S AS TO THE TRUTH OF THE REPORTS--A FRESH ARRIVAL BRINGS
ALARMING NEWS--MR. HAYWARD'S ACCOUNT OF HIS ESCAPE--SCOUTS SENT OUT--ALL
HANDS LABOUR AT THE FORTIFICATIONS--MAJOR MALCOLM AND A PARTY SET OFF
FOR WALTON HALL--THE INSURGENTS APPEAR AND ATTACK THE HOUSE--DRIVEN
BACK--THE SIEGE--PROVISIONS AND WATER BECOME SCARCE--A SORTIE TO OBTAIN
WATER--THE INSURGENTS ATTEMPT TO BURN THE STOCKADES--DRIVEN BACK BY BELT
AND ARCHIE--ANOTHER SORTIE TO DIG YAMS--ARCHIE CAPTURED BY THE REBELS.

Mr Ferris was acting as charioteer to Mrs Twigg, and took the lead of
the carriages.

"What's the matter?" she cried out, as she caught sight of old Martin
galloping up, dreadful surmises, however, entering her mind.

"Oh, Missee Twigg, don't stop, and I tell you as you go along," answered
the old butler, who having seen his master following behind, turned his
horse round.

"Are the children all safe?" was the next question the anxious mother
put.

"Yes, dey all berry well; but Martha tell me if I lub dere lives and
yours to jump on horseback and come and tell you to make haste home.
She say, and I know she speak de truth, dat de black fellows who run
away to de mountains, and many oders, tousands and tousands from all de
estates, hab got hold of firelocks and 'munition, and intend to murder
all de whites in de island, from one end to de oder, and before night
dey come and burn down Bellevue and cut de troats of us all. She say
our only hope am to get aboard ship or make de house so strong dat we
able to drive dem away when day come."

"How did Martha know this?" asked Mrs Twigg anxiously.

"Dat more nor I can tell," answered Martin. "All I know am dat she
speak de truth."

"Then tell your master, and we will drive on as fast as we can," said
Mrs Twigg. "Say Mr Ferris and I are considering what it will be best
to do."

Martin, allowing Mr Twigg to come up with him, gave him the same
account. Mr Twigg received the information with more composure than
his wife had done. "Desert the house I will not," he answered. "We
will fortify it, and defend ourselves like men. It is providential
these two officers arrived with their troopers, as they will be of the
greatest assistance; and if all the boys prove true, we shall have no
difficulty in holding out against any attack, should one be made on us.
Go back, Martin; send at once to find Mr Thompson. Say that I have
reason fully to believe the information Martha has given; beg him to
c