speak to them first, and hear
what they want."

There was little doubt about that, however; before my father could open
the loophole, a thundering blow was dealt with the trunk of a tree
against the door, making it shake on its hinges, though the tough wood
held firm.

"Who dares thus attack my house?" shouted my father; "off with you, or
take the consequences."

A shower of bullets which pinged against the door and walls on either
side was the reply. Our assailants, disappointed in their first attempt
to break open the door, hoped to alarm us into submission.

"Open the door, and let us in; we come on lawful business to look after
a runaway slave, and have him we will, alive or dead, although we burn
your house about your heads," shouted one of the men outside.

Uncle Denis thought from the sound of the voice that it was Mr Bracher
himself who spoke.

"We have no runaway slave within, but open the door we will not; so if
you again make the attempt to force it, your blood be on your own
heads," answered my father in a firm voice.

"That's all empty boast," was the answer; "if you hurt any of our men,
not one of you shall escape with your lives."

"Faith! we're wasting time talking to the fellows," cried Uncle Denis;
"let's begin to treat them as they deserve. If they don't go away, I'll
knock over that big blackguard Bracher, and his crew will soon be taking
to their heels if they haven't him to lead them on."

My father, although a soldier, was as averse as any man to shedding
blood.

"We will show them that they are not likely to succeed, and that they
will pay dearly for the attempt if they again try to break open the
door," he said. "Mr Bracher," he shouted, "understand that I don't
wish to be your enemy, and have no unkind feeling towards you. You have
made an unwarrantable attack on my house. No harm has as yet come of
it. If you will go peaceably away I will overlook the insult and take
no further steps in the matter; but if not, I once for all warn you that
I am well prepared to defend my house, and that you will pay dearly
should you try to enter it. I again say your slave is not within my
doors, so that you will gain nothing if you succeed, which you have no
chance of doing."

My father in speaking this had some hopes of inducing the Kentuckians to
change their intentions, and at all events he might prolong the time so
that daylight would surprise them before they should recommence the
a