Her hand rested on the bolt of the door, in
indecision. The moment was favorable to the character of the youth, for
she recalled the manner of his return that night, no less than his former
acts of faith, and she was about to leave the passage for his egress open,
when an uproar arose on the air which filled the valley with all the
hideous cries and yells of a savage onset. Drawing the bolt, the startled
woman descended, without further thought, and rushed to her post, with the
hurry of one who saw only the necessity of exertion in another scene.
"Stand to the timbers, Reuben Ring! Bear back the skulking murderers on
their bloody followers! The pikes! Here, Dudley is opening for thy valor.
The Lord have mercy on the souls of the ignorant heathen!" mingled with
the reports of musketry, the whoops of the warriors, the whizzing of
bullets and arrows, with all the other accompaniments of such a contest,
were the fearful sounds that saluted the senses of Ruth as she issued into
the court. The valley was occasionally lighted by the explosion of
fire-arms, and then, at times, the horrible din prevailed in the gloom of
deep darkness.
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