ain aim than from the front.

Aunt Dicey, too, and her satellites were winning the laurels they
coveted.

As she had expected, several of the assailants came thundering at her
door, loudly demanding admittance, at the same time that the attack was
made in front.

"Who dar? What you want?" she called.

"We want in; open the door instantly!"

"No, sah! dis chile don' do no sich ting! Dis Marse Ed'ard's kitchen,
an' Miss Elsie's."

Then in an undertone, "Now Venus an' Lize, fill yo' dippahs quick! an'
when dis niggah says fire, slam de contentions--dat's de bilin' soap,
min'--right into dar ugly faces."

"An' Sally Ann, yo' creep up dem stairs, quick as lightnin' an' hide
under the bed. It's yo' dey's after; somebody mus' a tole 'em yo' sleeps
yere sense de night dat bloody hand ben laid on yo' shouldah."

These orders were scarcely issued and obeyed when the door fell in with
a loud crash, and a hideous horned head appeared in the opening; but
only to receive three ladles-full of the boiling soap full in its face,
and fall back with a terrible, unearthly yell of agony and rage, into
the arms of its companions, who quickly bore it shrieking away.

"Tank de Lord, dat shot tole!" ejaculated Aunt Dicey. "Now stan' ready
for de nex'."

The party in front were received with the same galling fire as before,
and at the same moment a sound, coming apparently from the road beyond
the avenue, a sound as of the steady tramp, tramp of infantry, and the
heavy rumbling and rolling of artillery, smote upon their ears.

There had been a report that Federal troops were on the march to
suppress the outrages, and protect the helpless victims, and seized with
panic terror, the raiders gathered up their dead and wounded and fled.

Chapter Eighteenth.

"Thus far our fortune keeps an onward course
And we are grac'd with wreaths of victory."

"Victory!" shouted Horace, Jr., waving his handkerchief about his head,
"victory, and an end to the reign of terror! Hurrah for the brave troops
of Uncle Sam that came so opportunely to the rescue! Come, let us sally
forth to meet them. Elsie, unlock your stores and furnish the
refreshments they have so well earned."

"They draw nearer!" cried Arthur, who had been listening intently.
"Haste! they must be about entering the avenue. They will meet the
raiders. Travilla, uncle, shall we make an opening here in our
breastworks?"

"Yes," answered both in a breath, then, as if struck b