Regardless of noise, I dragged out first one heavy oaken settle, and then the other—placed them against the inner door—piled them with chairs, stools, firewood, every heavy thing I could lay hands upon—raked the slumbering embers, and threw more wood upon the hearth, so as to bar that avenue, if any attempt was made by way of the chimney—and hastily ransacked every drawer in the dresser, in the hope of finding something in the shape of ammunition.
Meanwhile, the brothers had taken alarm, and having tried the inner door, had now gone round to the front, where I heard them try first the house-door and then the windows.
"Open! open, I say!" shouted the elder—(I knew him by his voice). "What is the matter within?"
"The matter is that I choose to spend the night in this room," I shouted in reply.
"It is a public room—you have no right to shut the doors!" he said, with a thundering blow upon the lock.
"Right or no right," I answered, "I shoot dead the first man who forces his way in!"
There was a momentary silence, and I heard them muttering together outside.
I had by this time found, at the back of one of the drawers, a handful of small shot screwed up in a bit of newspaper, and a battered old powder-flask containing about three charges of powder. Little as it was, it helped to give me confidence.
Then the parleying began afresh.
"Once more, accursed Englishman will you open the door?"