"Enter!" whispered Ruth, who held the postern with her own hand. "Enter,
of Heaven's mercy! Thou hast given liberty to every hoof, that no living
creature perish by the flames?"
"All; and truly not too speedily--for, see--the brand is again at work!"
Content had much reason to felicitate himself on his expedition; for,
even while he spoke, half-concealed torches, made as usual of blazing
knots of pine, were again seen glancing across the fields, evidently
approaching the out-buildings by such indirect and covered paths, as might
protect those who bore them from the shot of the garrison. A final and
common effort was made to arrest the danger. The muskets of the young men
were active, and more than once did the citadel of the stern old Puritan
give forth its flood of flame, in order to beat back the dangerous
visitants. A few shrieks of savage disappointment and of bodily anguish,
announced the success of these discharges; but, though most of those who
approached the barns were either driven back in fear, or suffered for
their temerity, one among them, more wary or more practised than his
companions, found means to effect his object.
Pages:
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293