ised his head to seek a new shot, a bullet tipped his
ear, burning it like a streak of fire, and flattened against the wall
behind him. He fired instantly at the base of the flash and a cry of
pain showed that the bullet had struck a human target.

Harry, in his excitement, raised himself a little for another shot,
and a second bullet cut dangerously near. A warning command came from
his father, veteran warrior of the plains, to keep down, and he obeyed
promptly. Then followed a period of long and intensely anxious waiting.
Harry thought that if the night would only lighten they could get a
clean sweep of the lawn and drive away the mountaineers, but it grew
darker instead and the wind rose. He heard the boughs of the clipped
pines rustle as they were whipped together, and the cold drops lashed
him in the face. He had become soaking wet, lying on the floor of the
portico, but he did not notice it.

Harry saw far to his left a single dim light in the dip beyond the
forest, and he knew that it shone through a window in one of the houses
of Pendleton.

It seemed amazing that so bitter a combat should be going on here,
while the people slept peacefully in the town below. But there was not
one chance in a thousand that they would hear of the battle on such a
night. Then an idea came to him, and creeping to his father he made his
proposition. Colonel Kenton opposed it vigorously, but Harry insisted.
He knew every inch of the grounds. Why should he not? He had played
over them all his life, and he could be in the fields and away in less
than two minutes.

Colonel Kenton finally consulted Judge Kendrick, and the judge agreed
with Harry. Besieged by so many, they needed help and the boy was the
one to bring it. Then Colonel Kenton consented that Harry should go,
but pressed his hand and told him to be very careful.

The boy went back into the house, passing through the dark rooms to the
rear. As he went, he heard the sound of sobbing. It was the colored
servants crying with terror. He found the constable and Senator Culver
on watch on the back porch and whispered to them his errand.

"For God's sake, be careful, Harry," the Senator whispered back.
"Bad blood is boiling now. Some of Skelly's men have been hit hard,
and if they caught you they'd shoot you without mercy."

"But they won't catch me," replied the boy with confidence. Thinking
it would be in the way in his rapid flight, he gave his rifle to the