children, and without speaking hastened to the place where the few
men of the then very small town were assembled to resist the
invaders.

Presently about eight hundred men, all armed with muskets as good as
I was, and of the same fashion, were seen. These men had two cannon
with them which made a fearful show to the poor colonists, as the
Americans were then called.

Our men were about one hundred in number. The lordly English marched
up within a few rods of us, and one called out, "Disperse, you
rebels. Lay down your arms, and disperse."

Our men did not however lay down their arms. My master grasped me
tighter than before. We did not stir an inch. Immediately the
British officers fired their pistols, then a few of their men fired
their muskets, and, at last, the whole party fired upon our little
band as we were retreating. They killed eight men, and then went on
to Concord, to do more mischief there.

I felt a heavy weight fall upon me; it was my master's dead body;
and so I learned what muskets were made for. His fingers were on the
trigger; as he fell, he pulled it, and in that sound his spirit
seemed to depart.

The British marched on to Concord, and the poor brave people of
Lexington, who had so gallantly made the first resistance, were left
to mourn over dead companions and friends.

Soon the eldest son of my master discovered his father among the