"Some one is in the barn," said the voice of the old man. "See here, the lock is broken off." In a moment, in spite of Tom's efforts, the door was pushed open, and the bull dog, with loud, deep yelps, sprang in. Tom kept well behind the door, and pulled it close against him. The old woman held up a lantern, and the sergeant and our friend Diggs were both discovered by the man and the dog at the same time. The dog announced his discovery by angry growls, and his master, a man about fifty years of age, by closely examining an old, ugly musket in his hand. "Hulloa, you thieves; I've cotched you now?" he said, advancing. "Good evening, sir," said Swords. "What are you doing up there, you scamps?" "Roosting," was the cool response. "Shoot them!" said the old woman, holding up the lantern. "Oh, no! don't, grandpa," said the sergeant. "Oh, Lordy! I'll be killed!" wailed Diggs, trying to screen himself behind a turkey. Click went the old musket. "Quit, quit," peeped the turkeys. "I second the motion," said Sergeant Swords. "Shoot them, old man; shoot 'em dead," repeated the woman, whose eyes were blazing with fury at sight of the blue-coats. "I intend to," he said, bringing his musket to his shoulder, which movement made Diggs fairly howl with fear. "Hold on, grandpa; give a fellow a chance to say his prayers afore you pop him over," said Sergeant Swords. "If you don't turn away that old popgun you may hurt some of these turkeys. Besides, I've got a battalion of men here all around you, and I can raise the devil." At this moment the dog, which had been prowling about, discovered Tom Scott behind the door, and renewed his attack upon him. Tom fired two shots from his revolver, one of which silenced the dog forever. The two men in the hay-mow now came rolling down, much like two huge balls, each snatching a turkey as he came. Corporal Grimm sprang from the meal-chest, white as a snowball. "Look there, old man; thar's a ghost!" cried the woman, pointing at Corporal Grimm. The old man leveled his musket and fired, but the shot flew wide of its mark, and Corporal Grimm advanced. The old man and old woman took to their heels, and the next moment was heard the sound of many voices and the tramp of many feet. "Secesh, by hokey!" cried Sergeant Swords, leaping from his perch with a gobbler's neck in each hand. "Git up and git!" and all made a rapid exit, leaving poor Diggs still perched on the rafters, bewildered and confused. In their haste they left the dark lantern in the barn with the slides open, by the side of the old woman's lantern, which she had dropped in her haste. "Oh, Lordy, I shall be killed; I know I shall," wailed poor Diggs, frozen to his perch by his terror.