Page:Long pack, or, A shot with Copenhagen (2).pdf/14

 and nothing ado but to shoot, how I would pepper the dog!" said he with great vehemence; to the no small astonishment of his two associates, who thought him gone mad "What can the fool mean," said old Richard, "What can he ail at the dogs?" "Oh, it is the robbers that I mean," said Edward. "What robbers, you young fool?" said Richard. “Why, do not you think that the pedlar will come back at the dead of the night to the assistance of his friend, and bring plenty of help with him too," said Edward. "There is not a doubt of it," said old Richard. "There is not a doubt of it," said Alice, and both stood up stiff with fear and astonishment. "Oh ! merciful Heaven! what is to become of us," said Alice again, "What are we to do? "Let us trust in the Lord," said old Richard. "I intend, in the first place, to trust in old Copenhagen," said Edward, putting down the frizzel, and making it spring up again with a loud snap five or six times. "But, good Lord! what are we thinking about? I'll run and gather in all the guns in the country." The impulse of the moment was Edward's monitor. Off he ran like fire, and warned a few of the Colonel's retainers, who he knew kept guns about them; these again warned others, and at eight o'clock they had twenty-five men in the house, and sixteen loaded pieces, including Copenhagen, and the four pistols found on the deceased. These were distributed amongst the front windows in the upper stories, and the rest armed with pitchforks, old swords, and cudgels, kept watch below. Edward had taken care to place himself, with a comrade,