The stones being laid in clay instead of mortar, were easily detached from the structure, and he had one in his hands ready for operations.
"Come here, Joe Burnap, or you are a dead man," repeated the soldier, who evidently had some scruples about depriving the infant Confederacy of an able-bodied recruit.
Tom Somers, being unembarrassed by any such scruples, lifted himself up from his hiding place, and hurled the stone upon the soldier, fully expecting to hit him on the head, and dash out his brains.

The best laid calculations often miscarry, and Tom's did in part, for the missile, instead of striking the soldier upon the head, hit him on the right arm.
The musket was discharged, either by the blow or by the act of its owner, and fell out of his hands upon the ground.
Now, a stone as big as a man's head, does not fall from the height of fifteen feet upon any vulnerable part of the human frame without inflicting some injury; and in strict conformity with this doctrine of probabilities, the stone which Tom hurled down upon the rebel, and which struck him upon the right arm, entirely disabled that useful member.

The hero of this achievement was satisfied with the result, though it had not realized his anticipations.

Concluding that the time had arrived for an effective charge, he leaped out of the chimney upon the roof of the house, descended to the eaves, and then jumped down upon the ground.
The soldier, in panic and pain, had not yet recovered from the surprise occasioned by this sudden and unexpected onslaught.

Tom rushed up to him, and secured the musket before he had time to regain his self-possession.
"Who are you ?" demanded the soldier, holding up the injured arm with his left hand.
"Your most obedient servant," replied Tom, facetiously, as he placed himself in the attitude of "charge bayonets." "Have you any dangerous weapons about your person ?" "Yes, I have," replied the soldier, resolutely, as he retreated a few steps, and attempted to thrust his left hand into the breast pocket of his coat.
"Hands down!" exclaimed Tom, pricking his arm with the bayonet attached to the musket.