rdihood.

"No," replied Lorna, "although she wanted even to do that. But, of
course, I would not hear of it, on account of the swollen waters. But
she is perched in yonder tree, which commands the Barrow Valley. She
says that they are almost sure to cross the streamlet there."

"What a shame," I cried, "that the men should sleep and the maidens be
the soldiers! I will sit in that tree myself, and send little Gwenny
back to you. Go to bed, my best and dearest; I will take good care not
to sleep again."

Before I had been long on duty, making the round of the ricks and the
stables, and hailing Gwenny now and then from the bottom of her tree,
a short, wide figure stole toward me, in and out the shadows, and I saw
that it was no other than the little maid herself, and that she bore
some tidings.

"Ten on 'em crossed the water down yonder," said Gwenny, putting her
hand to her mouth, and seeming to regard it as good news rather than
otherwise; "be arl craping up by the hedgerow now. I could shutt dree
on 'em from the bar of the gate, if so be I had your goon, young man."

"There is no time to lose, Gwenny. Run to the house and fetch Master
Stickles, and all the men while I stay here and watch the rick-yard."

The robbers rode into our yard as coolly as if they had been invited,
having lifted the gate from the hinges first, on account of its being
fastened. Then they actually opened our stable doors, and turned our
honest horses out, and put their own rogues in place of them. At this
my breath was quite taken away, for we think so much of our horses. By
this time I could see our troopers waiting in the shadow of the house
round the corner from where the Doones were, and expecting the order to
fire; but Jeremy Stickles very wisely kept them in readiness until the
enemy should advance upon them.

"Two of you lazy fellows go,"--it was the deep voice of Carver Doone,
"and make us a light to cut their throats by. Only one thing, once
again. If any man touches Lorna, I will stab him where he stands. She
belongs to me. There are two other young damsels here, whom you may take
away if you please. And the mother, I hear, is still comely. Now for our
rights. We have borne too long the insolence of these yokels. Kill every
man and every child, and burn this cursed place down."

Presently two young men came toward me, bearing brands of resined hemp,
kindled from Carver's lamp. The foremost of them set his torch to the
rick withi