The men standing about him with white faces brushed the tears from their eyes, while Mrs. Riggsby and Fanny, kneeling by the bed, were weeping softly, each holding a hand of the dying man. Presently he opened hia eyes and spoke again, but it was plain that his mind was wandering. "I'm goin ter the settlement ter bring the boys," he said, his voice seeming to grow stronger as he spoke. "They ain't goin ter keep me housed up hyar like a rat—they air not goin ter see me—l'll crawl through the grass an—thar they air!—but they ain't goin ter take me alive" He threw up his hand as if to use a pistol, then sank down and in a few mo ments he had breathed his last. For a long time no sound broke the stillness save the low weeping of Mrs. Riggsby and Fanny and the moan of the night winds without. The roughly clad men stood silently about the bed, while the flickering light gleamed upon the tears that ran down their bearded faces. "Poor Ike," said Riggsby in a choking voice, "he risked his life for us, an—an lost it," and turning away he crossed the room and stood by the window, his form shaking with emotion. Mrs. Riggsby and Fanny were led away and the dead was left to those who were to prepare it for burial The sad and tragic ending of Ike Baker's heroic attempt to pass the ene my's lines fell like a pall over the, little garrison. Already others had volunteered to make a, similar attempt, but Simon Riggsby, who had been elected leader of the settlers, thought it best to adopt Borne other method. Already one life had been sacrificed, and he realized that any further attempts to leave the inn might result in a similar calamity. A conference was held by the men and it was decided to remain passive but on the alert till morning, when some cause of action would be^decided upon. Meantime Fanny Riggsby had de scended into the cellar and thrown her self upon the bed, which she had spread in the comer. The startling and tragic events of the past few hours had roused in her breast many stronger and con flicting emotions. 