126 



minutes we'll have your heart's blood.' ' No/ was the calm 

 reply, ' I'll live to see you arrayed in cap and halter.' 

 ' Surrender, or we'll give no quarter.' ' Cowardly scoundrel ! 

 come and try your hand at the sledge !' said the old gentle- 

 man, with a cold and sarcastic smile, as he turned his eye 

 on me, where I was watching the door, with the confidence 

 a man feels who has his own trustworthy weapon to depend 

 upon. 



" ' Morden ! we'll burn the house about ye.' c Will you 

 put the coal in the thatch, Bulger T ' Morden, you have a 

 daughter !' and the ruffian pronounced a horrid threat. 

 The old man shuddered, then in a low voice, tremulous 

 with rage he muttered, ' Bulger, I'll spare five hundred 

 pounds to hang you, and travel five hundred miles to see 

 the sight.' 



" ' The coal ! the coal !' shouted several voices, and 

 unfortunately the scoundrels had procured one in the laundry. 

 ' By heaven ! they will burn us out/ said Henry, in alarm. 

 * Never fear !' replied his cooler uncle ; ' the firing must have 

 been heard across the lake, and we'll soon have aid sufficient.' 

 But a circumstance occurred, almost miraculously, that averted 

 the threatened danger. The moon became suddenly overcast 

 heavy rain- drops fell arid in an instant an overwhelming 

 torrent burst from the clouds, rendering every attempt the rob- 

 bers made to ignite the thatch abortive. ' Who dare doubt an 

 overruling Providence ?' said the old gentleman, with enthu- 

 siasm : ' surely God is with us !' 



" The storm which came to our relief appeared to dispirit 

 our assailants, and their parley recommended. ' Morden/ 



said the captain of the banditti, ' you have Lord 's rent 



in the house ; give us a thousand pounds, and we'll go off and 

 leave you/ 



<e ( AJ1 I promise I'll perform" said the old gentleman, 

 coldly. 'Bulger, for this night's work you have earned a 

 halter, and I'll attend and see you hanged/ ' Dash in the 

 door/ exclaimed the robber in a fury ; ' we'll have the old rogue's 

 heart out 1* A volley of stones rattled against the door, but 

 produced no effect, and again the robber parleyed. ' Will you 

 give us a hundred, Morden ?' ' Not a sixpence/ was the 

 laconic answer. Once more stones were thrown, shots dis- 

 charged, and threats of vengeance fulminated by the exas- 

 perated villains. At last, the demand was reduced to ' Twelve 



