After he left, uncle nailed shakes over the window, and cleaned up his old flint-lock musket, and loaded it carefully.

Aunt moulded bullets, while mother got the ax and butcher knife, and then stuffed rags in the cracks, and brought in the half-bushel to turn over the light, so that they could not see where to shoot.

Then we all took turns standing out in the darkness at the corner of the house, to keep watch, and listen for the sound of guns from Mr.May's.

Father came home at eleven.

He said the South Carolinians had asked permission to sleep in an empty cabin.