The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-12-08

nave our HeafIS pioou' Deiore luey ieiI
US. ~
"You are sure there is no way of es-
cape by the roof" said 1.
"How can there be?" replied Elwell
"The scuttle only opens upon the rock"
"But we may go, and pull the ladder up
after u.s." suggested.
"And then the villains would come
around and shoot US down from the
cliff" =
"And there is no escape from the Cliff"
"Only by passing back in front of the
, cot"
, "Be jabers!" cried Pat, with clasp of
his hands. can; why can't we blow"em
up?" ...-.'-
"Blow 'em up?" repeated Elwell.
ovid the powther in the cellar" sug-
gested the cook. Put slow match to
it, an thin let 'em come in!''
"By the big gun!" exclaimed the agent,
leaping down from his post of observa-
tion, "that is our only hope. Pat, you
shall be rewarded for this! 1t may save
u.s. Light the lantern, and we'll make
, the trial."
! We comprebended the whole plan in a
moment, and hope revived. But there
!. was need of haste, and we went at the work
with a will. The lantern was lighted and
the trap door lifted. This cellar was a
small space, with ragged bottom of SOL
id rock, and the four kegs of gunpowder
: were placed together near the center
Holes were bored with bung- auger, and
the powder spread from one keg to the
' others, and then prepared a match, which
! we found without trouble, as plenty OF
f match-paper had besn brought with the
other materials for mining. Directly
there came laundering crash upon the
/ door, and the howls of the demons were
exultant. Quickly as possible the match
, was applied to hole we had made-a
4 match which we thought would give us
] time to escape, and at the same time al.
low our enemy time to enter-and then
, we FASTENED up an closed the trap after
: u.s. Another and another crash came up.
: on the oaken door, and we could see that
the hinges were giving away. We ex
: tinguished the lantern, and sfrang up the
ladder. Ewell opened the scuttle ant
t passed QUIT followed--theu came Mat
: thew and Theodore, with Pat in therear
3 The scuttle was closed, and justas it wen
b down we heard the door come crashing
e in, and yell of triumph broke from th
t marauders as they rushed in.
S "QuickP' cried the agent, slipping from
the roof upon the rock. "The powde
= will be reached in few moments "
1 could see him only few feet from
e me, and followed him without mucl
h care for how or where stepped Dow
6 the steep and ragged precipice he went
If and down went after him, tearing m
IS clothes and bruising the flesh as 1 slid
and stumbled and rolled along, but taking
l. no heed of pain while the bowling O
d those incarnate fcnds came up from th
h place we had left.
e "Now-look sharp!" cried Elwell-
e and he disappeared. / looked shar]
= enough to find myself at the edge of tn
e shelving rock, but before could max
st any plan for changing my rate of speed
l. over I went-down some six feet-wher
n I brought upon bed of bushes. Th
r others were after me before l could fail
dI lily gain my feet, and when 1 gained sens
h enough to look around l was stunne
hi again There come a sharp, kissing
d cracking noise-then the earth shoe
t. beneath me-a roar, a crash, asthoug
Of the mountain had been rent in twain
N a momentary darkness--a sense of or
d pression--a red glare shooting up into tn
e, heavens--and then the thunder broke up
t. on the giant.rocks, and went rolling owe
y the distant peaks. A shower of stone
le and splinters fell about US, and when th
or shock was passed, and sense returned
h the agent started up. t4G
It "Now is ouf time!" he said 9TH
1t path is clear. Follow me-"
y did follow him, though in dense dark
ii ness for awhile. for the smoke of the tel
6 rifle blast had settled like thunder cou
over the hill; but managed to keep tn
ID way In a few moments we struck the pls
to teau in front of the cot, but we saw non
N of the maurauders; and in short time lor
1T ger we had begun to descend the hill, an
at were clear of the smoke. We reache
20 the lake, and found a boat, and by te
y o'clock we were safe at Ballyronan.
ly On the following morning, in compan
ID with suitable force, we returned to tt
r place where the cot had stood. Par
to hof the walls were standing, and the blacl
N ened. shattered ruins were scattered ovt
r the hilL Here and there we found tor
r. and mangled corses--many, of the
le. we found till / sickened ofthe scare
ct and sight, and turned away. We nevf
ae knew how many were killed on that nigh
though it could not have been far frol
le twenty. Some may have escaped VIII
,e entered the cot after the door was battere
/. down, but 1 never heard of any such
" At all events, the leaders of the mauraud
IS ing spirits of Armagh perished Their
le and their more fortunate fellows, who ha
d remained at home on that fatal nigh
1t gave the we'll disposed agents no NOR
Ii