Mr. Hardy was very angry with them, but they were in such abject
fear of the Indians that they paid little heed to their master's
words, but went and huddled themselves together upon the straw in
the sitting-room, remaining there without movement until all was
over. Terence was now recalled from the gate, which had been his
post.
"Did you hear anything, Terence?"
"Sure, your honor, and I thought I heard a dull sound like a lot of
horses galloping in the distance. I should say that there were a
great many of them. It seemed to get a little louder, and then it
stopped."
"That was before the dogs began to bark, Terence?"
"About five minutes before, your honor."
"Yes. I have no doubt that they all dismounted to make the attack
on foot. How quiet everything is!"
The general barking of the dogs had now ceased: sometimes one or
another gave a suspicious yelping bark, but between these no sound
whatever was audible. The door was now closed and barred; candles
were lighted and placed in every room, thick cloths having been
hung up before the loopholes in the shutters, to prevent a ray of
light from escaping; and the windows themselves were opened. Mr.
Fitzgerald, the boys, and Maud took their station on the tower, Mr.
Hardy remaining with his wife and Ethel, while Terence and Lopez
kept watch in the other apartments.
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