“I turned to answer my girl, to tell her not to show herself at the other window—to be careful; but she was gone—she was already before the other window, and training the gun so that its muzzle should be in a line with the crowd below. I did the same at my window. We fired at the same moment, and our fire was answered by a roar of rage and a discharge of musketry. The shots rattled against the front of the house, and shivered the windows, shutters and sashes. I trembled for my girl. “‘Elfie, for Heaven’s sake, leave the window! fall flat upon the floor,’ I said. “‘Not if I know it, pap,’ she answered; ‘not while I have a shot left to send at the enemy.’ And, so saying, she blazed away with her other barrel. “I did the same with my other; and again we were answered by a volley of musketry; and again the shot rattled against the walls, and split the timber of the window frames. I saw my brave girl fall, and, in an agony of terror, I threw down my gun, and ran and raised her up. “‘I’m all right, pap,’ she said. ‘It was only my gun kicked and knocked me down; and, now, if you don’t load up and let ’em have it again, you are no pap of mine! I’ll disinherit you!’ “But, notwithstanding her words, I bore her into a back room, where she would be safe from the shots; and, even as I carried her away, I saw the smoke and flames rising from the outside of the house, and heard the rioters roar forth with many fierce curses: “‘Come out of that, or be burned alive in it.’ “I laid my girl on the bed, in the back room, and hastened to my own room, where I secured my little money and valuable papers. While I was hiding them about my person, old Ned came to the door and whispered: “‘Massa, massa, for de Lord’s sake, come away! Take Miss Elfie by main force, if she won’t give in any other way, and come! I’m got the wagon and horses at the back door.’ “‘Ned,’ said I, ‘come with me to Miss Elfie’s room, and tell her the state of affairs.’ “And we went to my girl’s room, and I got her clothes, and ordered her to dress herself quickly, and threatened if she did not do so, to take her just as she was. “‘Oh, if I am to contend with foes outside and cowards inside, of course I shall have to evacuate! And I will do it decently!’ said my girl. And she got ready very quickly, and went down the back stairs to the back door, where Ned had the wagon ready. And I put my girl into it and got in beside her; and Ned mounted the driver’s seat, and we set off by the back road and made our escape. And here we are! But if it had not been for the thought of my dear, brave girl, I should have stayed there and defied the mob to the utmost!”