“At last the [British] officers began to feel the full import of what Paul Revere had been telling them. His words of warning took on stronger meaning when punctuated by gunfire. The sound of a single shot had suggested to them that surprise was lost. The crash of a volley appeared evidence that the country was rising against them. As they came closer to the Common they began to hear Lexington’s town bell clanging rapidly. the captive Loring, picking up Revere’s spirit, turned to the officers and said, ‘The bell’s a’ringing! The town’s alarmed, and you’re all dead men!’”
[Paul Revere’s Ride by David Hackett Fischer, pp. 135-6].
Wow, can you imagine hearing that from a prisoner, when you’re in a land you don’t know well?
Sarah Rocks!