uld attract the villains, and
determined to defend herself against all intruders. General Howe was
going on shipboard; no longer would she recognize his authority or
that of any subordinate officer. Years before, her father had been
member of a battalion of horsemen. The pistols he carried then were in
a closet. Pompey brought them, fixed the flints, oiled the locks, and
found a horn of powder, but no bullets.

"Perhaps it is just as well, Pompey, for if I were to have a bullet, I
might kill somebody, and I would not like to do that," she said.

"If ye are goin' to shoot, better shoot to kill, Miss Ruth," said
Pompey.

"I never have fired a pistol, Pompey; how do you do it?"

"I'll show ye, missus," said the negro, putting some powder in the pan
and cocking the pistol.

"Now, Miss Ruth, you jes' pull de trigger and it will flash."

They were in the kitchen. Ruth pointed the weapon toward the fireplace
and pulled the trigger. There was a flash and a bang.

"O Lord! Missus!" shouted Phillis, dropping on the floor.

"'Pears, Miss Ruth, like she's been loaded all dese years," said
Pompey, his eyeballs rolling in astonishment.

"It appears I have found out how to fire," said Ruth, laughing. "But
how do you load it?" she asked.

Pompey poured a charge of powder into his hand, emptied it into the
barrel, and rammed it down with a wad of paper.

"We haven't any bullets, but we can use gravel-stones or dried peas or
a tallow candle. I've seen a candle fired right through a board, Miss
Ruth," he said.

"We'll load them with powder now; perhaps we shan't need anything
else," Ruth replied.

In the gathering darkness Phillis saw a redcoat reconnoitring the
grounds. He rapped upon the door leading to the kitchen. She did not
unloose the chain, but opened it sufficiently wide to talk with the
fellow.

"What d'ye want?" she asked.

"I want to come in."

"What d'ye want to come in for?"

"To see if ye have anything belonging to the king. People have seized
the king's property and taken it into their houses."

"We haven't anything belonging to King George."

"Open the door or I'll break it down."

"Go away. Dere can't no lobster come into dis yeer kitchen," said
Phillis, attempting to close the door. But she saw the muzzle of a gun
thrust into the opening. Her hands grasped it. One vigorous pull and
it was hers, and the villain was fleeing.

"I'se got it! I'se got de villin's gun. Wid de pistils, de musket, an