I don' care what ye gi' me s' long es it's somethin'
powerful."

We ate crackers and cheese while the landlord was telling of the
west roads and the probable location of the British. He stopped
suddenly, peered over my shoulder, and blew out the candle. We
could hear a horse neighing in the yard.

"Some one et the window," he whispered. Then he ran to the door
and drew the bolt. "Ain' much idee who 't is," he added, peering
out of the window. "By gosh! more 'n a dozen folks out here,
soldiers tew, most uv 'em on horseback. Come quick."

We followed him upstairs, in the dark, as they began to pound the
door. From the yard a light flashed up. They were evidently
building a fire so that they would have better shooting if we came
out.

"May set the house afire," said the landlord.

He quickly unwound a big hose that ran up to a tank in the peak
above us.

"Plenty o' water?" D'ri whispered.

"Rivers uv it," said the landlord. "Tank's connected with the
reservoir o' the lead-works on the hill up there. Big wooden pipe
comes in the gable-end."

"Turn 'er on," said D'ri, quickly, "an' let me hev thet air hose."

The landlord ran up a ladder. D'ri stuck the hose out of the
window. The stream shot away with a loud hiss. I stood by and saw
the jet of water leap forth as big as a pikestaff. A man went off
his horse, sprawling as if he had been hit with a club. The jet
leaped quickly from one to another, roaring on man and beast.
There was a mighty scurry. Horses went headlong down the hill,
some dragging their riders. In the silence of the night, bedlam
had broken loose. The shouting men, the plunging horses, the
stream of water roaring on rock and road, woke the village. Men
came running from behind the house to see what had happened, then
rushed after their horses. Some fell cursing as the water hit
them. The landlord put his mouth to my ear.

"Mek fer yer hosses," he hissed.

We were below-stairs and out of the door in a jiffy. Two men fled
before us at the stable, scrambled over the fence, and went
tumbling downhill. We bridled our horses with all speed, leaped
upon them, and went rushing down the steep road, our swords in
hand, like an avalanche. They tried to stop us at the foot of the
hill, but fell away as we came near. I could hear the snap of
their triggers in passing. Only one pistol-shot came after us, and
that went high.

"Guess their ammunition 's a leetle wet," said D'ri,