Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-11-15


rushed forward, brandishing their weap-
ons and firing at random, while as many
more hovercd on the outskirts Of the
wood,
Within the house was perfect silence,
broken only by the low now boys of Mr..
Oakley, and the roar Of the six best rifles
in the county.
six down! A man for each bulletl
GoodP said the exulting voice of Mr..
Oakley. The powder, girls, and we'll
give 'em another.
A shower of bullets that ratified like
hail stones about the windows, cut short
the words. Mr.. Oakley picked up some
that fell harmless on the floor, and laugh
ed
The serpents are kinder than tho't
They arc going to keep us in balls as well
as exercise. So much the better, for we
have none TOO many. Now, boys
Fire steady, boys, and take good aim.
Don't waste powder
A dead silence ensued
They are cowed, father-they are
sneaking off to cover exclaimed Simeon.
Not they-they are contriving some
new deviltry. John and Matthew round
with you to the back Of the house-Grace
my God! where did that shot come
from, exclaimed Mr.. Oakley as. with a
sharp cry, Reuben, the eldest, leaped three
feet up in the air, and fell forward on his
face-stone dead.
Mrs Oakley sprang forward and threw
herself on his body. The fair-haired eld-
est boy was her darling. Another shot
came crashing through the window, and
bedded itself deep in the opposite wall.
Aim at yonder tree," shouted Mr. Oak.
ley. i saw the CLEAN of rife stock a.
mong the leaves
a third shot, whzzing so close past US
as to make us start back, and then our
rifles answered, and dark body went
down, and struck with heavy 'thud'
against the ground.
He's silenced,' exclaimed Mr.. Oakley,
with CLEAN of stern satisfaction shoot
ing across his face. But / see none of
the rest; where are they hiding
'Fatherl father!' called Grace in an ag-
onized tone.
Mr. Oakley ran hastily into the back
room where she was. A stalwart man in
hunting frock, and so bronzed as to
make it almost doubtful whether he was
white or red, had SWING himself from an
adjoining tree to the balcony, and was
trying to force himself through the little
window.
AS Mr.. Oakley rushed forward he drew
the hunting knife that he wore in his belt
but seizing the sharp edge in his hands
the inturated father wrested it from his
grasp by main strength, and plunged it
up to the hilt in his breast.
a fierce yell and a harmless voley
from those in mbush received this new
defeat, and then came another Of those
ominous pauses.
wv hat can they be about muttered
Simeon, who was again at the look ont.
They surely can't dream Of firing the
house
The door! the door.' gaspel Grace.
Right exclaimed her father. 1.-The
girl has more wit than us all, We must
barrcade the hall
Never mind the shutters said Mrs
Oakley, who had regained her marble-like
composure. we will bar them,' and
she began to draw the bolts.
Mr.. Oakley hesitated, for the task was
one of danger, but there was no time to
lose, and chairs, sofas and tables were
piled up at short distance from the
door. in what was really formidable
barricade, guarded. as it was, by those
unerring rifles. The smell of the burning
wood, and the smoke that filed the hall,
now grew almost intolerable. Mr.. Oak
ley placed US on the staircase, and ex-
horted his sons to stand close, and take
good aim. A portion Of the door fell in.
Mr.. Oakley raised his rife, and Walter
Van Cuyler, who was the first to spring
in, staggered back with groan. The
others swarmed in like bees, bnt second
and third Of those deadly volleys brought
them to stand. No man cared to ex-
pose himself to such certain death.
Mr.. Oakley turned impetuously to his
sons:
"Give 'em another, boys; we'll beat 'em
oii let, put u Hlule ouahc VI lnc Hcdu
was their only answer. The powder was
exhausted. For a moment a deadly
pallor overspread his face, the next his
voice rang ont, clear and firm as ever.
Close up! Draw your knives! We
will sell our lives as dearly as possible
Come on, their powder is out shout
ed q man, who, with half dozen others,
had succeeded in scrambling over the
barricadc. and was making his way to-
wards the little group.
You'd better be carefnl--our women
have their knitting needles yet. retorted
Mr.. Oakley.
We'll take care Of YOU and the women
both returned the rutfian, aiming a blow
at Simeon that brough him to the ground
A spasm contorred Mr.. Oskley's stern
features for moment; and then, with {
strangled sob, he threw himself headl long
on his assailants.
Kill him-cut him down-he's the
devil himself shouted a dozen voices
Int at this moment arose another and fa
| different cry.
The rebels-thev are on usp as thun'
dering on. trampng the cowsrdly wretch
eS down under the horses hoofs, came
Mark Warner with his Lighthouse troop
In an instant all was confusion, No on,
thought OF any thing but flight and the en-
ragged Americans moved the flying torie
down like grain,