Before we proceed further, it is necessary to state, that the light of the burning cow-house fell upon them with the strength and clearness of a summer noon; whilst, on the other hand, the proctor’s family, from the position of the house, were in complete obscurity.

The advantage was, consequently, all on one side; the Purcels, when the gate was demolished, saw the crowd clearly and distinctly, but the crowd could not at all see them.  Feather-beds and other defenses had been placed at the windows, in such a manner that the firing from the house could be delivered with almost perfect impunity to the inmates, but with dreadful and deadly effect upon the assailants.  The latter, having accomplished the destruction of the gate, were in the act of entering, when, all at once, such a well-directed volley was poured among them as caused every man of the front ranks to fall dead.  Four blunderbusses had been discharged among them—­three by the proctor and his two sons, and one by his eldest daughter Mary.  The fatal effect with which this fire was delivered caused a momentary pause, and the aggressive crowd was forced to rush back in a kind of wavy motion, that resembled the undulations of a retreating serpent.  An immediate return, however, took place; and, in about half a minute, those in front, however reluctant, were forced forward by the pressure from without.  Again did a well-directed fire bring down those who were thrust forward, and the consequence was that a back action took place, which enabled those in front to retire for the present from what they clearly saw was certain death.

So far the proctor’s family were triumphant, and would have been so, were it not for the conflagration of the offices, which every moment threatened their own house with destruction.  There was not now one among the crowd hardy enough to attempt an entrance by the open gate-which entrance they knew to be only another name for death.  Two circumstances, however, were at work against the brave and intrepid proctor and his equally brave and intrepid sons.  Crowbars had been procured, and three breaches were being made in those parts of the wall which the windows of the house did not command, and what was still equally, if not more dreadful to the besieged, was the fact of the dwelling-house having taken fire, from the flames that were wafted to it by the conflagration of the adjoining offices.  The breaches having been effected, the assailants precipitated themselves into the yard; and now commenced the work of destruction in reality.  The latter were shot down in scores; whilst at the same time, the windows of the house from which this destructive fire was kept up so ably, received fifty discharges to one that had been made from them.  The house was immediately surrounded, and guards were placed at the doors and lower windows, with strict and fatal orders to allow none of the family to escape, with the exception of the females—­one of whom was to be secured, as the reader knows, for a particular purpose, and the rest as chance or passion might direct.