"Whitecar, you and your brother hold the back door with your staves. If it is forced, Miles Tindel—"
"Tackle 'em, Cap'n Van!"
"Will throw his red-pepper dust into the eyes of any that come out."
"Derrick Molleston!"
"See me, O see me!" the powerful negro muttered.
"Take Herron and Vincent, and two more, and guard the kitchen and the front of the main dwelling. Knock any creature stiff, except—ayme! ay!—the young damsels, whose fears will soon trip them to the ground."
"See me, see me!" the negro hoarsely said.
"As we enter the door, I shall cry, 'Patty Cannon has come!' Then spring in the windows and beat opposition down. Relampaguéa! Ransom is slow."
The knocker on the great door sounded, and it sprang open and quickly slammed again, and a stifled, strange sound followed, as of a scuffle.