f fire. I also understood that there must be considerable of confusion
arising from the fact that a portion of the army and a goodly part of
the baggage was already on the Gloucester side.

While believing that an attack would not be made upon us by considerable
numbers, I grew brave at seeing only Hunt and Horry coming toward the
cabin, and hailed them by shouting:

"I am giving fair warning that if either of you come a dozen paces
nearer, we shall fire!"

The two halted, and Abel Hunt cried derisively, pointing out to Horry
Sims my head which appeared above the splintered timbers of the roof:

"There is one of the rebels who has come to the end of his rope, and
before this day closes we will see him dancing on nothing."

To this I made no reply, and before the scoundrel had ceased speaking
Pierre Laurens was at my side, resting his musket upon one of the logs
in order the better to take aim.

"Are you going to shoot them down without warning?" I cried in what was
very like alarm, and he replied in a matter-of-fact tone:

"You have already given sufficient warning, and if I can drop either of
them now, we shall have one the less to fight."

He discharged his musket as he ceased speaking, and the ball, missing
the target, passed so close to Abel Hunt's head that the fellow leaped
back at least six paces, and then wheeling about, ran like a frightened
rabbit, followed by Horry, until the two were beyond musket-shot, when
they halted as if to take counsel.

After mayhap a full minute they went away in the direction of the
westerly redoubt, and we stood there speculating as to what might be
their purpose in thus seemingly abandoning the attack before it was
really made, when they reappeared, leading five soldiers, and then did I
understand that that which I feared had come to pass. Most like by
representing to these red-coats that a bit of sport could be had by
smoking out four rebels, they succeeded in persuading some of the more
dissolute ones to join them, and now was our moment of trial come.

"Now we shall have a taste of their metal, and they shall know what we
can do," Pierre said grimly, his lips tightly shut and an expression on
his face such as I have never seen him wear. "The time has come, Fitz,
for you and me to go to the floor below."

"Why should not one of us stay here to keep watch?" I asked, impatient
in my nervous fear.

"Because he who stands in this place offers too fair a target for yonde