Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-09-12

liar and hypocrlte were his answer. a fierce
yell arose from behind the hay stacks and out
buildings, as twenty dark forms rushed for
ward, brandishing their weapons and firing
at random, while as many more hoYered on
the outskirts of the wood.
Within the house was perfect silence, bro
ken only by the low, now, boys of Mr. Oak
ley, gsEo the roar of the six best rifles In the
country
Six down. a man for each bullet,
GoodF 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 shor. his words
Mr.. Oakley picked up some that fell harmless
ly to the floor, and laughed.
The serpents are kinder than | thought.
They are going to keep US in balls as well as
exercise. So much the better, for We have
none too many. Now boys
Another flash and roar, and again the voice
of Mr. Oakley:
'tire steady. boys, and take COOL aim.
Don't waste powder
A dead silence ensued.
They're cowed father-thcy sneaking
off to cover'-exclaimed Simeon.
Not they! they're only 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? as
with sharp cry, Reuben the eldest, leapeG
three feet up into the air and fell forward on
his face, stone dead.
Mrs Oakley sprang forward, and threw
herself on his body. The fair-haired eldest
was her darling. Another shot came crash
ing through the window. and bedded itself
deep iu the opposite wall.
Aim at yonder tree shouted Mr.. Oakley.
I saw the gleam of rifle stock among the
leaves.
a third shot, whizzing so close past US as
to make US start back, and then our rifles an
swered, and dark body went down, and
struck with a heavy 'thuf against the
ground.
He's silenced exclaimed Mr.. Oakley, with
CLEAN of stern satisfaction shooting across
his face. But see none OF the rest. Where
are they hiding.
Father, father! called Grace, in an agoni-
zed tone
Sir. Oakley ran hastily into the back room
where she was. a s.alwart man, in hunt
ing frock, and SO bronzed as to make it al
most doubtful if he were white or red, had
swung himself from an adjoining tree on to
the balcony, and was trying to force himself
through the little window.
As Mr.. Oakley rushed forward, he drew
the hunting knife !hat he wore in his belt; but
seizing the sharp edge in his bare hand, the
infuriated father wrested it from his grasp by
main strength, and plunged it up to the hilt
In his breast.
A fierce yell. and harmless volley from
those In ambush, received this new defeat,
and then came another of those ominous
pauses.
what can they be about. muttered Simeon
who was again at the lookout. They surely
can't dream of firing the house.
The door! the door! gasped Grace.
Right, exclaimed her father The girl
had more wit than US all We must barri-
cade the hall.
Never mind the shutters, said Mrs. Oak
ley. who had regainod her marble-like COM
posure. We will bar them, and she began
to draw the bolts.
MIR. 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 a
short distance from the door, in what was re-
ally formidable barricade, guarded, as it
was, by those unerring rifles. The smell OF
the burning wood, and the smoke that filled
the hall, now grew almost intolerable. Mr..
Oakley placed us on the stair case, and told
his sons to stand close and take good aim. A
portion of the door fell In. Mr.. Oakley raised
his rifle, and Walter Van Cuyler, who was
the first to spring in, staggered back with a
groan The others swarmed In like bees, but
a second and third of those deadly volleys
brought them to stand. No man cared to
expose himself to such certain death.
Mr.. Oakley turned impetuously to his sons;
Give'em another, boys; we'll beat EN- of
yet; but mute shake of the head was their
only answer The powder was exhausted.
For moment deadly pallor overspread his
countenance; the next, his voice rang out,
clear and firm as ever:
Close up! Draw your knives! We will sell
our lives as dearly as possible.
Come oo! their powder Is out" shouted
man who, with half dozen others, had sue
eeeded in scrambling over the barricade, and
was making his way toward the little group
.You'd better be careful. Our womer
have their knitting Leedles yet shouted Mr
Oakley derisively.
We'll take care of you and the womeI
BOTH returned the ruffian, aiming blow a
Simeon, that brought him TO the ground.
A spasm contorted Mr.. Oakley's stern fea
tures for moment, and then, with a straug
led sob, he threw hlmself headlong upon hi
assailants.
Kill him, cut him down, he's the dew
himself, shouted dozen voices; but at thl
moment arose another. and far different cry
The rebels-they are on us! as thunderinG
on, :ramping the cowardly wretehes down un
der the horses hoofs, came Mark Warner
With his light horse troop. In an instant a
was confusion. No one thought of anythin:
but fight; and the enraged Americans move
the flying tories down like grain
Then burst forth all the emotions SO Ion