Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-06-19


gle flight. The kitchen and Offices wer,
on the ground floor, otherwise it was un
inhabited.
Ralph had his pistols by him; and hi
cavalry sword, long and heavy, but ad'
mirably poised, lay within his reach.
"I have settled it," he said. "You art
Connell are to take the guns. Smooth
bores are quickest loaded, and will de
for this short distance. Clontarf, who il
not quite so sure with the trigger. is tc
have the post Of honor, and guard the
staircase with his sabre. Throw anoth-
er bucket of water over it, Connell-is it
thoroughly drencheds And draw the
windows up" these did not reach te
within ten feet of the floor; 1--WE shall be
stifed else. But there will be thor
ough draught when the door is down,
that's one comfort. One word with you,
Carew."
He drew me aside, and spoke almost
in a whisper, while his face was very
grave and stern.
"You will do me this justice, whatever
happens. Unless it had been forced up
on me, I would not have risked hair 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. /
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 then. Not man Of them will be in
this gallery till am past praying for.
Nevertheless, hope and believe all will
be right. Don't trouble yourself to re-
load; 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 behind you. All! | hear them
coming up. Now men to your posts"
There was the tramp Of many feet, and
the surging of crowd about and against
the hall door. Then harsh, loud voice
spoke:
"Onst for all, will ye give him up, or
shall we take him, and serve the rest
Of yez as bad, Ye've got women there,
too"
will not add the rest of the threat for
very shame. know it made me more
wolfsh than ever thought it possible to
feel, for am a good-natugd man in the
main. Mohun, who is not, bit his mus
tache furiously, and his voice shook lit
tie as he answered.
"Do you ever say prayer, Pierce
Delaney: You need one now. If you
live to see to-morrow's sunset, | wish my
right hand may wither at the wrist"
A shrill howl pealed from the assail-
ants, and then the stout oak door crack
ed and quivered under the strokes Of q
heavy battering- beam; in hundred Sec
onds the hinges yielded, and it came
Gathering in ; over it leaped three wild
figures, bearing torches and pixies, but
their chief, Delaney, was not one OF
them.
1.-The left-hand man is yours, Carew |;
Connell, take the middle one" said
Ralph, as cody as if we had sprung a
pack of grouse. While he spoke his pls-
tol cracked, and the right-hand intruder
dropped across the threshold without
cry or stagger, shot right through the
brain. The keeper and l were nearly as
fortunate. Then there was a pause
then rush from without, an irregular
discharge of musketry, and the clear
part of the hall was crowded with ene-
mics.
l can't tell exactly what ensued.
know they retreated several times, fol
the barricade was impossible; and while
their shots fell harmlessly on the mat.
tresses, every one of ours told-nothine
makes man shoot straight like being
short of powder-but they came or
again, each time with added ferocity.
I heard Mohun mutter more thar
once, in dissatisfied tone, "Why doe
not that scoundrel show himself / can
make. out Delaney" All at once
heard a stiaed cry on my right, and, t
my horror, saw Clontarf dragged owe
the balustrade in the gripe of a giant
whom guessed at once to be the ma
we had looked for so long. Under Gov
er of the smoke. he had swung himse
up BY the balustrade Of the staircase
and, grasping the poor boys collar as b
looked out incautiously from his shelte
dropped back into the hall, carrying h
victim with him.
With roar of exultation the viii
beasts closed round their prey. Before
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