“Good Laud!” exclaimed several at once, after firing a light volley.
A young man down by the abutment was seen to throw up his arms and fall.
“That was Merry Walter,” said one of the men.
“Was it?” asked Doc. “He’s gone at his work hind side before. Not more’n two hours or so ago, he said, “We’re gwoine to kill all the colored men in Baconsville to-day, and then we’ll take the women and children, and then I’m going to kill all that are against me.” That’s just the words he said.”
“Oh!” was the general exclamation.
“That’s just awful!” said Friend Robins. “But he’s gone to meet it. I a’n’t prepared to die myself, but I shouldn’t like to meet the Laud right after saying such a thing as that.”
“We may all have to meet Him ’fo’ dis job is done,” said another.
The attack commenced about six o’clock, and soon every pane of glass in the numerous windows was strewed in fragments upon the floor, yet not one of the men was injured, and Merry Walter was the only white man harmed during the whole affray except one slightly wounded by a comrade.
Night was coming on apace, calm, but moonless; and Captain Doc went upon the roof again to take observations. Several of his men were already there, though each unaware of the presence of the others, on account of the peculiar construction of the roof.
Doc there discovered that the attacking party was gradually closing up towards the armory, and he immediately descended again. He found the men still talking, and seeming to have become accustomed to the straggling shots that occasionally visited them.