So with the sickle in his right hand he stood waiting inside the house and hoping they wouldn't stop.

They rode up to the door and dismounted quietly and hobbled their horses.

There were five of them who crowded into the cabin with McNoll in the lead.
"Now, you young rooster, you're goin' to git what's comin' to you," he growled.
The boy faced them bravely and warned them away with his sickle.

They were prepared for such emergencies.

One of them drew a bag of bird shot from his pocket and hurled it at Harry's head.