Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-01-15

=
as 'plunger' to an enormous extent, and
in Mohun still more. When ! returned
my companions were in the gallery
This ran round two sides of the hall, which
went up to the roof. The only access to
the upper part of the house was by a !
stone staircase of a single fight. The
offices were on the ground floor other
wise it was uninhabited.
4 have settled it, he said. You and
Connell are TO take the guns. Smooth
bores are quickest loaded, and will do for
this short distance. Clontarf, who is not
quite so sure with the trigger, is to have
the post of honor, and guard the staircase
with his sabre. Throw another bucket
of water over it, Connell-is it thorough
ly drenched? And draw the windows
up (these did not reach to within ten feet
of the floor; J we shall be stifed Also
But there will 5e a thorough draft when
the door is down, that's one comfort
One word with you, Carew.'
He drew me aside, and spoke almost
in whisper, while his face was very
grave and stern.
You will do me this ju tice, whatever
happens. Unless it had been forced up
on me, would not have risked ilair of
your wife's head to save all the attorneys
that are patronized by the father of lies.
But, mark me if it comes to the worst
keep bullet for her. Don't leave her
to the mercy of those savage devils. l
know them. She had better die ten times
over than fall into their brutal hands,
You must use your own discretion, though.
| shall not be able to advise you them
Not a man of them will be in this gale
ry till l am past praying for. Neverthe-
less, hope and believe all will right.
Don't trouble yourself to reload Fritz
will do that for you. ! have given him
his orders. Aim very coolly, too we
must not waste bullet. You can choose
your own sword there are several be-
hind you. All! hear them coming up.
Now, men, to your posts
There was the tramp of many feet
and the surging of a crowd about and
against the hall door. Then harsh, loud
voice spoke:
'Onst for all, will ye give him up, OIL
shall we take him, and serve the rest O
yez as bad? Ye've got women there
too
I will not add the rest of the threat fol
very shame. know it made me more
wolfsh than ever 1 thought It possible +,
feel, for l am good natured man in tn,
/: main. Mohun, who is not, bit his mus
tache furiously, and his voice shook lit
tie as he answered.
do you ever say a prayer, Pierre Del
aney? You need one now. Ifyou liv
to see to-morrow's sunset, l wish my RICH
= hand may wither at the wrist
A shril howl pealed out from the as
! saiIants, and then The stout oak door crack
> ed and quivered under the strokes of
heavy battering ram; in hundred sec
onds the hinges yielded, and it came clat
tering in over it leaped three wild fig
ures, bearing torches and pixies, but thei
chief was not one Of them.
The left hand man is yours, Carew
Connell, take the middle one said RalpI
'' as coolly as if we had sprung a pack {
grouse. While he spoke his pistol crack
L ed, and the right hand intruder droppe
across the threshold without cry or
:, stagger, shot through the brain. Tt
. keeper and / were nearly as fortunat
Then there was a pause then rush fro
> without, an irregular discharge of muske
ry, and the clear part of the hall WI
crowded with enemies.
=. I can't tell exactly what ensued.
,, know they retreated several times, f
-. the barricade was impossible; and viii
- their shots fell harmlessly on the me
: tressess, every one of ours told-nothil
= makes a man shoot straight like beil
=, short of powder-but, they came
again, each time with added ferocity.
- l heard Mohun mutter more than on
- in a dissatisfied tone, why does not tn
scoundrel show himself? ! can't ma
i out Delaney All at once 1 heard a S
n fed cry on my right, and to my horror
of saw Clontarf dragged over the bali
trade in the grippe of a giant, whom
Il guessed at once to be the man we b
10 looked for so long. Under cover Of t
or smoke he had swung himself up the b
ustrade of the staircase, and grasPi
the poor boys collar as he looked out
cautiously from his shelter, dropped ba
into the hall, carrying his victim W