Page:Long pack, or, A shot with Copenhagen (2).pdf/15

 at a window immediately facing the approach to the house, and now, backed as he was by such a strong party, grew quite impatient for another chance with his redoubted Copenhagen. All, however, remained quite until an hour past midnight, when it entered into his teeming brain to blow the thief's silver wind-call; so, without warning any of the rest, he sent his head out at the window, and blew until all the hills and woods around yelled their echoes. This alarmed the guards, as not knowing the meaning of it: but how were they astonished at hearing it answered by another at no great distaneedistance [sic]. The state of anxiety into which this sudden and unforeseen circumstance threw our armed peasants, is more easily conceived than described. The fate of their master's great wealth, and even their own fates, was soon to be decided, and none but he who surveys and over-rules futurity could tell what was to be the issue. Every breast heaved quicker, every breath was cut short, every gun was cocked and pointed toward the court-gate, every orb of vision was strained to discover the approaching foe, by the dim light of the starry canopy, and every ear expanded to catehcatch [sic] the distant sounds as they floated on the slow frost breeze.

The suspence was not of long eontinuancecontinuance [sic]. In less than five minutes the trampling of horses was heard, which increased as they approached to the noise of thunder, and in due course, a body of men on horseback, according to the account given by the Colonel's people, exceeding their own number, came up at a brisk trot, and began