"I tell you it has been hot work," continued Ralph, when he had recovered his breath. "Those redcoats came down on us like an avalanche. They were just a solid mass, sweeping away everything in their path except the town hall. That turned them. They got such a steady hail of bullets from the windows, from the roof and from behind trees and fences, that they turned double quick. But they made for the arsenal. Our men simply couldn't withstand such a force, for most of the crowd on duty there earlier, had been sent north to fight. They're getting in on us. Oh, dear!" sighed Ralph dolefully. "Those elegant cannons!" "What about the cannons?" inquired Andy impatiently. "Spiked, smashed, two of them. The redcoats did it. And the powder--all that precious powder!" "And what about the powder?" demanded Andy. "Some barrels emptied into the river. But we beat them--some. A smashed keg they were rolling along with the other kegs near the river. One of our men dared everything, ran to the spot, fired his gun among the loose powder, and that ended it. Why, those redcoats and the Tories with them ran like scared rats. Then our men put after them. They are after them now. They have driven the redcoats down the road, just lined with our skirmishers. It's pop! bang! all the time. A lot of our men have cut across country to head them off, if they try to return that way. The rest of our men are just driving the enemy back to Boston on the double-quick. Oh, we've lost something, but it's a rout, and the battle of Lexington is won!" "Let's follow," cried Andy. "Hold on, break ranks! Attention company! Halt!" rang out a cheery, martial voice. A clattering wagon had driven right into the midst of Andy and his companions. It was recognized at once as the antiquated, familiar rig of old Silas Berks. "Whoa!" roared the veteran Indian fighter, getting to his feet and waving his hand excitedly. "Fellow-citizens--no; I mean friends, boys, pile aboard. There's a party of redcoats stuck in the road with four field pieces just beyond my place. If you want to cover yourselves with glory, all aboard! the more the better, and I'll show you a capture worth your while." "I heard something about some of the heavy baggage of the Britishers unable to make the detour of the town, and ordered to get back to the next village," said Ralph. "Our men have cut off any chance of the others reaching and helping them." "Company--march!" ordered Andy grandly. The way the "company" obeyed was to pile into the wagon, those of them who could. The others, eager and excited, strung along on a run behind as the crazy old vehicle clattered back on its route among the hills beyond Concord. CHAPTER XXVI SPOILS OF WAR