124 THE 



I felt the chill of the night-breeze ; then closing the shutters, 

 reluctantly prepared to undress. 



" I had thrown my coat and vest aside, when a distant 

 crash was heard, and a fearful noise with oaths and screams 

 succeeded. I rushed into the corridor, and encountered a 

 terror-stricken maid- servant running from the extremity of 

 the passage. Miss Morden next appeared ; she was in 

 complete dishabille, and had hastily thrown on a dressing- 

 gown. ' Good God! Captain Dwyer, what has occurred?' 

 A volley from without prevented my reply, and the crashing 

 of the windows, as the glass was splintered by the bullets, 

 made it unnecessary. ' The house is attacked/ she said ; 

 and then with amazing self-possession added, 'There are 

 always loaded guns above the kitchen fire-place/ We both 

 ran down the corridor, she to alarm her father, and I to 

 procure a weapon ; young Morden, armed with a sword, met 

 us. ' The attack is upon the kitchen/ he said, hastily ; ' it is 

 our weakest point ; this way, Captain/ and we both entered 

 it together. 



"There was a bright fire burning on the hearth. The 

 large window was shattered to pieces, and the idiot I had 

 noticed on the lawn, was standing beside the ruined case- 

 ment armed with a spit, making momentary passes at the 

 breach, and swearing and bellowing frightfully. I leaped 

 upon a table to seize two muskets which were suspended in 

 the place Miss Morden had described. I handed one to 

 Henry, when the fire blazed out suddenly, and discovered 

 me to the banditti without. Instantly, three or four shots 

 were discharged. I heard a bullet whistle past my head, 

 and felt something strike my shoulders like a sharp cut from 

 a whip, as a slug grazed me slightly but having secured the 

 gun I jumped from the table uninjured. We heard Mr. 

 Morden in the passage his manner was calm and collected, 

 as he ordered the servant-men to the front of the house, and 

 dispatched his daughter for ammunition. 



" Meanwhile, a dropping fire continued from without 

 for from within no shot had been returned, as the robbers 

 sheltered themselves effectually behind the angles of the 

 offices and the piers of the gates. From some hurried words 

 we overheard they were arranging a determined attack. 



" ' They will make a rush immediately/ said the elder 

 Morden coolly, ' and here comes Emily in good time ; don't 



