Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1858-12-07

| The keeper came, looking very mucl
surprised He bad been in the stables
and had only just heard of the disturbance
Get the rifles and guns ready, with bull
let's and buckshot,' his master said. 'Wt
are to be attacked, it seems.' "'r'
The mans bold face fell blankly.
by the powers, yer honor, | haven { the
value of an ounce Of pouder in the house
Il meant to get some the morrow morning,
| afore ye were up
Mohun shrugged his shoulders, whist.
ling softly.
Man proposes he said. Its almost q
Ipity we found SO many cocks in the lower
copse this afternoon. have fifteen charges
or so in my pistol-case. We must make
that do, loading the rifles light Then he
went to window, whence he could see
down the road; the moon was shining
brightly.
i thought SO; they have got their scouts
posted already. The barbarians know
something of skirmishing after all. Mad
dox, come here (The groom was a
strong English boy, very much afraid OF
his master, but of nothing else on earth. }
Saddle Sunbeam, and go out by the back
gates, keeping well under the shadow of the
trees. When you clear them, ride straight
at the rails at the end of the paddock.
You'll get over them with scramble,
think. Keep fast hold of his head-you
mustn't fall. Then make the best of your
way to A, and tell Col. Harding. with
my compliments, that shall be glad if he
will send over troop as quickly as pos
sible. They ought to be here in two
hours. And mind, don't spare the horse
going. but bring him back easy. You'll
be of no use here, and l won't have him
lamed if l can help it. You'll have to risk
a bullet or two as you go into the road;
but they can't shoot. It's odds against
their killing you. Now CO.
The groom pulled his forelock, as if the
most ordinary commission had been given
him. and vanished.
'Connell, Ralph went on: go and saw
the ladders that are in the yard half
through. They will hardly try the barred
windows; but it looks more workmanlike
to take all precaution. Then come back
and help Fritz pile chairs and furniture all
up the staircase, about the hall near it.
Line the gallery with mattresses, two deep,
leaving spaces to fire through. Light all
the lamps, and get more candles to fix
about; we shall not see very clearly after
the smoke of the first dozen shots. When
you have finished come to me. Now, shall
we go back to dinner?'
| am not ashamed to own had little ap-
tl,o1a I
had gone ito her room. If her courage
was failing, she did not wish to show it.
Suddenly our host got up and went to
the window. His practiced ear had caught
the tread of the horse which Maddox was
taking out as quietly as possible. We
watched him stealing along under the trees
till their shelter failed him. Then he put
to speed, and rode boldly at the
rails. A yell went up from the road, and
we saw dark figures running; then came
shot just as the horse was rising at The
fence. He Int it hard, and the splnters
flew up white in the moonlight, but he
was over. We held our breath, while sew
eral flashes told of dropping shots after the
fugitive. They did not stop him, though,
and to our great relief, we heard the wild
rush of the frightened horse subside into
a long, stretching gallop, and the wind
brought back a CHEEKY halloo-'F For 'rard,
For'rard. away!'
so far, so good, said Ralph Mohun, as
ne sat down again, and went in steadily at
woodcock. Dent hurry yourselves,
gentlemen. We have three quarters of an
lour yet, they will take that time 70 mus
er. Clontarf, some Hock!"
The boy, to who he spoke, held out his
glass with pleasant smile. The coming
'eril had not altered tint upon his fresh,
'enrdless cheeks-rosy and clear as a
,age's in one of Boucher's pictures.
A good contrast he made with the mis-
rable attorney, who had followed us unin-
4ited Git seemed he only felt safe in our
presence, and who was crouching in cor
Ter, his lank hair plastered round his con-
-ulsed, livid face with the sweat of mortal
ear.
1t struck Mohun. think He laid his
land on Clontarf's shoulder and spoke with
kind illness of voice and manner most
with him
'.WeIl quell the savage mountaineer,
As their IiHchell cows the game;
They come as fleet as forest deer,
Well drive them back as tame"
Even at that anxious moment could
lot help laughing at the idea of Ralph
1,otinor Of bof ,r,,,,o Co,,1 |