.Who's there ?' demanded Harry Bed. man.. as he strode to the spot. Brady,' replied the same voice. Hoist the window, Bodman . ; you have no time to lose, Harry, threw up the sash, and the man outside• sphing into the apartment. He was full six feet high, dressed in a a hun ting chin of deep blue, and carried a long rifle in his hand. For an instant he ga ud ,fttolitid him. and then exclaimed : •You intm all leave the house at once.' Marna, been defeated, then 1 as ked Mary. in breathless alarm. • , No, but a portion of the flogged will make this house a place of de fence, and in a case of that kind you are belier out of it.' Put ice can fasten them out, said Steele, resolutely. 'Nay. better let them trap themselves in it; replied Brady, calmly. 'There is a ladder at the window by which you can go down, and in my opinion the sooner the better. I hear the British coming al. ready. Asi he finished speaking, the distant tread of heroes' feet was heard coming down the road toward the house. 'Be it so,' replied Steel, passing through the window on the ladder. 'Let Mary curve down first.' The maiden followed her father, and the two soon reaohed the ground. 'Stand close to the house in the dark sbnile there.' said Brady, speaking to those below; and as they obeyed him the fOU rid of the advancing horseman drew fearfully near. Down with you Harry—be quick!' ex claimed the scout; and hurried thus by his companion, Bodman soon stood beside Mary and her father. - Brady followed, and upon reaching the y ground, hurried forward to a large log ly ing in the yard directly in front of the window, behind which he ensconced him self, painting the muzzle of his rifle to wards the house. This had scarcely been done before the troopers reached the house, sprang from their horses, and in a few moments the scout saw the head of Langsford thrust feces the window. To level and fire, the effect already noted, was but the work of natant;: and as Captain fell heavi iy k iiptvi the floor, the tramp of more . . w;is heard, and the rebel band of Marion galloped to the spot. CIIAP*I ER VI . THE FINALE. The noise of barring doers and secu• ring the first story windows of the dwel• ling was heard for a moment after the ar rival of the Americans in front of the house, and Caen all relapsed into'silence. The ni,n of Marion had dismounted and surnmorted the house, but the shade of the night was so gloomy where Bodman, Steel and Mary stood, that they remained rbed by either friend or roe. Ben Brady, the scout still crouched behind the log, with the muzzle of the gun drected towards the window out of which he had escaped within mom ar, which the light was still burning. Suddenly the moon was covered by a cloud and diirkness rested like a pall up on everything around. Then the voice of Brady rose gradually on the air, as he ex claimed : Mist, Badman—come this way, and bring the girl and her father with you.— Quick as the moon will soon make its ap pearance again. Boilinen grasped Mary by the arm, and glided from the shade of the house, but had scarcely proceded twenty steps when the muzzles of two carbines were thrust out of the window and pointed ' , ..yard them in the gloom, while the dusky hg. urea of the troopers who held them were plainly discernable within the apartment. The rifle of Brady was raised in the twinkling of an eye, and the three pieces belched forth their contents together. A wild shriek instantly rang upon the air, and that voice of agony was recognized by every rebel soldier as belonging to Ma ry Steel. There was an instant of deattplike si lence, again broken by the avails of the wounded girl, but this time they were drowned by the cries of vengeance which burst from the lips of Marion's men, as. like so ninny blood hounds, they rushed to the assault. . . 'Spare not a man!' shouted a well-known musical voice, rising high above the din and tumult of the conflict. •Death to our oppressors 'Down with the Britkh—on !' And the sound of heavy blows falling upon every door las mingled with the sharp crack of rifles and the curses of the combatants, as the assault progressed. In the midst of the conflict, and ere an entrance had been gained, flurry Bodinan, followed by Ben Brady, suddenly appear ed before Marion. . 4 A. dozen of mon ! said Iho youth, hoarsely. 'For what7' ''There is an unguarded way into cellar by the spring house.' A shout Iroin Marion brought the requi site number of inen around him ; and they followed Bottum' and Brady to the place of entrance. a harrow passage led Iron' the spring house to the cellar, and in a few minutes the party stood within the building. It was the work of but an in stant for Bodutan to find the stairs, up which they carelully ascended to the cel lee; it was not fastened, and passing thro' it they stood in the hall which led to the outer door of the building. It was as mirk as pitch, and they could net discover a man, but could hear the amps of several besides themselves near the raid of the halt, where crash after crash the Lluws came agaii.st the door, fairly making eve• rl thing creak as the heavy blows descend ed to the panels 'Fallow me to the second story,' unut tered Bodtann in a low lone, and silently they groped their wny up :Pairs. As they reached the top of the stairs. the light shone out from the room where the carbines had been discharged, and they hurried to the dour. Five troopers stood prepared for conflict within the apartment, whale two bodies lay null on the flour. To discharge a volley into the room which killed every trooper was the work of a moment, and then rushing forward Brady thrust a candle into the window, and uttered a loud well-known shout It was answered by twenty men, and in a few moments several of :Marion's men had mounted the ladder into the roots. The remainder of the contest was of I short duration. The British fell to a man, while scarcely on American suffered in the strife. The wound received by Mary Steel, turned out not to be mortal ; and shortly af er her recovery, which happen ed subsequent to the attack, she became the wife of Harry Rodman ; and for many , years afterwards, two old tin panniers stir- I mounted by a black cap. could be seen up on the mantel piece of their front room— being the same carried on that memorable evening by the REBEL PEDLER. Anntinghn fiurnal. --, \,..._\ ,// /. , .-...- „,„,,,,,,,r ito; „ ~,,,,,., --*--=‘,- .4‘ •_::,.,..:-..-- 4if: -, 4k(1- tx;-‘, * . i , t4„, ' • - • , ‘-'n-- I = - r -