"
No answer or repetition of the request was made, but, as Humphrey
retreated with Pablo into the fireplace, a gun was fired into the lock
of the door, which was blown off into the room, and, had it not been
for the barricades, the doors must have flown open. The robbers
appeared surprised at such not being the case, and one of them
inserted his arm into the hole made in the door, to ascertain what
might be the further obstacle to open it, when Pablo slipped past
Humphrey, and gaining the door, discharged his gun under the arm which
had been thrust into the hole in the door. The party, whoever it might
have been, gave a loud cry, and fell at the threshold outside.
"I think that will do," said Humphrey: "we must not take more life
than is necessary. I had rather that you had fired through his arm--it
would have disabled him, and that would have sufficed."
"Kill much better," said Pablo. "Corbould shot through leg, come again
to rob; suppose shot dead, never rob more."
The dogs now flew to the back of the cottage, evidently pointing out
that the robbers were attempting that side. Humphrey put his gun
through the hole in the door, and discharged it.
"Why you do that, Massa Humphrey? nobody there!"
"I know that, Pablo; but if the people are coming from the
intendant's, they will see the flash and perhaps hear the report, and
it will let them know what is going on.
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