t a piece of scantling, took it to the door, and, by
battering with it a short time, opened it. As soon as the door flew
open, a kidnapper shot at us, and the ball lodged in my ankle, bringing
me to the ground. But I soon rose, and my comrade then firing on them,
they took to their heels. As they ran away, I heard one say, "We have
killed one of them."

My companion and I then rushed into the house. We unbound the man, took
him out, and started for home; but had hardly crossed the door-sill
before people from the neighboring houses began to fire on us. At this
juncture, our other five came up, and we all returned the compliment.
Firing on both sides was kept up for ten or fifteen minutes, when the
whites called for quarter, and offered to withdraw, if we would stop
firing. On this assurance we started off with the man, and reached home
safely.

The next day my ankle was very painful. With a knife I extracted the
ball, but kept the wound secret; as long before we had learned that for
our own security it was best not to let such things be generally known.

About ten o'clock of a Sabbath night, awhile after the event last
narrated, we were aroused by the cry of "Kidnappers! kidnappers!" and
immediately some one halloed under my window,--

"William! William!"

I put my head out and demanded his errand. He said,--

"Come here!"

I answered,--

"You must be a fool to think I am going to you at this time of the
night, without knowing who you are and what you want."

He would not satisfy me, so I took my gun, and went out to him. I was
then informed that kidnappers had been at Allen Williams's; that they
had taken Henry Williams, and gone towards Maryland. I called one of our
party, who dressed and proceeded to arouse our men. Two of us then
started for the Nine Points, in Lancaster County, and left instructions
for the other men to meet us in the valley. They did so, and we hurried
on to our destination. We had not gone far before we heard some one
calling, "Kidnappers! kidnappers!" Going back some distance, we found
the cry came from a man who had fallen into a lime quarry. He was in a
bad situation, and unable to get out without assistance, and, hearing us
pass, concluded we were kidnappers and raised the cry. We were delayed
for a time in helping him out, and it provoked me very much, as it was
important we should be in haste.

We started again for the Nine Points, but, arriving there, learned to
our dismay, th