The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-04-23
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en-, and Ella wondered if the negroes
were all sleeping when danger surround
ed them. Hurricdly rou,ing her maid,
whom even fear could not keep wakelul
she dispatched her to summon Hector
At this moment the strangers window
was opened.
Boys said he, in sthed, tones, 'chage
upon the door, It's only fastened with
wooden bolt. | would let you in ST.
lcntly, as | intended, but I'm kept a
prisoner by the dog you hear barking
I'd open my door and shoot him, but
that would only alarm the house,
Hector to the steward, who at that
moment appeared at her door with Laig
a dozen frightened faces peering over
his shoulder you were right. Look
here y
As the black came to his mistress side
and looked out, several dusky forms ap-
preached the door, The stranger still
addressed them in suppressed tones from
his window, aud, 10 the corridor outside
Brave still barked furiously. In anoth.
er moment fearful crash echoed throug
the house, and the sound Of falling tim
bcrs and several pistol shots mingled in
the tumult.
Hector drew his mistress back and
closed the heavy wooden shutters. In
another moment he had rushed from the
room, and his voice was heard below
giving orders to the men, who soon fired
uron their assailants from within.
In the midst Of the tumult, Elias ear
acutely sensitive to every sound, heard
the strangers door open with crash,
and his voice in fierce oaths as ho spoke
to the dog. There was a struggle, Il
shot, furious barking, dying away into
means, and then lis tread along the gal
lery. She sprang toward her door, but
before she could turn the key in the
lock, it was thrown open, and the stran-
ger stood before her, closely attended by
Brave, who, though bleeding Gom +
wound in the neck, had not relaxed Lii
hold upon the robbers arm.
Ha my pretty onc,' sncercd lie
excuse my nncremonious entrance; bu
fyou have any jewels or money, per
haps you had better entlust them to my
care. The Tories arc attacking the
house, as you know, perhaps, and your
negroes will soon be overcome. Civ,
me your money and jewels then, and il
you have no objection you can accompa
ny me upon my ride "
Ella drew back as the ruffiau approach
ed, and Brave, relaxing his hold, plac
ed himself, with bristling back and luri,
eyes, before lis mistress.
Call off your dog, said the man, will
a forcc oath, or he may Glance to g.
hurt
Ella found voice at last, for paralyz
ed by terror, she had stood silent auC
motionlcss until lie approached her.
Come no nearer she said. wi
give you all the money have, if 80
will withdraw at once.
All my dear little gil, that vi
rot do. | want everything valuable il
cIudirg yourself, that tie Lousc con
tans. Only be quiet, and | will bel
myself, and We viii ride away by tn,
light Of this burning house
Ella shuddcrcd aud made a gesture O
rcpulsion, and Brave, who had beer
watching her, sprang suddenly at til,
strarger's throat. lie drew a scconC
pistol and fred. The bail missed it,
aim and was lodged in the ceiling as, ov
erbornc by the dogs furious enset and
great weight, he fell to the floor. Braves
fierce fangs were buried in his throat, aud
after one furious shriel; and momcn!a-
ry struggle, he was still.
Ella rushed shligkng from the room
and down the stairs. The cool air OF
early morning came stealing through
the open door, aud, gathered upon thl
broad piazza, she saw all her retaincrs
gazing after the rctreating forms Of tn,
Tories, who, astonishcd and ovcrpowerc,
by the fierce and unexpected rcslstanc
they had met were slowly marching ava
bearing one Of their wounded compau
ions while two more lay upon the blood
stained grass Of the lawn, with whit
dead faces turned upwari toward til
morning SKY.
Ella dispatched Hector to her room
and then directed the rciasteniug Of th
door which had been shattered by th
Tories charge. When all was safe sh
went slowly back, drcading the seen
which she expected
Upon the floor were stretched tw
forms-the faithful dog, family licking
the wounds from which the blood sti
flowed, and the man who, in that dog
presence, shamed the title Of brute
His throat was fcarfully mangled by tn
dogs fangs, and he had tainted from los
Of blood. Ella ordered him conveyc
to an outhousc, where he was made con
Portable, and on the arrival of the sui
geon, who had already been summone
from the neighboring village, his wouuC
were examined and dressed Wo ma