Midnight Rider: Chapters 15–23

Promise leaped from a canter into a gallop.

“I was so disappointed at Mrs. Wheatley’s last night. It was utterly boring listening to those long, arduous poems by Miss Phillis. She’s always asked to perform—like a trained puppy,” Meg said with a pout.

“The local towns and the British stored munitions in there. Lately the townspeople were pulling out their own munitions, but they never touched what belonged to the British. However, the British weren’t so decent. They took everything.”

“The disappearance of the powder and artillery pieces should add a new verse to 'Yankee Doodle.’”

“Serves them right for pilfering the powder. King George should be happy that we outwitted them. Our next move will be the reserves in Worcester.”

“They’re too daft to realize my concern is to keep the peace!”

When Meg entered the large sumptuous room, Mrs. Gage was at her desk.

The Whigs have tried to calm the people, but the country folk have already mustered an enormous army.

But until this rebellion has subsided, you and Hannah must not leave the Province House.

“Father gave me a goodly amount of money for room and board, but since I’ve been staying here at no cost, I have enough to take care of Promise’s keep. And the Whigs back in Salem will help me with expenses too.”

“We can light a taper now. No one can see us.”

Lights from the street failed to illuminate this out-of-the-way plot of land, and a large boulder obscured the entrance to the tunnel.

“Here are tacks to mount them. You’ll need a stone to hammer them in.”
Hannah found three stout rocks, and the trio walked out onto School Street.

"You’re late, and you look like a ragamuffin,” she began.

“I’m hoping that the twelve colonies represented there will reconcile the differences between America and England,” General Gage said.

“They’re even recommending sanctions against England!” an officer added.

“Sweet boy,” Hannah crooned.

General Gage looked incensed at Hannah’s boldness.

General Gage left the stable, muttering, “I have enough to contend with these days without distractions such as this!”

Caleb, who often met with Will at the meetings of the Sons of Liberty, kept Hannah abreast of Will’s journeys.

She cleared her throat and drawled in a haughty English accent, ‘“How dare you disagree with your mistress. Such impertinence! You need to be put in your place!’”

Meg put her hand over her mouth to stifle her mirth.

“He can hardly move, the way he’s tied up. And now that the nights are getting cold, he should have a blanket and be kept in a paddock.”

It was compulsory for soldiers to care for their horses as they would their own lives.

“You don’t believe that General Gage would show favoritism, do you?” Edward looked shocked. “Why, he’s known for his honesty and impartiality.”

“Colonel Maddison chastised him in front of all his men. That haughty know-it-all Pratt deserved to be taken down a peg or two. But he’s furious, from what I heard, and he swore he’ll find out who’s to blame.”

“But I must say Cousin Hans did right well giving Chester Pratt his comeuppance!”

The horses in front of her shied fearfully, breaking the formation and scattering in various directions. Hannah and Promise galloped through the procession as the surprised soldiers tried to control their mounts.

The clamor of oaths and outcries thundered on the night air.

After removing the saddle and bridle, she pulled a pile of hay into the stall.

“I suppose you are returning from one of your clandestine meetings?”
“If they are clandestine, their secrecy seems to have failed,” Mr. Revere said with a smile.

“I cannot abide that pompous fool! Nor any of those soldiers who are keeping us prisoners here in Boston.”

“I cannot abide that pompous fool! Nor any of those soldiers who are keeping us prisoners here in Boston.”

“I’m a chambermaid at the Province House, sir, and I am...privy to information. I mean, I overhear...”

“You can help us simply by being discreet and keeping your eyes and ears open,” Mr. Revere said kindly.

Once the sentries were out of sight, Will and Hannah walked quickly toward Baker’s Alley and the tunnel.

“General Gage has an agent who is close to us. Some of our words have been told verbatim to General Gage and then used against us. We have our own spies among the Tories who have reported as much. In fact, Dr. Warren has an informant high among the British officials, though he is sworn to silence never to tell who it is.”

After removing Hans’s scratchy garb and slipping into her own clothing, she headed to the Province House and made her way up the stairway to her room.

“I’m sorry, Miss Meg. I shan’t do it ever again. Please forgive me.” Hannah tried to sound contrite.

She was relieved that Meg had not discovered her real escapades outside the Province House.