Yells of rage and agony ascended from the throng, who, not seeing any previous signs of life in the house, had no anticipation of so prompt and severe a response to their attack.  For a time they swayed to and fro, bewildered by the intense light and crushing shower of stones that had so suddenly fallen upon them.  Those in the rear, however, pressing forward, did not permit the most exposed to retire out of reach of missiles from the house; on perceiving which, Mr. Walters again turned the light upon them, and immediately another stony shower came rattling down, which caused a precipitate retreat.

“The house is full of niggers!—­the house is full of niggers!” cried several voices—­“Shoot them! kill them!” and immediately several shots were fired at the window by the mob below.

“Don’t fire yet,” said Mr. Walters to one of the young men who had his hand upon a gun.  “Stop awhile.  When we do fire, let it be to some purpose—­let us make sure that some one is hit.”

Whilst they were talking, two or three bullets pierced the shutters, and flattened themselves upon the ceiling above.

“Those are rifle bullets,” remarked one of the young men—­“do let us fire.”

“It is too great a risk to approach the windows at present; keep quiet for a little while; and, when the light is shown again, fire.  But, hark!” continued he, “they are trying to burst open the door.  We can’t reach them there without exposing ourselves, and if they should get into the entry it would be hard work to dislodge them.”

“Let us give them a round; probably it will disperse those farthest off—­and those at the door will follow,” suggested one of the young men.

“We’ll try it, at any rate,” replied Walters.  “Take your places, don’t fire until I show the light—­then pick your man, and let him have it.  There is no use to fire, you know, unless you hit somebody.  Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes,” was the prompt reply.

“Then here goes,” said he, turning the light upon the crowd below—­who, having some experience in what would follow, did their best to get out of reach; but they were too late—­for the appearance of the light was followed by the instantaneous report of several guns which did fearful execution amidst the throng of ruffians.  Two or three fell on the spot, and were carried off by their comrades with fearful execrations.

The firing now became frequent on both sides, and Esther’s services came into constant requisition.  It was in vain that her father endeavoured to persuade her to leave the room; notwithstanding the shutters had been thrown open to facilitate operations from within and the exposure thereby greatly increased, she resolutely refused to retire, and continued fearlessly to load the guns and hand them to the men.

“They’ve got axes at work upon the door, if they are not dislodged, they’ll cut their way in,” exclaimed one of the young men—­“the stones are exhausted, and I don’t know what we shall do.”