But Munson throttled and shook him more furiously than before, singing out: "Help! murder! arson! Here's this man reskying of my prisoner!" And he shook him until his teeth rattled in his head. "Oh, my good lord! I shall be strangled with the best of intention," sputtered the terrified and half-suffocated victim, as for an another instant he freed his throat from his assailant's clasp, and breathed again. "Help! murder! fire!" yelled Munson, renewing the attack. "Bob! Bob! It's me, I tell you!--Purley! Wake up and look at me! You're asleep yet! And oh, my lord! the man will murder me by mistake before I can make him know," panted the poor wretch, desperately striving to keep off the strangling hands of his assailant, and growing weak in the struggle. And meanwhile the household, aroused by the outcry, had hurried on their clothes, and now came pouring into the passage--the women down the garret stairs, and the men up the lower back stairs. "Now I've got you!" exclaimed Munson, triumphantly, as he knocked the feet from under Purley, and threw him down upon the floor. Then stooping to gaze at the fallen foe, he condescended at length to recognize him. "Oh! is it you, Mr. Purley? I really thought it was Mr. Berner, reskying of his wife!" said Munson, with provoking coolness. "Then I wish you would make surer another time, you stupid donkey! You've all but killed me!" panted the victim, wiping the perspiration from his face. "What is the matter?" "What's all this?" "Is anybody hurt?" Such were the hasty questions put by old Farmer Nye and his family, as they gathered around the scene of action. "Yes! I'm choked and shaken nearly to death!" gasped old Purley, in a fury. "It was done for the best," said Munson, soothingly. "Oh, for the best, indeed! Set fire to you, would you murder an innocent man out of kindness?" fiercely demanded Parley. "You see, he fell upon me, and woke me up. It was so dark here, with the window shutters closed, that I could not see well, so I mistook him for Mr. Berners broke loose and trying to carry off his wife," explained Robert Munson. "Oh! well, I reckon you're not hurt much; only startled and shaken a bit! Come and take a glass of morning bitters. That will set you up again, and give you an appetite for your breakfast besides," said the farmer, kindly. "Thank you. I'll take the bitters, if you will send them up here! I mustn't leave this floor until I see my charge out. And it's time for them to get up too!" replied Purley, rising and knocking loudly at the chamber door. Of course there was no response. He knocked again and again, more loudly than before, and he called to them in a high tone. But still there was no answer. "Good Lord, how sound they sleep! I will go around to the other door and rap there. It is near the head of their bed, and they will be sure to hear me."