"No," I answered; "I intend to stand here, covered by this corner of the window-frame; but you had better whisper by a hint of what man you intend to fire at, that we may not both mark the same." "I'll fire at the biggest," said the boy; "I am more sure to hit him." "And I will take the little one," I answered. "We shall give a good account of both, depend upon it." There was no real levity in what I said; for I could not but feel, that whatever might be the lad's inherent courage, yet with his want of experience in such scenes of strife and bloodshed, there must be some awe, if not timidity. In the meantime Doctor Blunt passed along from room to room, seeing that all his little garrison were well placed, and doing his duty as commander-in-chief very creditably. At length he returned to us, before he took his own post at one of the windows, slapping his son on the shoulder, and saying,-- "Well, Simon, my lad, here you are, under the command of a gallant officer, who, I see, has taken care of you. Do your duty boldly, my son, and we will give these fellows a peppering." "I will try, father," replied the boy, modestly, and Doctor Blunt continued looking out. "Ay, they have come into the open ground. They have determined upon it, but I think we can match them." "You had better, I think, reserve your fire, Doctor Blunt," I said. "If they should perceive us at the windows, as probably they will, let them fire at us first. If they make a rush to break into the lower story, they are lost with the small number they have; for we can pick them off at our ease, if we do it coolly, while they cannot touch us up here." "Do you give the word, Sir Richard, will you?" said Doctor Blunt. "I will tell the people not to fire till you speak." "Very well," I answered; "but let each mark his man as he comes up, and keep him constantly covered, that the first fire may be a telling one. Those who have double-barrelled guns had better reserve the second barrel, that they may keep the enemy employed while they are are re-loading." "I understand, I understand," said my host. "I will go and tell them all; but you cannot expect very well-disciplined soldiers here, Sir Richard." "We must do our best, my good sir," I answered; "and I have no doubt of the result. One of us is equal to five or six of them, when we are not taken asleep in our beds." Doctor Blunt moved away to give the orders I had suggested, and I again put my head out of the window. The body of insurgents was now not a hundred and fifty yards from the house; but I don't think they saw me, for that side of the building was completely in shadow. They advanced very cautiously, however, taking advantage of the trees of the peach-orchard, to cover their approach; and there was evidently some hesitation at its verge, before they came out in the clear moonlight. They might, indeed, be laying their plan of attack.