ace as a false alarm. Gentlemen, to your posts.
Colonel Preston, the gate must be closed at once, and every other man
will remain under arms till ten to-night, when the second half will
relieve them. Gentlemen, I consider that the siege has begun."

The evening came in dark and gloomy, and night fell as if almost at
once. All was still but the faintly-heard lapping of the water on the
strand, and the customary croaking and hollow bellowing from the forest;
and it seemed to me, feverish and ill at ease now, that a feeling of awe
had come upon the occupants of the enclosure, who were seated about in
groups of families, discussing their strange positions in whispers, and
waiting at the first alarm to obey the General's command, and take
shelter in the great block of wooden buildings constituting the fort--a
building which had been gradually enlarged as the settlement had
increased, so that, in addition to shelter and protection, there might
be ample room for magazines, armoury, and stores.

I was seated with Pomp and my father, where we had partaken of the food
that had been served out, thinking of my bed at home, and of how dearly
I would have liked to be lying there instead of upon the hard ground,
when an alarm was given, and the officers, my father amongst them,
hurried up to the fort to ascend to the roof, and watch the glow which
had suddenly begun to appear in the southwest.

I had followed my father and stood by him, as I heard the General say
sharply, in answer to a remark made by some one of those present, upon
whose faces the faint glow was reflected--

"Forest fire, sir? No; I am afraid it is--"

"My house, gentlemen," said my father, calmly. "The attack has begun."

A dead silence followed my father's words, and it was almost a minute
before the General said gravely--

"Yes, Bruton, the attack has begun, and in a way I dreaded. Well, we
must beat it off. I am sorry that your pleasant home should be one of
the first to fall a victim to the enemy; but as it was built up, so it
can be built up again. There will be plenty of willing hands to help
one of our most trusty brothers."

A murmur of warm assent followed this remark, and then the General spoke
again.

"Is Mr Winters here?" he said.

"Yes, General."

"What have you to say, sir, now?"

"That I beg Captain Bruton's pardon, sir; and that I will be one of the
first to help restore his house, if it please God I live through the
trouble th