d the Squire. "Is that not the case, friends?"

To this the whole company answered "Yes," and Colonel Morton at once
gave his commands.

The garrison was paraded on the lawn, its armament strengthened by two
rifles borrowed in the neighbourhood, of which the Squire carried one
and the lawyer the other. The post office had been cleared out of its
complete stock of powder and shot by Carruthers, early in the morning,
to the no little disgust of the Grinstun man when he went for his mail.
"Volunteehs foh the foht, foh mounted patyol, foh plantation
picket--three!" called out the colonel. Perrowne volunteered for the
first, as likely to have most influence with the Richards. "Blank
cartridge," said the Squire, as he rode away amid much waving of
handkerchiefs. "Oi'm yer picket, cornel," said Mr. Terry, stepping out
of the ranks with his rifle at the shoulder in true military fashion.
"Ef it's a gennelman wot knows riden, sah, and kin fiah a pistol or
revolvah, I respectuously dedercates my feeble servishes," volunteered
Mr. Maguffin, who mounted and patrolled poor Nash's beat, with a
revolver handy; while the veteran ran at a regular double to the far end
of the strip of bush. "The Squiah had bettah take the field, as he knows
the ground and I do not," said the colonel; "I will command the
gahhison. I shall want the captain, the doctah, Mr. Wilkinson and Mr.
Ehhol--four. My deah sistah-in-law can shoot; and so, I believe, can
Miss Halbeht, so we are seven."

"There's Wordsworth for you, Wilks, my boy," Coristine remarked, nudging
his right hand man.

"Corry, my dear fellow, whatever induced you to take that gun?" answered
the dominie, apprehensive for his friend's safety in the field.

"It's no gun, Wilks; it's a rifle. If I only get a sight at Grinstuns,
I'll commit justifiable homicide. Then I wish the Squire would punish me
by sending me down here for thirty days."

"The gahhison will take three paces to the fyont; quick, mahch!"
commanded the colonel.

The four came out in pretty straggling order, and the two ladies named
fell in beside them.

"Now, Squiah, I leave yoah command of five men, which Mr. Pehhowne will
soon augment to six, and Mr. Tehhy to seven, in yoah hands. If I have no
fuhtheh need of a mounted patyol, my sehvant will join the gahhison."

The colonel then left to post his sentries, which he did so judiciously
that three were enough, namely, the doctor, the minister and the
dominie. The ladies