“Oh, we'll go about our business and leave you alone, of course we will–but it will be after we have tied you up to one of the trees here in your own yard! Open the door, or we'll break it down.”
“You are wasting breath,” in a voice of contempt. “We would be very foolish if we opened the door, would we not?”
“It doesn't matter; we'll break the door down in a jiffy, anyway.”
“If you do, you'll be very sorry. Remember, I gave you fair warning.”
“Bah! Boys' threats don't scare us worth a cent. We'll have the door down and you two rebel brats out of there very quickly.”
“And we'll have some of you Tory hounds lying dead on the grass of our own yard very soon, too. Mind what I tell you!”
A sneering laugh was the only reply. They had no idea the boys would really shoot at them.
There was the sound of receding footsteps, followed by the murmur of voices, and then a few minutes later there sounded the trampling of many feet, and crash! something struck the door, causing it to creak and groan under the impact.
“They've found a log, and will better the door down,” said Dick. “Be ready, boys and as soon as the door falls, fire through the opening. They have brought this upon themselves, and if we injure a few of them, it will be their own fault.”
“We're ready, Dick,” said Tom.