He found the Lovell where it was always kept, behind his parents’ bedroom door, along with the leather pouch containing powder, caps and shot. He knew the weapon was loaded. His father had seen to that after the boys’ return, in case of a chance shot at fresh meat for the stew pot. It stayed that way, propped behind the door, unprimed until needed. With trembling fingers, Toby opened the bag and took out a small copper cap, fumbling as he placed it onto the nipple. He eased the hammer down and, keeping the muzzle pointed skywards, stepped back out onto the verandah, where he handed the musket and leather bag to his father.

‘Here you are, Pa. Primed and ready.’

Sean pulled the hammer to full cock. ‘Good lad!’ He cradled the barrel of the musket across the crook of his left elbow. ‘Ellen, take the boys inside and close the door. Looks like these men are planning on leaving us in a hell of a hurry.’

‘Sean, are you sure this is the right way to go about things?’ His mother’s voice had lost its melodic quality, replaced instead with a quivering tension. ‘Maybe your being armed will only provoke them if they mean us harm?’

Sean shook his head. ‘If they mean us harm, then it won’t hurt to show them we have the means to defend ourselves. They may just be in a hurry, but until we find out for sure, I want you and the boys inside.’

Ellen nodded and took Paddy by the arm, leading him into the kitchen. Toby hesitated, his nervous gaze flicking between the approaching men and his father. If there was going to be trouble, he wanted to be standing at his father’s side.

‘Inside, Toby!’ Sean growled. Toby didn’t move and his father gave him a wink. ‘I’ll be fine, son.’ His voice softened and his hand reached out, giving his shoulder an affectionate squeeze. ‘Do as I tell you.’

Toby hesitated a moment more then went inside and closed the door. He hurried to the window by the stove where his mother and brother were watching the horsemen ride up from the slip rails.

The riders were closer now and he could make out more detail. Two white men rode at the head of the little column. The man leading seemed too big for his horse, his large frame filling the saddle, the stirrup straps at full length to accommodate long legs. He had a cabbage-tree hat pulled low over his eyes and a full beard of black, matted hair that reached halfway down his chest. His head turned from side to side as he rode, examining the corners of outbuildings and shadows beneath the trees. When he saw the faces in the window, he paused and his cold stare filled Toby with fear.