"I give you fair warning," replied Dick, sternly; "if you attempt to injure myself and brother, you will get badly hurt. Go about you business and leave us alone." "Oh, we'll go about our business and leave you alone, of course we will-but it will be after we have tied you up to one of the trees here in your own yard! Open the door, or we'll break it down." "You are wasting breath," in a voice of contempt. "We would be very foolish if we opened the door, would we not?" "It doesn't matter; we'll break the door down in a jiffy, anyway." "If you do, you'll be very sorry. Remember, I gave you fair warning." "Bah! Boys' threats don't scare us worth a cent. We'll have the door down and you two rebel brats out of there very quickly." "And we'll have some of you Tory hounds lying dead on the grass of our own yard very soon, too. Mind what I tell you!" A sneering laugh was the only reply. They had no idea the boys would really shoot at them. There was the sound of receding footsteps, followed by the murmur of voices, and then a few minutes later there sounded the trampling of many feet, and crash! something struck the door, causing it to creak and groan under the impact. "They've found a log, and will better the door down," said Dick. "Be ready, boys and as soon as the door falls, fire through the opening. They have brought this upon themselves, and if we injure a few of them, it will be their own fault." "We're ready, Dick," said Tom. "Yes, we'll fire when you give the word," from Ben. "All right, boys. Level your weapons, and be ready, and when I say `Fire', pull trigger." "Yes, yes, we will!" came the reply. The next moment there sounded the trampling of feet once more, and crash! the end of the log struck the door. This time the impact was so great the door could not withstand it, and down it came with a thud. At least a dozen forms could be seen through the opening, outlined against the horizon. "Fire!" cried Dick, his voice ringing out loudly and clearly. The youths obeyed the command, pulling trigger instantly, and the crash that followed was deafening, and seemed almost sufficient in volume to raise the roof. It was an effective volley, too, for two or three of the Tories were hit by bullets, as was evidenced by the yells and screams of pain and rage that they gave utterance to. They fell back, in dismay, the log dropping to the ground with a thud. Dick, instinctively realizing that the Tories were stricken with a feeling of dismay, not to say terror, because of their reception, cried, "Charge them, boys! At them! Give it to the scoundrels!" With a yell that must have added to the dismay of the enemy, the youths dashed out through the doorway and attacked the Tories, laying about them with the butts of their rifles and muskets, and discharging their pistols.