l and the desperate proposal of Clive and David
came to his ears. He saw that they were suffering tortures from
the smoke, that they could not endure it much longer, and that they
would have to make a descent from the window. To prevent this, and
the danger that might result from it, Frank resolved upon immediate
action.

So he grasped his rusty fowling-piece with a deadly purpose, and
rushed to the narrow doorway of the old house. Bob followed at once
with his pitchfork, resolved to go wherever Frank led the way, and
to stand by him at all hazards. The guide stood looking on. Uncle
Moses also stood still, and made a feeble attempt to order the two
boys back; but his words were neither heard nor heeded. At this
David and Clive stopped in their desperate design, and looked down
at Frank and Bob.

Frank stood by the doorway.

He put his head inside, and looked all around, cautiously, yet
resolutely. The interior, however, was always a dark place; and
now the fumes of blue smoke made it yet darker. But though his eyes
saw nothing of the fierce beast, his ears could detect the rustle
and the crackle which were produced by the motion of something
among the fagots. This noise showed him plainly where it must be.

Thereupon he hesitated no longer.

He raised his rusty fowling-piece to his shoulder!

He took deadly aim!

He fired!

Bang!!!

The flash illumined the dark interior, and the smoke from the
gun united with the smoke that was already there. Bat simultaneous
with the bang and the flash, Frank felt himself hurled back-ward,
and to the ground, knocked down by the recoil of the gun, flat
on his back.

Up rushed Bob, full of the deepest anxiety.

But just as he reached the prostrate form of Frank, there was a
hurried clatter from within, and then--down he also went--head
first--over and over--struck down by some rushing figure that had
emerged from the pile of fagots, burst through the doorway, and
was now careering wildly over the fields.

Uncle Moses saw that figure, and then hurried up to his two
prostrate boys.

David and Clive from their stations at the window saw it, and then
instantly hurried down the ladder, and out of the house, where they
stood panting and staring wildly at vacancy.

The guide saw it, and as he saw it there came over his face an
expression of an utterly indescribable kind. He clasped his hands
together, and then uttered a series of exclamations for which the
English language