have a rifle.
Skelly and his men will be here in ten minutes."

Old Judge Kendrick smiled.

"You can't complain, colonel," he said, "that your son has not inherited
your temperament."

A rifle, loaded and ready, was handed to Harry, and, at the same time he
drank a cup of hot coffee, brought by a trembling black boy. Allison
meanwhile had opened the door a little and was listening.

"I don't hear 'em yet," he said.

"They'll approach cautiously," said Colonel Kenton. "I think they're
likely to leave their horses at the edge of the wood and enter the lawn
on foot. We'll put out the light and go outside."

"Good tactics," said Culver, as he promptly blew out the single light.
Then all went upon the great front portico, where they stood for a few
moments waiting. They could neither see nor hear anything hostile.
Drifting clouds still hid the moon and stars, and a swish of light,
cold rain came now and then.

There were piazzas on both sides of the house, and a porch in the rear.
Colonel Kenton disposed his men deftly in order to meet the foe at any
point. The stone pillars would afford protection for the riflemen.
He, his son and old Judge Kendrick, held the portico in front.

Harry crouched behind a pillar, his fingers on the trigger of a rifle,
and his holster containing the big double-barreled pistols lying at his
feet. Impressionable, and with a horror of injustice, his heart was
filled with rage. It was merely a band of outlaws who were coming to
plunder and destroy his beautiful home and to kill any who resisted.
He had respected those who held Sumter so long, but these fought only
for their own hand.

A slight sound came from the road, a little distance to the south.
He waited until it was repeated and then he was sure.

"They're out there," he whispered to his father at the next pillar.

"I heard them," replied the colonel. "They'll come upon the lawn,
hiding behind the pines, and hoping to surprise the house. I fancy the
surprise will be theirs, not ours. When you shoot, Harry, shoot to kill,
or they will surely kill us. Keep as much as you can behind the pillar,
and don't get excited."

Colonel Kenton was quite calm. The old soldier had returned to his
work. Wary and prepared, he was not loath to meet the enemy. Harry,
keeping his father's orders well in mind, crouched a little lower and
waited. Presently he heard a slight rustling, and he knew that Skelly's
men were among the dwarf