, and was doing double duty in making both Leander and
himself ridiculous. Sometimes he paused in excess of interest when
the music elicited an amusement more to his mind than the long-drawn,
pathetic cadences which the violinist so much affected. For in sudden
changes of mood and in effective contrast the tones came showering forth
in keen, quick staccato, every one as round and distinct as a globule,
but as unindividualized in the swift exuberance of the whole as a drop
in a summer's rain; the bow was but a glancing line of light in its
rapidity, and the bounding movement of the theme set many a foot astir
marking time. At last one young fellow, an artist too in his way, laid
aside his pipe and came out to dance. A queer _pas seul_ it might have
been esteemed, but he was light and agile and not ungraceful, and he
danced with an air of elation--albeit with a grave face--which added to
the enjoyment of the spectator, for it seemed so slight an effort. He
was long-winded, and was still bounding about in the double-shuffle and
the pigeon-wing, his shadow on the wall nimbly following every motion,
when the violin's cadence quavered off in a discordant wail, and
Leander, the bow pointed at the waterfall, exclaimed: "Look out!
Somebody's thar! Out thar on the rocks!"

[Illustration: Look out! Somebody's thar! 313]

It was upon the instant, with the evident intention of a surprise, that
a dozen armed men rushed precipitately into the place. Nehemiah, his
head awhirl, hardly distinguished the events as they were confusedly
enacted before him. There were loud, excited calls, unintelligible,
mouthing back in the turbulent echoes of the place, the repeated word
"Surrender!" alone conveying meaning to his mind. The sharp, succinct
note of a pistol-shot was a short answer. Some quick hand closed the
door of the furnace and threw the place into protective gloom. He was
vaguely aware that a prolonged struggle that took place amongst a
group of men near him was the effort of the intruders to reopen it. All
unavailing. He presently saw figures drawing back to the doorway out of
the _melee_, for moonshiner and raider were alike indistinguishable,
and he became aware that both parties were equally desirous to gain the
outer air. Once more pistol-shots--outside this time--then a tumult of
frenzied voices. Struck by a pistol-ball, Tarbetts had fallen from the
ledge under the weight of the cataract and into the deep abysses below.
The raid