futility of his attempt._ _Very reluctantly the line of Minute Men sways and loosens. It does not quite break. Its manœuver is rather that of retiring. Then a few draw angrily back and a few more stand defiantly. Jonas Parker throws his hat at his feet._] JONAS PARKER Here I stand, so help me God! [_An angry murmur of resentment rises from the Minute Men. Parker is spellbound. Pitcairn turns to his first platoon lieutenant._] PITCAIRN Surround and disarm these rebels. [_The lieutenant gives the proper commands to bring the first British platoon down stage and into line. The second, under command of its own lieutenant, follows and the British Company stands, so, drawn up in company front facing the retreating Minute Men._] THE FIRST LIEUTENANT Damn ’em, Major, we’ll get at ’em.... [_He gives the order by which the first platoon should deploy as skirmishers for the business of disarming the colonists. The platoon breaks with another cheer, but before its men have taken two steps, one of the Minute Men, a figure lost in the shadow and the crowd, has fired his musket at Major Pitcairn._ _The British stop in amazement._ _Immediately John and Ebenezer Munroe lift their muskets._] JOHN MUNROE I’ll give ’em the guts of my gun! [_They fire almost together, wounding the Major’s horse._ _Seeing the Major’s horse plunge, the first lieutenant cries_:] THE FIRST LIEUTENANT The Major’s hit.... Fire, damn you, fire! [_The first platoon fires--too high, it would seem, for no Minute Men fall. But the Minute Men fire back, Lieutenant Tidd, Ebenezer Locke, Nathan Munroe, Jonas Parker and Benjamin Sampson._ _Parker stands frozen._ _Pitcairn tries to control his horse._] THE SECOND LIEUTENANT Fire, by God, fire! [_The second platoon fires._