In a few minutes it was forced from its hinges, an' Mountain Tom sprang out.
"'"Here they are, boys," he shouted.

"Come on! We'll l'arn 'em not to hide--" "'The report of father's rifle cut short his words, an' Mountain Tom, throwin' his hands high above his head, sank to the ground like a log.
By this time the rest of the band had come out, an the bullets rattled around us like hailstones.

My father and brother both fell-the latter never to rise; but father, although he had received three bullets, staggered to his feet, an' follered along arter us, loadin' his rifle.
Then began the race for life.

It seemed to me that we flew over the ground, but the villains gained on us at every step.

Just as we reached the woods, my father called out, "'"Down--down, every one of you! They're going to shoot again!" "'Obeyin' that order was what saved my life.