Part 37 (1/2)
”Well, dear, I hope they will not come tonight: tomorrow I will have them all in custody; but if they do come, we must do our best to beat them off. It is fortunate that Edward left the guns and pistols which he found in Clara's cottage, as we shall have no want of firearms; and we can barricade the doors and windows, so that they can not get in in a hurry; but I must have Pablo to help me, for there is no time to be lost.”
”But can not I help you, Humphrey?” said Alice. ”Surely I can do something?”
”We will see, Alice; but I think I can do without you. We have still plenty of daylight. I will take the box into your room.”
Humphrey, who had only taken the box out of the cart and carried it within the threshold of the door, now took it into his sisters' bedroom, and then went out and called Pablo, who came running to him.
”Pablo,” said Humphrey, ”we must bring to the cottage some of the large pieces we sawed out for rafters; for I should not be surprised if the cottage were attacked this night.” He then told Pablo what had taken place. ”You see, Pablo, I dare not send to the intendant to-night, in case the robbers should come here.”
”No, not send to-night,” said Pablo; ”stay here and fight them; first make door fast, then cut hole to fire through.”
”Yes, that was my idea. You don't mind fighting them, Pablo?”
”No; fight hard for Missy Alice and Missy Edith,” said Pablo; ”fight for you too, Ma.s.sa Humphrey, and fight for myself,” added Pablo, laughing.
They then went for the pieces of squared timber, brought them from the saw-pit to the cottage, and very soon fitted them to the doors and windows, so as to prevent several men, with using all their strength, from forcing them open.
”That will do,” said Humphrey; ”and now get me the small saw, Pablo, and I will cut a hole or two to fire through.”
It was dark before they had finished, and then they made all fast, and went to Pablo's room for the arms, which they got ready for service, and loaded.
”Now we are all ready, Alice, so let us have our supper,” said Humphrey. ”We will make a fight for it, and they shall not get in so easily as they think.”
After they had had their supper, Humphrey said the prayers, and told his sisters to go to bed.
”Yes, Humphrey, we will go to bed, but we will not undress, for if they come, I must be up to help you. I can load a gun, you know, and Edith can take them to you as fast as I load them. Won't you, Edith?”
”Yes, I will bring you the guns, Humphrey, and you shall shoot them,” replied Edith.
Humphrey kissed his sisters, and they went to their room. He then put a light in the chimney, that he might not have to get one in case the robbers came, and then desired Pablo to go and lie down on his bed, as he intended to do the same. Humphrey remained awake till past three o'clock in the morning, but no robbers came. Pablo was snoring loud, and at last Humphrey fell asleep himself, and did not wake till broad daylight. He got up, and found Alice and Edith were already in the sitting-room, lighting the fire.
”I would not wake you, Humphrey, as you had been sitting up so long. The robbers have not made their appearance, that is clear; shall we unbar the door and window-shutters now?”
”Yes, I think we may. Here, Pablo!”
”Yes,” replied Pablo, coming out half asleep; ”what the matter? thief come?”
”No,” replied Edith, ”thief not come, but sun s.h.i.+ne, and lazy Pablo not get up.”
”Up now, Missy Edith.”
”Yes, but not awake yet.”
”Yes, Missy Edith, quite awake.”
”Well, then, help me to undo the door, Pablo.”
They took down the barricades, and Humphrey opened the door cautiously, and looked out.
”They won't come now, at all events, I should think,” observed Humphrey; ”but there is no saying-they may be prowling about, and may think it easier to get in during daytime than at night. Go out, Pablo, and look about every where; take a pistol with you, and fire it off if there is any danger, and then come back as fast as you can.”