ou will try it out
now and here, instead of hiding yourself behind the skirts of the king's
soldiers!" the Jerseyman cried as if he no longer held control over his
temper, and at the same time he advanced a step toward Hunt as if to
grapple with him.

The cowardly fellow fell back before Morgan; but dared not take his eyes
from the Jerseyman because of fearing that a blow might be delivered.
Back, back, slowly, pace by pace he retreated, Morgan advancing with
clenched fist, and then against Uncle 'Rasmus's chair the fellow came at
full force, half toppling over.

Then it was that I understood all the scheme; understood why Uncle
'Rasmus had moved where he did, and why the Jerseyman strove to provoke
Hunt to anger, for Pierre raised the stool which he had been swinging to
and fro in his hands, and brought it down upon the scoundrel's head with
such force that he was nigh knocked to the floor.

If little Frenchie had been able to get in a direct blow, I have no
doubt it would have settled matters on the instant, for I could see even
in the gloom that the lad was putting all his strength to the effort,
and counted on taking human life if by so doing he could the better
relieve us from the difficulty into which we had fallen.

As it was, unfortunately, Pierre's arm glanced across the back of Uncle
'Rasmus's chair, and the blow was robbed of half its force. It was
sufficient, however, to partially daze Abel Hunt, and before he could
recover either his senses or his footing Morgan was upon him like a
wild-cat, clutching both hands around the fellow's throat to prevent any
outcry, while the two came down upon the puncheon planks with a thud
that shook the building.

On the instant, and without giving any heed to the struggling men, Uncle
'Rasmus sprang with the agility of a boy to the corner where Horry Sims
stood as if ready to leap forward to Abel Hunt's aid, and there the old
negro, with his cane upraised, held the Tory lad where he neither dared
lift a hand or open his mouth.

At the same instant little Frenchie sprang toward the door, replacing
and mending so far as possible the barriers which had been torn away,
and otherwise doing what he might to put it in such shape that it would
resist, at least for a short time, the efforts of any who might try to
enter.

Meanwhile Saul and I stood as if dazed, looking down upon the floor
where Master Morgan and Abel Hunt were struggling most desperately,
rolling here and t