THE COLONEL S STORY. 155 



heavy fire from his comrades. Between the volleys 

 they summoned us to surrender, with fearful denun- 

 ciations of vengeance if we resisted longer. We were 

 within a few yards of each other, and during the intervals 

 of the firing, they poured out threats, and we sent back 

 defiance. — ' Morden, you old scoundrel ! ' exclaimed the 

 captain of the gang, * in five 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 1 ' 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.' — ' Will 

 you put the coal in the thatch, Bulger ? ' — ' Morden, 

 you have a daughter 1 ' 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 1 ' shouted several voices, and, 

 unfortunately, the scoundrels had procured one in the 

 laundry. * By heavens ! 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 over- 

 cast — heavy rain-drops fell — and in an instant an over- 

 whelming torrent burst from the clouds, rendering 

 every attempt the robbers made to ignite the thatch 



