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defied the law before； and what will happen now if you refuse
compliance。〃
〃Yah！〃 the old man shouted。 〃Do you suppose we are going to
give in to five mon？ Not if we know it。 Now； I warn you； move
yourself off while I let you； else you will get a bullet in you before
I count three。〃
〃Very well； then。 You must take the consequences；〃 the sheriff
replied； and at once called the party to fall back。
〃We must dismount；〃 ho said in answer to Vincent's look of
surprise； 〃they would riddle us here on horseback in the open。
Besides we must dismount to break in the door。〃
They rode back a quarter of a mile； and then dismounted。 The
sheriff took two heavy axes that hung from his saddle； and handed
them to two of the men。
〃I reckoned we should have trouble；〃 ho said。 〃However； I hope
we sha'n't have to use these。 My idea is to crawl up through the
corn…field until we are within shooting distance； and then to open
fire at the loopholes。 They have never taken the trouble to grub up
the stumps； and each man must look out for shelter。 I want to
make it so hot for them that they will try to bolt to the swamp； and
in that case they will ho covered by the men there。 I told them not
to fire until they got quite close； so they ought to dispose of three
of them； and as they have got pistols they will be able to master the
others； besides； directly we hear firing behind； we shall jump up
and make a rush round。 Do you； sir； and James Wilkins here； stop
in front。 Two of them might make a rush out behind； and the
others； when they have drawn us off； bolt in front。〃
Several shots were fired at the party as they made their way across
to the end of the field； where the tall stalks of maize were still
standing； though the corn had been gathered weeks before。 As
soon as they reached the shelter they separated； each crawling
through the maize until they arrived within fifty yards of the house。
There were； as the sheriff had said； many stumps still standing； and
each ensconced himself behind one of those； and began to reply to
the fire that the defenders had kept up whenever they saw a
movement among the corn stalks。
At such a distance the shutters were but of slight advantage to the
defenders of the house； for the assailants were all good shots； and
the loopholes afforded excellent targets at such a distance。 After
a few shots had been fired from the house the fire of the defenders
ceased； the men within not daring to protrude the rifles through the
loopholes； as every such appearance was instantly followed by a
couple of shots from the corn patch。
〃Give me one of those axes；〃 the sheriff said。 〃Now； Withers； do
you make a rush with me to the door。 Get your rifle loaded before
you start； and have your revolver handy in your belt。 Now； Captain
Wingfield； do you and the other two keep a sharp lookout at the
loopholes； and see that they don't get a shot at us as we run。 Now；
Withers；〃 and the sheriff ran forward。 Two rifles were protruded
through the loopholes。 Vincent and his companions fired at once。
One of the rifles gave a sharp jerk and disappeared； the other was
fired； and Withers dropped his axe； but still ran forward。 Tho
sheriff began an onslaught at the door； his companion's right arm
being useless。 A minute later the sharp crack of rifles was heard in
the rear； and the sheriff and two men rushed in that direction；
while Vincent and the other lay watching the door。 Scarcely had
the sheriff's party disappeared round the house than the door was
thrown open； and Pearson ran out at full speed。 Vincent leaped to
his feet。
〃Surrender；〃 he said； 〃or you are a dead man。〃
Jonas paused for a moment with a loud imprecation； and then
leveling a revolver； fired。 Vincent felt a moment's pain in the
cheek； but before he could level his rifle his companion fired； and
Pearson fell forward dead。 A minute later the sheriff and his party
ran round。
〃Have you got him？〃 ho asked。
〃He will give no more trouble； sheriff；〃 the young man who fired
said。 〃I fancy I had him plum between the eyes。 How about the
others？〃
〃Dick Matheson is killed； he got two bullets in his body。 The other
man is badly wounded。 There are no signs of old Porter。〃
They now advanced to the door； which stood open。 As the sheriff
entered there was a sharp report； and he fell back shot through the
heart。 The rest made a rush forward。 Another shot was fired； but
this missed them； and before it could be repeated they had wrested
the pistol from the hand of Matheson's wife。 She was firmly
secured； and they then entered the kitchen； where； crouched upon
the floor； lay some seven or eight negro men and women in an
agony of terror。 Vincent's question； 〃Dinah； where are you？〃 was
answered by a scream of delight； and Dinah； who had been
covering her child with her body； leaped to her feet。
〃It's all right； Dinah；〃 Vincent said； 〃but stay here； we haven't
finished this business yet。〃
〃I fancy the old man's upstairs；〃 one of the men said。 〃It was his
rifle； I reckon； that disappeared when we fired。〃
It was as he expected。 Porter was found dead behind the loophole；
a bullet having passed through his brain。 The deputy…sheriff； who
was with the party； now took the command。 A cart and horse were
found in an out…building； in these the wounded man； who was one
of those who had taken part in the abduction of Dinah； was placed；
together with the female prisoner and the dead body of the sheriff。
The negroes were told to follow； and the horses having been
fetched the party mounted and rode off to the next village； five
miles on their way back。 Here they halted for the night； and the
next day went on to Marion Courthouse； Vincent hiring a cart for
the conveyance of Dinah and the other women。 It was settled that
Vincent's attendance at the trial of the two prisoners would not be
necessary； as the man would be tried for armed resistance to the
law； and the woman for murdering the sheriff。 The facts could be
proved by other witnesses； and as there could be no doubt about
obtaining convictions； it would be unnecessary to try the charge
against the man for kidnaping。 Next day； accordingly； Vincent
started with Dinah and Dan for Richmond。 Two months afterward
he saw in the paper that Jane Matheson had been sentenced to
imprisonment for life； the man to fourteen years。
CHAPTER XVII。 CHANCELLORSVILLE。
THE NEWS of the fight between the sheriff's posse and the band
at Lynch's Creek was telegraphed to the Richmond papers by their
local agent upon the day after it occurred。 The report said that
Captain Wingfield； a young officer who had frequently
distinguished himself； had followed the traces of a gang； one of
whom was a notorious criminal who had evaded the pursuit of the
law and escaped from that section fifteen years ago； and had；
under an assumed name； been acting as overseer at Mrs。