Doctor, afterwards General, Joseph Warren, who fell at Bunker Hill, received notice of the design of the troops, and at once sent Paul Revere to arouse the country. It was agreed that a signal light should be placed in the tower of the Old North Church to notify the watchers of the direction the troops had taken--one if by land, two if by sea. Paul Revere then rowed across the stream to Charlestown. He was not a moment too soon. General Gage heard that his plans were discovered, and orders were at once given that no person should be allowed to leave Boston. Had these orders been given five minutes sooner, the whole course of the revolution {172} might have been changed. As it was Revere reached the other side in safety. Having obtained a fleet and sure-footed steed he stood impatiently watching the belfry tower of the Old North Church. Meanwhile Warren, in disguise, wandered through the darkness and listened with eager ears till he heard the measured tread of the grenadiers marching down to the boats. Then with lantern in hand he climbed up into the belfry and a gleam of light shone over the dark and silent city. Paul Revere sprang into the saddle, but paused a moment and gazed until a second light gleamed out distinctly and clearly. Then "A hurry of hoofs in a village street, A shape in the moonlight, a bulk in the dark, And beneath from the pebbles in passing, a spark Struck out by the steed that flies fearless and fleet; That was all! And yet thro' the darkness and gloom The fate of a nation was riding that night, And the spark struck out by the steed in his flight Kindled the land into flame with its heat. It was twelve by the village clock When he crossed the bridge into Medford town. It was one by the village clock When he rode into Lexington. He saw the gilded weathercock swim In the moonlight as he passed, And the meeting-house windows blank and bare Gaze at him with a spectral glare As if they already stood aghast, At the bloody work they would look upon. You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farm-yard wall, Chasing the red-coats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees, at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load. So through the night rode Paul Revere; And so through the night went his cry of alarm To every Middlesex village and farm-- A cry of defiance and not of fear-- A voice in the darkness, a knock at the door, {173} A word that shall echo for evermore! For, borne on the night wind of the past Through human history to the last The good shall pray and by faith shall hear A delivering foot-fall as of that steed And a midnight message as of Paul Revere." CHAPTER XVIII. THE BOYS OF '76.