134 THE BURGLARY. 



had taken in the wild and troublesome barony of . 



There was no dwelling-house procurable for some time, and 

 the strangers took up their residence in a large cabin upon 

 the road- side, about a mile distant from the little town of 

 ford. 



" It was naturally supposed, that coming to settle in a 

 strange country, this gentleman had brought money and 

 valuables along with him ; and a gang of robbers who in- 

 fested that lawless neighbourhood under the command of 

 the notorious Captain Gallagher, marked the stranger for a 

 prey. 



" This new settler had been married but a few months, and 

 his wife was a young and very lovely woman. On the third 

 night after their arrival they retired at their customary hour to 

 rest he slept upon the ground- floor, and the lady and her 

 female attendants occupied some upper chambers. 



' It was past midnight ; the unsuspecting family were buried 



in deep repose, when Mr. was fearfully awakened by a 



stone shattering the window and breaking the looking-glass 

 upon the table. He was unhappily a nervous timid man ; he 

 was aware the house was being attacked ; a loaded carbine 

 lay within his reach, but he appears to have abandoned all 

 hope or thought of defending himself; he heard the crashing 

 of the cabin windows he heard the appalling sound of 

 women's shrieks- but, trembling and agitated, he had not 

 power to leave his bed. 



" Never did a more dastardly gang attack a house than 

 Gallagher's. After every window was driven in, more than 

 half an hour elapsed before one of them would enter, although 

 no show of resistance had been offered by the inmates of the 

 house. The cowardly villains would occasionally peep through 

 a shattered casement and instantly withdraw. 



" A single blow struck with good effect, one shot from the 

 loaded carbine, would have scattered the scoundrels, and saved 

 the family from plunder and a dreadful insult. But the un- 

 happy man, paralyzed with terror, lay in helpless imbecility 

 upon his bed, and the banditti, satisfied that no resistance 

 would be offered, at last made good an entrance. 



" They lighted candles, bound the unfortunate gentleman, 

 left him half dead with terror, and proceeded to ransack the 

 premises. Soon after, shrieks from the lady's chamber an- 



