03 It's Time

3 It's Time Annie lifted up her long dress and ran to a tree close to the river. Jack held on to his hat and ran after her. They peeked out from behind the tree. More snow flurries swirled in the twilight. “ Redcoats?" whispered Annie. “ Can't tell, ” said Jack. In the flickering firelight, the men didn't seem to be wearing uniforms at all. They wore ragged pants and coats. Some even had their feet wrapped in tattered cloth.

“ Come on, " Annie said. She ran to a tree closer to the river. Jack followed. “ This is as close as we should get, " he whispered. " But we still can't tell what they're wearing, " said Annie. She crept forward and hid behind a scraggly bush. “ No closer! " Jack whispered. But Annie took off again. She crouched behind a rock. She was only about ten feet from the campfire. Oh, brother, she's way too close now, Jack thought. But he took a deep breath and ran to the rock.

When he joined Annie, she looked at him and grinned. “ This is like hide-and-seek, " ’ she whispered. “ It's not a game, Annie, " Jack whispered back. “ It's war. Be serious. ” “ I am serious! " said Annie, her voice rising.

“ Shh! " said Jack. But it was too late. One of the men stood up and looked around.

“ What's the matter, Captain?" another asked. “ I heard something, " said the captain. He held up his musket. Jack stopped breathing. “ Who's there?" the captain shouted. Jack looked at Annie. She shrugged. “ We're caught, " she whispered. “ Who's there?" the captain shouted again. “ Just two kids, " Annie answered in a small voice. “ Come out and show yourselves! " the captain said. Jack and Annie stood up from behind the rock. They both held up their hands. “ We come in peace, " said Annie. In the shadowy twilight, the captain moved toward them.

“ Who are you?" he asked. “ We're Jack and Annie, " said Annie. “ Why were you spying on us?" he asked. “ We weren't spying, ” said Jack. “ We just wanted to know if you were redcoats or patriots. ” “ Which would you like us to be?” the shadowy figure asked. “ Patriots, " said Jack. “ We are patriots, " the captain said. “ Thank goodness! ” said Annie. The captain smiled. “ Where are you from?" he asked. His voice had softened. “ We're visiting relatives nearby, " Jack said. “ Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, " said Annie at the same time.