We hurried back, Boxer still keeping up his barking, preventing our footsteps being heard. "But I am afraid poor Boxer will be shot," said Dan. "No fear of that; the men, if they wish to surprise us, won't venture to fire," I observed, "and if we call him it will show them that they have been discovered; better let him take his chance, he understands what he is about. While he keeps up his barking, the sound of the door opening will not be heard." We accordingly crept back towards the house, but on reaching it found that Peter had closed the door, and we had to make our way round to the window of the room in which he slept. We tapped on the shutter, but Peter did not answer. "He has fallen asleep again, the lazy fellow!" said Dan in a low voice. We knocked louder and louder. "Who dare?" at length asked a voice from within. "Open the window and I will tell you," I said in a whisper, but sufficiently loud for Peter to hear me, I hoped. "Who dare?" he again asked. "Open the window, quick, quick," I repeated, putting my mouth to the chink where the shutters joined. "What! Massa Mike!" exclaimed Peter, "is dat you?" "Yes, yes, open at once," I answered, almost losing patience and speaking louder than I had hitherto done. At that moment Boxer had ceased barking. Scarcely had the words left my mouth than I feared that we might have been heard by the Kentuckians. Boxer again burst out into a furious bark, very much nearer to us, showing that he was retreating before the foe. By this time Peter had opened the shutter, and, assisted by the black, Dan and I scrambled in at the window. As we did so we heard footsteps, when Boxer, who was a prudent dog, as well as a brave one, feeling that he had done his duty in warning us and should be safer inside the citadel than outside, with one bound followed us into the room. CHAPTER FIVE. THE ATTACK ON UPHILL--MY FATHER'S WARNING--THE BEGINNING OF THE FIGHT-- OUR VICTORY--A COWARDLY REVENGE--MR. TIDEY ACTS AS SCOUT--MR. MCDERMONT RENEWS HIS PROPOSAL TO PURCHASE OUR FARM--WE RESOLVE TO GO WEST--UNCLE DENIS DECIDES TO JOIN US--AN EXPEDITION TO DIO'S RELIEF--WE DISCOVER THE CAVE--WE FIND DIO--HIS DELIGHT AT THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING--TOO WEAK FOR THE JOURNEY--OUR ARRIVAL HOME--PREPARATIONS FOR DEPARTURE--UNCLE DENIS WITH US AGAIN--THE MARCH COMMENCED--CROSS THE ILLINOIS RIVER--ON THE PRAIRIES OF MISSOURI--"WESTWARD HO!"--POSSIBILITIES OF DANGER--THE PROPER PLACE TO CAMP--THE WAY TO BIVOUAC--THE REAR-GUARD. No sooner was Boxer safe inside the room, than Peter began hurriedly to close the shutter, when we heard the report of a gun, and a bullet with a loud thud struck it. Fortunately the wood was thick, or one of us might have been shot. Peter, quick as lightning, closed the shutter and put up the bar. "Dem rascally Kentuckians do dat!" he exclaimed; "hand me your rifle, massa, and me pay dem back. Stan' by to open de shutter for me to fire."