e of the muskets, and his first
impulse was to discharge it full at the intruders; but before he could
act, the thought came that there were two shots at his disposal, and he
ought to so plan as to make both of them count. He believed it was
necessary to work with the utmost speed, lest these three Tories should
have hung the corporal before he was ready to interfere, and yet a
certain number of seconds were absolutely necessary before he could
carry out that plan which had suddenly come into his mind.

With both muskets under his arm he crept cautiously a few paces onward
until screened by the foliage, and then raising one of the weapons, took
deliberate aim at the nearest enemy.

There was no thought in his mind that he was thus compassing the death
of a human being. He only knew his comrade's life was in danger, and
that a well-directed shot might save him.

The three men had by this time gotten a rope around Corporal 'Lige's
neck, and, finding that it was difficult to raise the old man to his
feet, were throwing the halter over the limb of the nearest tree as a
method of saving labor.

One of the Tories, he who appeared to be the elder, and who was
directing the movements of the others, stood a few paces from his
comrades, and, taking deliberate aim at him, Isaac shouted:

"Throw down your weapons, and surrender, or you are dead men!"

The words had but just been spoken when he discharged the musket, and a
scream of pain from the living target told that the bullet had sped true
to its mark.

The two men who were as yet unarmed dropped the rope they were holding
and sprang toward their weapons, which had been left on the ground near
by; but before they could reach them, Isaac had emptied a second musket,
and another cry of pain rang out.

"Throw down your weapons and surrender, or you are dead men!" he shouted
again, and at this the third Tory, who must have believed there was more
than one man in the thicket, took to his heels in alarm, while Corporal
'Lige, who had received no worse injury than a severe choking, seized
upon the three muskets which were lying close beside him.

Even now, when two of the intruders were wounded and the third running
for dear life, Isaac was doubtful as to whether he should show himself.

He remained in concealment, while the corporal gazed around him in
surprise for a dozen seconds or more, and gave no token of his
whereabouts until the old man shouted:

"Hello, friends!