ALARMS AXD EXCUESIOXS. 306 



oui' possessions, and to retire ourselves into the shelter of our 

 barn, unless we wished to incur further loss, and to submit 

 to a close overhauling of our own persons, and such things 

 as we carried about them. "When the populace understood 

 that there was nothing more to be seen outside, they came 

 to the natural conclusion that they had better follow us 

 in, and we soon found ourselves sitting in a knot in front 

 of our possessions, and closely pressed uj^on by a growing 

 crowd — some of the people simply sucking their thumbs 

 and staring in stupid astonishment, while others, more 

 lively, pointed in our faces the finger of covetousness, or of 

 scorn, as the case might be. Thete persecutions grew too 

 troublesome to be borne without a protest, so, wanting to 

 eat our supper, we called the owner of the bam, and told 

 him that we desired to be left alone, and that the crowd 

 must and should turn out. Finding that we might repeat 

 this sentiment as often as we liked without result, we 

 took active measures, walked the people out before us, 

 and shut the doors. After some talking and jeering 

 outside they were violently kicked open. We again shut 

 them, but, expecting the offence would be repeated, I 

 waited close by, and sallying out unexpectedly, caught 

 a boy in the act ; the culprit was summarily collared and 

 shaken, whereupon he made feeble demonstrations with 

 his pistol, but took care for the future to keep in the 

 background. Two or three men, from time to time, took 

 opportunities of intruding themselves, but at last, having 

 ordered the horseman to be ready for an early start, we 

 succeeded in shutting ourselves up for the night. Before 

 doing so, however, Moore went outside, fired off the five 

 baiTels of his revolver in rapid succession, and then 

 ostentatiously reloaded it — a demonstration which produced 

 for the time all its intended effect, for, although sounds of 



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