The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-02-03

out of sight of the house, he struck into a
| fieace gallop, which he continued until he
came in sight of cross road, where was
a tavern. Here he stopped, and learn
ing that the loyalists had taken the high
road, ne turned aside into a narrow and
more circuitons one.
at is my only chance to avoid them,"
he said, again dashing INTO gallop.-
Pray God may reach the settlement in
time to collect few of our lads and
march to the Bunkers. There is no 9TH
er hope now left.
Night had fallen, as they had expect
ed before the tories were able to reach the
vicinity of the house they were in.search
of. At length, however, after a silent
march through the woods, it broke upon
their view. A light was burning in one
of the windows, and when they arrived
close to the premises the lively notes of a
violin reached their ears, proving that the
brothers were not aware of their presence
but enjoyed themselves in imagined Sc
curitv.
"Now, men, whispered the leader of
the tories, when give the word, fire a
volley at the house by way of introdu-
cling ourselves, we will then surround the
place and enter it.
At that instant the deen bay Of dog
rang in their ears, and large mastifi
sprang from under the house, and rushed
at the Major.
'F'ire!' he cried.
Twenty guns broke upont he stiffness
of the night-the dog fell dead-every
pane in the front of the house was shiver-
ed, and the tories yelled like savages.-
In an instant the lights i'll the house were
extinguished-the violin as quickly ceas-
ed, and a noise was heard at the door,
'fhe tories made a rush at it. But it
was already barred, and being made of
stout oak plank, resisted their efforts
A rifle cracked at one of the upper win
dows, and one of the tories fell desperate
ly wounded. Another report succeeded
and another fell, and Major Wilson was
awore that both Bunkers were at home
and wide awake. A shed turned the
rain from the front of the house, and un-
derneath this the tories shielded them
selves from the fire of the Bunkers, and
went to work at the door. Suspecting
such resistance-perhaps from his knowl-
edge of their character-one of the men
had brought an axe, with which he COM
menced hewing at the door, and soon cut
it to pieces. Here desperate battle en-
sued. The two brothers were powerful
men, and courageous as they were strong
and now with clubbed relies they dispu
ted the entrance of the whole tory force
The door being small, they stood their
ground for half an hour, telling during
that time some Of those who had the
temerity to enter first, but finally they
overcame them and they were flung upon
the floor bound. The tories, inflamed TO
madness at the great resistance which
had been made, and at their own losses,
now seized the mother and sister, and
made preparations to hang the brothers
before their eyes. The ropes were al
ready around the necks of the victims,
when the Major addressed his men:
Now, friends, as soon as these villains
are dead, we will set fire to the house
the old woman, there he said with
brutal laugh, may be left ssinside-but the
young one reserve for myself
Hist cried one of the men in loud
voice. The Major ceased, and they
heard voice outside the house. Al
though the words were spoken low, the
listners distinctly heard, when ! say fire,
give il TO them
A man with blanched cheeks now
rushed among them exclaiming
THE yard is full of men,
Fire., cried a deep voice from the
yard--a general volley succeeded, and so
well had the aim been directed in the
door, that several tories fell, eithr dead or
desperately wounded. In turn the tories
retreated up stairs; when David, our he
ro rushed in the room which they had
Just left, and cut the cords which bound
the two Bunkers and their sister and
mother.
MAY God Almighty bless you for
this cried one of the Bunkers.
The two men sprang up, seized their
rifles which had been left in the room.
and prepared to retaliate the treatment
they had just received.
Long and desperate was the Battle
The tories fought for lie; the whlgs for
revenge. But at length the latter tri-
umphed though not until their enemies had
been almost exterminated. The Major
fell by the arm of our hero, who sought
him out in the hottest of the fight, and
engaged him single-handed.
No language of ours can express the
emotions of our hero as he pressed his
betrothed bride to his bosom; and his
heart went up in thankfulness to Heaven
for his timely arrival, when he thought
that delay of half an hour longer would
have consigned her to fate worse than
death. The gratitude of her brothers