Hist! man, not quite so fast gasped his host shaking him off. Come, theyve turned up sooner than I expected.
Whatwho? said Brixton, looking round.
My enemy, of coorse, an a gang of redskins to help him. They expect to catch us asleep, but theyll find out their mistake soon enough. That lad there brought me the news, and, you see, he an Betty are getting things ready.
Tom glanced through the slightly opened doorway, as he tightened his belt, and saw Betty and a boy of about fourteen years of age standing at a table, busily engaged loading several old-fashioned horse-pistols with buckshot.
Whos the boy? asked Tom.
They call him Tolly. I saved the little chap once from a grizzly bar, an hes a grateful feller, you seehas run a long way to give me warnin in time. Come, heres a shot-gun for you, charged wi slugs. Im not allowed to use ball, you must know, cause Betty thinks that balls kill an slugs only wound! I humour the little gal, you see, for shes a good darter to me. Weve both on us bin lookin forward to this day, for we knowed it must come sooner or later, an I made her a promise that, when it did come, Id only defend the hut wi slugs. But slugs aint bad shots at a close range, when aimed low.
The man gave a sly chuckle and a huge wink as he said this, and entered the large room of the hut.
Betty was very pale and silent. She did not even look up from the pistol she was loading when Tom entered. The boy Tolly, however, looked at his tall, strong figure with evident satisfaction.
Ha! he exclaimed, ramming down a charge of slugs with great energy; well be able to make a good fight without your services, Betty. Wont we, old man?
The pertly-put question was addressed to Paul Bevan, between whom and the boy there was evidently strong affection.
Yes, Tolly, replied Bevan, with a pleasant nod, three men are quite enough for the defence of this here castle.
But, I say, old man, continued the boy, shaking a powder-horn before his face, the powders all done. Wherell I git more?
A look of anxiety flitted across Bevans face.
Its in the magazine. I got a fresh keg last week, an thought it safest to put it there till requiredan havent I gone an forgot to fetch it in!
Well, that dont need to trouble you, returned the boy, just show me the magazine, an Ill go an fetch it in!
The magazines over the bridge, said Bevan. I dug it there for safety. Come, Tom, the kegs too heavy for the boy. I must fetch it myself, and you must guard the bridge while I do it.
He went out quickly as he spoke, followed by Tom and Tolly.
It was a bright moonlight night, and the forks of the little stream glittered like two lines of silver, at the bottom of their rugged bed on either side of the hut. The plank-bridge had been drawn up on the bank. With the aid of his two allies Bevan quickly thrust it over the gulf, and, without a moments hesitation, sprang across. While Tom stood at the inner end, ready with a double-barrelled gun to cover his friends retreat if necessary, he saw Bevan lift a trap-door not thirty yards distant and disappear. A few seconds, and he re-appeared with a keg on his shoulder.
All remained perfectly quiet in the dark woods around. The babbling rivulet alone broke the silence of the night. Bevan seemed to glide over the ground, he trod so softly.
Theres another, he whispered, placing the keg at Toms feet, and springing back towards the magazine. Again he disappeared, and, as before, re-issued from the hole with the second keg on his shoulder. Suddenly a phantom seemed to glide from the bushes, and fell him to the earth. He dropped without even a cry, and so swift was the act that his friends had not time to move a finger to prevent it. Tom, however, discharged both barrels of his gun at the spot where the phantom seemed to disappear, and Tolly Trevor discharged a horse pistol in the same direction. Instantly a rattling volley was fired from the woods, and balls whistled all round the defenders of the hut.
Most men in the circumstances would have sought shelter, but Tom Brixtons spirit was of that utterly reckless character that refuses to count the cost before action. Bettys father lay helpless on the ground in the power of his enemies! That was enough for Tom. He leaped across the bridge, seized the fallen man, threw him on his shoulder, and had almost regained the bridge, when three painted Indians uttered a hideous war-whoop and sprang after him.
Fortunately, having just emptied their guns, they could not prevent the fugitive from crossing the bridge, but they reached it before there was time to draw in the plank, and were about to follow, when Tolly Trevor planted himself in front of them with a double-barrelled horse-pistol in each band.
We dont want you here, youred-facedbaboons! he cried, pausing between each of the last three words to discharge a shot and emphasising the last word with one of the pistols, which he hurled with such precision that it took full effect on the bridge of the nearest red mans nose. All three fell, but rose again with a united screech and fled back to the bushes.
A few moments more and the bridge was drawn back, and Paul Bevan was borne into the hut, amid a scattering fire from the assailants, which, however, did no damage.
To the surprise and consternation of Tolly, who entered first, Betty was found sitting on a chair with blood trickling from her left arm. A ball entering through the window had grazed her, and she sank down, partly from the shock, coupled with alarm. She recovered, however, on seeing her father carried in, sprang up, and ran to him.
Only stunned, Betty, said Tom; will be all right soon, but we must rouse him, for the scoundrels will be upon us in a minute. Whatwhats thiswounded?
Only a scratch. Dont mind me. Father! dear fatherrouse up! They will be hereoh! rouse up, dear father!
But Betty shook him in vain.
Out o the way, I know how to stir him up, said Tolly, coming forward with a pail of water and sending the contents violently into his friends facethus drenching him from head to foot.
The result was that Paul Bevan sneezed, and, sitting up, looked astonished.
Ha! I thought that ud fetch you, said the boy, with a grin. Come, youd better look alive if you dont want to lose yer scalp.
Ho! ho! exclaimed Bevan, rising with a sudden look of intelligence and staggering to the door, here, give me the old sword, Betty, and the blunderbuss. Now then.
He went out at the door, and Tom Brixton was following, when the girl stopped him.
Oh! Mr Brixton, she said, do not kill any one, if you can help it.
I wont if I can help it. But listen, Betty, said the youth, hurriedly seizing the girls hand. I have tried hard to speak with you alone to-day, to tell you that I am guilty, and to say good-bye for ever.
Guilty! what do you mean? she exclaimed in bewildered surprise.
No time to explain. I may be shot, you know, or taken prisoner, though the latters not likely. In any case remember that I confess myself guilty! God bless you, dear, dear girl.
Without waiting for a reply, he ran to a hollow on the top of the mound where his friend and Tolly were already ensconced, and whence they could see every part of the clearing around the little fortress.