Year: 1872

ldCc Ill


Our leaders sprang to their posts
each side of the door, and on being
ordered to surrender, boldly demand
ed a weeks holiday and treat of ci-
der and apples.


This was sternly refused.


/ Firein cried Bill and Bob, and
two poles were thrust out with all the
strength the stoutest arms could give
them. They took the indignant ped
agogue in the sides with such force
that, but for his thick flannel over
coat, holes might have been made in
his wicked body. AS it was he stag
gered back, and twenty minutes or
more we saw him sitting upon IL log,
catching his breath, and rubbing his
wounded sides. We gave no end of
loud cheer, claiming for ourselves the
first knock-down, if not the first
blood.


At the end of the twenty minutes
the master arose. Digging a huge
stone from under the snow, he ap-
preached and threw it with great
/ violence against the door. The stout
oak fairly shook under the blow, but
held its own. Another and another
followed, amid the jeers and laughter,
encouraged by our noble leaders, to
keep up the courage of their followers.
The fourth stone split the door, and
the fifth broke the upper wooden
hinge, and but for the barricade with
in the breach would have been avail
able. The enemy, not being aware of
the defences within, suddenly dropped
the stone and ran in at the door, We
were not to be taken by surprise.
Again were the sharp lances thrust
out. One hit with decided effect in
the commissary, vulg;rly called the
stomach, the other, as he stopped,
doubled up by the pain, in the face,
intiicting an ugly wound, from which
the blood flowed in profusion. He re-
treated, and we saw him fairly dance
with rage and pain. The more of this
he indulged the wilder grew our de-
| light, which we testified in screams of
laughter.


He soon ended this exhibition and
/ disappeared around the school house,
evidently on reconnaissance. There





that which we have so often felt since,
the unknown movements of q silent
enemy. This was ended by noise
| upon the roof, and soon volumes of
smoke pouring into the room told lis
that strategy had taken place of as
sault We We're to be smoked out.


For moment our leaders looked
puzzled. Fortunately, III the excite
ment of the conflict, the fire had not
been fed, and now only few embers
and chunks supplied the smoke. These
were scattered upon the broad hearth,
and water thrown into to extinguish
the remainder. Then Bill and Bob,
selected four of the stoutest poles,
thrust them up the chimney, and at
| the word we gave, to use our own
prase, IA bloody hist


The consequence were a rattling of
! falling boards, with the unmistakable
/ thump of heavier body upon the
ground outside. We found after
wards that the master had not only
covered the chimney top with boards,
hut had seated himself upon them.
The sudden and unexpected hist !"
had tumbled him off. We then heard
dismal grpans and cries for relief from
! the enemy. Some were in favor of
going at once to his assistance others,
more cautious, opposed such merci
ful errand.


We had division in ollr council of
war. This ended in n call for u vol
unteer to make IL sortie and inyesti-
gate. Jack Loder, one of the most
| daring and active among the younger
| BOYS, responded. 4 shutter on the
opposite side to the cries for help was
opened quickly and Jack thrust out.
| The result of this was not only a
| cessation of the grons, but a chase
that we witnessed through our port
hole. Jack was Il good runner, and
when the two disappeared over the
meadow, into the willow thicket, Jack
was gaining on him, and we had good
hopes of his escape. To our dismay
and horror, in half an hour we saw
the master return with poor Jack in
his grasp. He had hostage, and
was swift in his use of the advantage.
Stopping before the house he began
whipping the poor fellow unmerciflll
ly. Jacks cries were, piteous.


"Oh, let him in, boys; let him in,
he's a killin' o me-" rrmg in our ears.
There was hurried consultation.
The benches and desks We're quietly
removed from the door. A sortie had
been determined on. The master
stood at the side of the house south of
the door, and as soon as the opening
was made Bill unclosed Il shutter and
proposed a parley. The answer was
a rush at the open window by the
master, who began climbing in. Brave
little Jack seized him by the legs, and
before he could kick himself off a
dozen stout lads were clinging to them,
while.as many more held him on the
inside. Bill seized the rope and at
tempted to pass the moose over his
arms. In the hurry and confusion of
the fight he succeeded in getting it
over his head. Pulling it as the boys
did, there was fair prospect of end