Year: 1870

ment and get few things ready for
our fight"


go. lass" he said. "but be not
long"


She disappeared at the words.


He Immediately broke open the
chest, aud began rummaging the con-
tents.


While he was thus employed the
brave hearted girl stole down the stairs
on tip-toe, and creeping softly along
the passage reached the door of the
chamber unseen by him, and like
wise unheard.


1t was but the work of moment for
her to turn the key in the ward and
lock him in.


This done, she rushed forth to the
outer door of the mill and gave the
alarm.


"Flyl fiyI' she shrieked to the child,
her masters little boy. "Fly to faith
er! Fly on your life! Tell him we
shall all be murdered, an he haste not
back. Fly! Fly!"


The child at once obeyed the COM
mand of the girl, and sped as fast as
his legs could carry him on the road
by which he knew his parents would
return from church.


Jenny sat down on the stone bench
by the mill door to ease her over
excited spirit.


A shrill whistle from the grated win
dow of the chamber in which she had
shut up the ruffian Rerrick, reached
her ears.


"Robin! Robin!" she heard him
shout, "catch the child and come
hither! l am fast. Bring the child
here, and kill the girl''


Jenny thought to herself that the
alarm was false one, but just as the
child reached hollow in the next field
the channel of natural drain--she
saw another ruffian start up, and catch
ing him in his arms, hasten toward the
mill, in accordance with the directions
of his accomplice.


In moment she perceived her dan
ger.


Retreating into the mill, she double
locked and bolted the door, and then
took her post at an upper easement.


She had scarcely time to secure her
self within when the ruffian from with
out, holding the hapless child in one
hand, and long sharp knife in the
other, assailed the door with kicks and
curses of the most dreadful character.


"Confound thee!" he cried. "Open
the door or I'll break it on ye.'


"If you can, you may" was all the
girl replied.


"Cut the brat's throat" roared the
imprisoned ruffian from above "That
will bring her to reason"


can ye open not the door," shouted
the villain from without, '1'll hack
this whelp's limbs to pieces with my
knife, and then burn the mill on your
head"


81 put my trust in God," replied
the girl. "Never shall ye set foot
within these walls while | have life to
prevent ye.''


The ruffian laid the infant for a mo
ment on the sward, and searching about
for combustibles, espied the only possi-
BILE entrance to the building.


1t was a large aperture in the wall,
communicating with the great wheel
and the other machinery of the mill,
and was a point entirely unprotected,
because it was never supposed by the
simple occupants that any one would
ever seek admission through such a
dangerous inlet.


By this the ruffian hoped to effect an
entrance.


All this was unseen by the girl
within.


In the meanwhile her mind was
busted with a thousand cogitations.


Suddenly thought struck her.


alt is Sunday" said she to herself.
'"The mill never works on the Sabbath.
Suppose 1 set it going now. 1t can
be seen afar off And haply my mas
ter and some Of his neighbors, wonder
ing at the sight, may hasten hither to
learn the cause. A lucky thought"
she exclaimed. otis God sent it me-"


No sooner said than done.


1t was but the work Of a moment for
her to set the machinery in motion.


A brisk breeze which sprung up at
once set the sails flying.


The arms of the huge engine whirled
round with fearful rapidity, the great
wheel slowly revolved on its axle. the
smaller gear turned and creaked and
groaned, according as they came into
action; the mill was in full operation.


At that very instant the ruffian Ro-
bia had succeeded in squeezing himself
through the aperture in the wall, and
getting safely lodged in the interior of
the great drum wheel.


His dismay was indescribable when
he began to be whirled about with Its
rotation.


His cries were most appalling, his
shrieks were truly fearful, his curses
were horrible to hear.


Jenny hastened to the spot and saw
him caught like reptile, as he was,
in his own trap.


1t need not be added that she did
not liberate him.


She knew that he would be more
frightened than hurt if he kept within
his rotary prison.


Meanwhile the wheel went round its
steady, unceasing motion, and round
and round went the ruffian along with
it, steady and increasingly, too. Nut
tering curses, he was whirled round
and round in the untiring wheel, until
at last, feeling and perception failed
him, and he saw and heard no more.


A loud knocking at the door was
shortly afterward heard, and Jenny