The Irish standard., 1907-12-28


distinguish the outlines Of the cattle
sheds, still, empty, black. Nothing
moved out there.
Il think they're frightened on" said
Mary at last, breathing more freely.
They were probably just one. or
they'd not have left. He knew he
missed you, or he would not have fired
again. Do you think it was Jesse?"
Jesse would not have missed" he
said, grimly.
At that moment new sound broke
the stiffness, the whinny Of a horse,
Relnforcements had approached with.
in the shadow Of the cattle.sheds.
Something moved out there at last.
"Daddy!" called Mary, in a choked
whisper. Come here-they are down
at the Sheds"
Williston stepped to the back win.
dow quickly.
Change places" he said briefly.
Daddy"
"Yes?"
Keep up your nerve" she breathed
between great heart-pumps.
Surely! Do you the same, little
comrade, and shoot to kill"
There was savage note in his last
words. For himself, 1t did not matter
SO much, but Mary-he pinned no
false faith in any thought of possible
chivalrous intent on the part of the
raiders to exempt his daughter from
the grim fate that awaited him. He
had to deal with desperate man;
there would be no clemency in this
desperate mans retaliation.
To his Quickened hearing came the
sound Of stealthy creeping. Some
thing moved directly in front of him,
but some distance away. Shoot every
shadow you see, especially If it
moves" were the fighting orders. and
his was the third shot of that night.
Hell! I've got it in the leg!" cried
rough voice full of intense anger
and pain, and there were sounds of q
precipitate retreat.
Out under protection of the long
row Of low-built sheds other orders
were being tessely given and silently
received.
"Now, men, I'll shoot the first man
Of you who blubbers when he's hit.
Dye hear? There have been breaks
enough in this affair already. don't
intend for that petticoat man and his
pulin' petticoat kid in there to get any
satisfaction out O. this at all. Hear
me?"
There was no response. None was
needed.
Some shots found harmless lodg-
ment in the outer walls of the shanty.
They were the result of an unavailing
attempt to pick the window whence
Williston's shot had come. Mary
could not keep back little womanish
gasp of nervous dread.
Grip your nerve, Mary" said her
father. That's Notwithstanding
from down there. Just lie low and
they can do nothing. Only watch,
child, watch! They must not creep
up on us. Oh, for moon!"
She did grip her nerve, and her
hand ceased its trembling. In the
darkness her eyes were big and
solemn. Sometime, tomorrow, the re-
action would come, but tonight
Yes, father, keep up your own
nerve" she said in brave little voice
that made the man catch his breath.
Again the heavy minutes dragged
away. At each of the two windows
crouched tense figure, brain alert,
eyes in iron control. 1t was a fright.
full strain, this waiting game. Could
one be sure nothing had escaped ones
vigilance? Starlight was deceptive,
and ones eyes must needs shift to
keep the mastery over their little
horizon. 1t might we'll be that some
one Of those ghostly and hidden SEN
tinels patrolling the lonely homestead
had wormed himself past staring eye
balls, crawling, crawling, crawling; it
might we'll be that at any moment a
sudden light faring up from some
corner would tell the tale of the end.
Now and then could be heard the
soft thud of hoof as some one rode
W cACCuL0 al OlucT. occasionally,
something moved out by the sheds.
Such movement, If discernible from
the house, was sure to be followed on
the instant by quick, sharp remon-
STRANGE from Williston's rife. How
long could it last? Would his nerve
wear away with the night? Could he
keep his will dominant? II so, he
must drag his mind resolutely away
from that nerve-racking, still, and un-
seen creeping, creeping, creeping,
nearer and nearer. How the stiffness
weighed upon him, and still his mind
dwelt upon that sinuous, flat-bellied
creeping, crawling, worming! God, 1t
was awful! He fought it desperately
He knew he was lost II he could not
stop thinking about 1t. The sweat
came out in big beads on his forehead
on his body; he prickled with the heat
Of the effort. Then it left him-the
awful horror-left him curiously cold
but steady of nerve and with will OF
iron and eyes, cats eyes. for their
| oao{nr e., A.. lo.l, ko.,, 80.