"Oh, Lordy! I'll be killed!" wailed Diggs, trying to screen himself behind a turkey.
Click went the old musket.
"Quit, quit," peeped the turkeys.
"I second the motion," said Sergeant Swords.
"Shoot them, old man; shoot 'em dead," repeated the woman, whose eyes were blazing with fury at sight of the blue-coats.
"I intend to," he said, bringing his musket to his shoulder, which movement made Diggs fairly howl with fear.
"Hold on, grandpa; give a fellow a chance to say his prayers afore you pop him over," said Sergeant Swords. "If you don't turn away that old popgun you may hurt some of these turkeys. Besides, I've got a battalion of men here all around you, and I can raise the devil."
At this moment the dog, which had been prowling about, discovered Tom Scott behind the door, and renewed his attack upon him. Tom fired two shots from his revolver, one of which silenced the dog forever. The two men in the hay-mow now came rolling down, much like two huge balls, each snatching a turkey as he came.
Corporal Grimm sprang from the meal-chest, white as a snowball.
"Look there, old man; thar's a ghost!" cried the woman, pointing at Corporal Grimm. The old man leveled his musket and fired, but the shot flew wide of its mark, and Corporal Grimm advanced.