Page:History of John M'Pherson, Dick Balf, and Gilder Roy.pdf/17



17                     and that they were very near him, inten- ding to search that house. Balf not knowing which road was safest to take, was resolved to stand once more and fight for his life, but not without having recourse to some stratagem. Then hav- ing exchanged coats with the man of the house, who was his confident, he order- ed him to go out of a back window, and hide himself in a barn behind the house, just as the men came before the door. The fellow acted his part so well, that they saw him go through the window, and likewise in at the barn door, where he took care to hide himself effectually by going under some straw, where there was a communication made between the house and the barn. In the mean while Dick was so well fixed in his fortifica- tions, that he might have shot ten men without receiving any harm. When the pursuers saw the man whom they took for Balf, enter the barn, they went directly to it, setting a guard at the door, whilst the rest examined the out- side for fear he should escape out at any window or private hole, but finding no                     such place, they all came to the door, re- solved on a thorough search. When