Hist!--here they are--I say, Jael ?" He tapped at the window.

In a few seconds Jael had unbarred the door, let us in, and closed it again securely, mounting guard behind it with something that looked very like my father's pistols, though I would not discredit her among our peaceful society by positively stating the fact.
"Bravo!" said John, when we stood all together in the barricaded house, and heard the threatening murmur of voices and feet outside.

"Bravo, Jael! The wife of Heber the Kenite was no braver woman than you." She looked gratified, and followed John obediently from room to room.
"I have done all as thee bade me--thee art a sensible lad, John Halifax.

We are secure, I think." Secure?
bolts and bars secure against fire?
For that was threatening us now.
"They can't mean it--surely they can't mean it," repeated John, as the cry of "Burn 'un out!" rose louder and louder.
But they did mean it.

From the attic window we watched them light torch after torch, sometimes throwing one at the house,--but it fell harmless against the staunch oaken door, and blazed itself out on our stone steps.