Varney the Vampire 2(19)

 

They continued at this violent exercise for some time--perhaps for five minutes, when the little square hole in the door was again opened, and a voice was heard to say,--

 

"You had better cease that kind of annoyance."

 

"We want to get in."

 

"It will cost you more lives to do so than you can afford to spare. We are well armed, and are prepared to resist any effort you can make."

 

"Oh! it's all very well; but, an you won't open, why we'll make you; that's all about it."

 

This was said as the big countryman and his companions were leaving the avenue towards the rest of the body.

 

"Then, take this, as an earnest of what is to follow," said the man, and he discharged the contents of a blunderbuss through the small opening, and its report sounded to the rest of the mob like the report of a field-piece.

 

Fortunately for the party retiring the man couldn't take any aim, else it is questionable how many of the party would have got off unwounded. As it was, several of them found stray slugs were lodged in various parts of their persons, and accelerated their retreat from the house of the vampyre.

 

"What luck?" inquired one of the mob to the others, as they came back; "I'm afraid you had all the honour."

 

"Ay, ay, we have, and all the lead too," replied a man, as he placed his hand upon a sore part of his person, which bled in consequence of a wound.

 

"Well, what's to be done?"

 

"Danged if I know," said one.

 

"Give it up," said another.

 

"No, no; have him out. I'll never give in while I can use a stick. They are in earnest, and so are we. Don't let us be frightened because they have a gun or two--they can't have many; and besides, if they have, we are too many for them. Besides, we shall all die in our beds."

 

"Hurrah! down with the vampyre!"

 

"So say I, lads. I don't want to be sucked to death when I'm a-bed. Better die like a man than such a dog's death as that, and you have no revenge then."

 

"No, no; he has the better of us then. We'll have him out--we'll burn him--that's the way we'll do it."

 

"Ay, so we will; only let us get in."

 

At that moment a chosen party returned who had been round the house to make a reconnaissance.

 

"Well, well," inquired the mob, "what can be done now--where can we get in?"

 

"In several places."

 

"All right; come along then; the place is our own."

 

"Stop a minute; they are armed at all points, and we must make an attack on all points, else we may fail. A party must go round to the front-door, and attempt to beat it in; there are plenty of poles and things that could be used for such a purpose."

 

"There is, besides, a garden-door, that opens into the house--a kind of parlour; a kitchen-door; a window in the flower-garden, and an entrance into a store-room; this place appears strong, and is therefore unguarded."

 

"The very point to make an attack."

 

"Not quite."

 

"Why not?"

 

"Because it can easily be defended, and rendered useless to us. We must make an attack upon all places but that, and, while they are being at those points, we can then enter at that place, and then you will find them desert the other places when they see us inside."

 

"Hurrah! down with the vampyre!" said the mob, as they listened to this advice, and appreciated the plan.

 

"Down with the vampyre!"

 

"Now, then, lads, divide, and make the attack; never mind their guns, they have but very few, and if you rush in upon them, you will soon have the guns yourselves."

 

"Hurrah! hurrah!" shouted the mob.

 

The mob now moved away in different bodies, each strong enough to carry the house. They seized upon a variety of poles and stones, and then made for the various doors and windows that were pointed out by those who had made the discovery. Each one of those who had formed the party of observation, formed a leader to the others, and at once proceeded to the post assigned him.

 

The attack was so sudden and so simultaneous that the servants were unprepared; and though they ran to the doors, and fired away, still they did but little good, for the doors were soon forced open by the enraged rioters, who proceeded in a much more systematic operation, using long heavy pieces of timber which were carried on the shoulders of several men, and driven with the force of battering-rams--which, in fact, they were--against the door.

 

Bang went the battering-ram, crash went the door, and the whole party rushed headlong in, carried forward by their own momentum and fell prostrate, engine and all, into the passage.