"I'm more at home on a deck than on a horse's back," remarked Ralph, "but this strikes me as the proper thing." "Yes," said Phil, "we will leave Boston till later. Just now the motto must be: 'On to Lexington!'" CHAPTER XXIII THE FIRST SKIRMISH "Andy! Andy!" screamed Ralph Post. But Andy Sabine did not answer. Amid a scene of wild riot and turbulence, wreathed with the actual smoke of battle, the centre of a struggling, battling crowd of yeoman and militia, the Concord boy was swept from view like one on the wings of a cyclone. It was wonderful what a few hours time had wrought in the destinies and environment of the three loyal chums, who had not reached the city they had started out for, but instead had become involved in the first sanguinary conflict of the War of the Revolution at its most active, seething centre. Never could any one of them forget the escapades of the past night. It was like some dream--the wild dash down the old country road from the Charles river, inspirited by Phil Warrington's final heroic decision: "On to Lexington!" They made little progress that was not attended by stirring incidents. There was not a village they passed that was not in a state of barricade, preparation, or practically deserted. Bonfires were blazing, men, women, even children were wide awake. Some particular building in these little hamlets was usually the focus of local military fever. Here were grouped men with every conceivable weapon from a blunderbuss to a pitchfork, boys with hatchets, bows and arrows, even slingshots. Wherever they owned a cannon, no matter how small, it was planted conspicuously. The lack of fear was remarkable. All acted as if an hour long anticipated had arrived, and they were prepared for the conflict. Attics and roofs were occupied by men with all their available firearms by their side. The hedges and timber concealed any number of men on the watch for the first token of the approach of the foe. On top of many a hill a great brush fire was kept burning, furnishing a circle of beacons as far as the eye could reach. All this Phil, Andy and Ralph saw, and every advancing mile showed how well Paul Revere and another messenger named William Dawes had sounded their warnings to the ready colonists. It was only when they reached Lexington, however, that the boys realized that the hurry and scurry and unbottled enthusiasm all led to one central point where the first stand of the patriots was to be made.