The house had been fired in a half score places. At the rear, even
now, the long streaks of flame were reaching up to the cornice,
casting all the front portion of the house, and the lawn which lay
before it, into deep shadow. The shrubbery and trees thus outlined
showed black and grim.
The men of the Tallwoods party dashed here and there among the
covering of trees back of the house. There were shots, hastily
exchanged, glimpses of forms slinking away across the fields. But
the attacking party had done their work; and now, alarmed by the
sudden appearance of a resistance stronger than they had expected,
were making their escape. Once in a while there was heard a loud
derisive shout, now and again the crack of a spiteful rifle,
resounding in echoes against the hillsides.
Dunwody was among the first to disappear, in search of these
besiegers. For an instant Josephine was left alone, undecided,
alarmed, in front of the great doors. Eleazar, to save the
plunging team, had now wheeled the vehicle back, and was seeking a
place for it lower down the lawn.
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