Immortalist wrote:

Bunch more when I searched for (pistol) but havn't searched for rifle,
shoot, fire, bullet, etc...

http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/images/modeng/public/StoCabi//52utc4.jpg

"Mr. Wilson, I know all this," said George. "I do run a risk, but -- "
he threw open his overcoat, and showed two pistols and a bowie-knife.
"There!" he said, "I'm ready for 'em! Down south I never will go.

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No! if it comes to that, I can earn myself at least six feet of free
soil, -- the first and last I shall ever own in Kentucky!"

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The group that stood in various attitudes, after this

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communication, were worthy of a painter. Rachel Halliday, who had taken
her hands out of a batch of biscuit, to hear the news, stood with them
upraised and floury, and with a face of the deepest concern. Simeon
looked profoundly thoughtful; Eliza had thrown her arms around her
husband, and was looking up to him. George stood with clenched hands
and glowing eyes, and looking as any other man might look, whose wife
was to be sold at auction, and son sent to a trader, all under the
shelter of a Christian nation's laws.

"What shall we do, George?" said Eliza faintly.

"I know what I shall do," said George, as he stepped into the little
room, and began examining pistols.

"Ay, ay," said Phineas, nodding his head to Simeon; thou seest,
Simeon, how it will work."

"I see," said Simeon, sighing; "I pray it come not to that."

"I don't want to involve any one with or for me," said George. "If
you will lend me your vehicle and direct me, I will drive alone to the
next stand. Jim is a giant in strength, and brave as death and despair,
and so am I."

"Ah, well, friend," said Phineas, "but thee'll need a driver, for
all that. Thee's quite welcome to do all the fighting, thee knows; but
I know a thing or two about the road, that thee doesn't."

"But I don't want to involve you," said George.

"Involve," said Phineas, with a curious and keen expression of face,
"When thee does involve me, please to let me know."

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"Come, Ruth, sit down to supper," said Rachel.

"I couldn't, any way. I left John with the baby, and some biscuits
in the oven; and I can't stay a moment, else John will burn up all the
biscuits, and give the baby all the sugar in the bowl. That's the way
he does," said the little Quakeress, laughing. "So, good-by, Eliza;

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good-by, George; the Lord grant thee a safe journey;" and, with a few
tripping steps, Ruth was out of the apartment.

A little while after supper, a large covered-wagon drew up before
the door; the night was clear starlight; and Phineas jumped briskly
down from his seat to arrange his passengers. George walked out of the
door, with his child on one arm and his wife on the other. His step was
firm, his face settled and resolute. Rachel and Simeon came out after
them.

"You get out, a moment," said Phineas to those inside, "and let me
fix the back of the wagon, there, for the women-folks and the boy."

"Here are the two buffaloes," said Rachel. "Make the seats as
comfortable as may be; it's hard riding all night."

Jim came out first, and carefully assisted out his old mother, who
clung to his arm, and looked anxiously about, as if she expected the
pursuer every moment.

"Jim, are your pistols all in order?" said George, in a low, firm
voice.

"Yes, indeed," said Jim.

"And you've no doubt what you shall do, if they come?"

"I rather think I haven't," said Jim, throwing open his broad chest,
and taking a deep breath. "Do you think I'll let them get mother
again?"

During this brief colloquy, Eliza had been taking her leave of her
kind friend, Rachel, and was handed into the carriage by Simeon, and,
creeping into the back part with her boy, sat down among the
buffaloskins. The old woman was next handed in and seated and George
and Jim placed on a rough board seat front of them, and Phineas mounted
in front.

"Farewell, my friends," said Simeon, from without.

"God bless you!" answered all from within.

And the wagon drove off, rattling and jolting over the frozen road.

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"Yes, that's Michael!" said Phineas; and, raising his voice, "Halloa,
there, Michael!"

"Phineas! is that thee?"

"Yes; what news -- they coming?"

"Right on behind, eight or ten of them, hot with brandy, swearing
and foaming like so many wolves."

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-295-

And, just as he spoke, a breeze brought the faint sound of galloping
horsemen towards them.

"In with you, -- quick, boys, in!" said Phineas. "If you must fight,
wait till I get you a piece ahead." And, with the word, both jumped in,
and Phineas lashed the horses to a run, the horseman keeping close
beside them. The wagon rattled, jumped, almost flew, over the frozen
ground; but plainer, and still plainer, came the noise of pursuing
horsemen behind. The women heard it, and, looking anxiously out, saw,
far in the rear, on the brow of a distant hill, a party of men looming
up against the red-streaked sky of early dawn. Another hill, and their
pursuers had evidently caught sight of their wagon, whose white
cloth-covered top made it conspicuous at some distance, and a loud yell
of brutal triumph came forward on the wind. Eliza sickened, and
strained her child closer to her bosom; the old woman prayed and
groaned, and George and Jim clenched their pistols with the grasp of
despair. The pursuers gained on them fast; the carriage made a sudden
turn, and brought them near a ledge of a steep overhanging rock, that
rose in an isolated ridge or clump in a large lot, which was, all
around it, quite clear and smooth. This isolated pile, or range of
rocks, rose up black and heavy against the brightening sky, and seemed
to promise shelter and concealment. It was a place well known to
Phineas, who had been familiar with the spot in his hunting days; and
it was to gain this point he had been racing his horses.

"Now for it!" said he, suddenly checking his horses, and springing
from his seat to the ground. "Out with you, in a twinkling, every one,
and up into these rocks with me. Michael, thee tie thy horse to the
wagon, and drive ahead to Amariah's and get him and his boys to come
back and talk to these fellows."

In a twinkling they were all out of the carriage.

"There," said Phineas, catching up Harry, "you,

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