“The boy has the papers--look after him, I tell you!” he heard the colonel shout. Then Hadley pulled the great door shut and fastened it securely on the inside. For an instant he could breathe. But only for an instant. The dragoons were at the door then, beating upon it with the hilts of their sabres and pistol-butts, demanding entrance. Hadley had no weapon had he desired to defend the barn from attack. And that would be a foolish attempt, indeed. It would be an easy matter for the dragoons to break down the fences and surround the barn so that he could not escape, and then beat in the door and capture him--and with him the papers. He did not know how valuable those documents might be; but the man now lying senseless in the inn yard had saved them at the risk of his life; the boy felt it his duty to do as much. Colonel Knowles had now come out into the yard and taken command of the attack. Evidently he was recognized by the British soldiers, despite his civilian’s dress. He gave orders for a timber to be brought to beat in the door, and Hadley likewise heard him send two of the soldiers around the barn to watch the rear. If the boy would escape it must be within the next few seconds. He ran back to the rear of the building. Here was another wide door and he flung it open. The soldiers had not appeared; but the doorsill was a good eight feet and more from the ground. The barn had been built on a hillside. Directly below the door was a pen in which hogs were kept. Eight feet was a good drop, and besides it would be impossible to escape the soldiers on foot. A crash sounded at the front of the building. The men had brought up the timber for a battering ram. The door would certainly be burst inward before many moments. Hadley ran back to the waiting mare that already seemed to share his own excitement. He freed her from the halter and sprang into the saddle. He dared not try getting past his enemies when the door fell and with a quick jerk of the rein he pulled the mare around. She trotted swiftly to the rear door which the boy had flung open; but when she saw the distance to the ground below, her ears went back and she crouched. “You’ve got to do it, Molly!” exclaimed the boy, desperately. He reached to the stanchion at his right hand and seized a riding-whip hanging there. As the mare continued to back, Hadley brought the lash down again and again upon her quivering flank. The poor beast was not used to such treatment, and in her rage and fright she forgot the danger ahead and leaped straight out from the open stable door. Hadley stood up in the stirrups when he felt her go. He knew where she would land, and he believed the feat would be without danger; but he was ready to kick out of the stirrups and save himself if the little mare missed her footing.