fellows once to-night, but they're back again, or will be directly."

"And the mill?"

"Safe, as yet; I have had three of the tan-yard men there since
yesterday morning, though your father did not know. I have been
going to and fro all night, between there and here, waiting till the
rioters should come back from the Severn mills. Hist!--here they
are--I say, Jael?"

He tapped at the window. In a few seconds Jael had unbarred the
door, let us in, and closed it again securely, mounting guard behind
it with something that looked very like my father's pistols, though I
would not discredit her among our peaceful society by positively
stating the fact.

"Bravo!" said John, when we stood all together in the barricaded
house, and heard the threatening murmur of voices and feet outside.
"Bravo, Jael! The wife of Heber the Kenite was no braver woman than
you."

She looked gratified, and followed John obediently from room to room.

"I have done all as thee bade me--thee art a sensible lad, John
Halifax. We are secure, I think."

Secure? bolts and bars secure against fire? For that was threatening
us now.

"They can't mean it--surely they can't mean it," repeated John, as