olonel Preston didn't
hit it very well together, but the colonel always said your father was a
very brave officer, quiet as he seemed--and like father, like son. Feel
chilly?"

"No," I said.

"Well, it isn't cold, but after being so hot all day it feels a bit
different. Heigho! I shouldn't at all mind having a good sleep. One
gets tired of watching for nothing."

"Sit down and have a sleep," I said. "I'll hold your gun and keep
guard."

"Will you, my lad?" he said, eagerly.

"Yes; I can't sleep, and I'll wake you directly if there is anything
wrong."

"Come, that's friendly," said the man. "I like that, and I'd give
anything for an hour's sleep. Catch hold; I'll lie down here. You'll
be sure and call me?"

"You may trust me."

"Bah!" cried the man in an ill-used tone, and snatching back his
firelock, "that's done it."

"What is the matter?" I said, wonderingly.

"You said you may trust me."

"Yes; I did."

"That did it. It's just what I said to the colonel when he asked me if
I could keep on sentry without going to sleep."

"But you would not go to sleep without leaving some one else to watch."

"No," he said, sternly, "and I won't skulk. I've been digging and
planting so long that I've forgotten my soldiering. No, sir, a man who
goes to sleep at his post when facing the enemy ought to be shot, and,"
he added with emphasis, "he deserves it."

"Here um come, Mass' George," whispered Pomp just at that moment.

"What--to relieve guard?" I said, quickly, as I thought of the sentry's
mistake.

"No, Mass' George, de Injum."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

The sentry craned his neck forward over the great fence staring out into
the gloom, and I followed his example, my heart beating heavily the
while, the regular throbs seeming to rise right up to my throat in a way
that was painful; but I could see nothing. There was the great
star-specked sky reaching down towards earth, and ending suddenly in a
clearly defined line which I knew was the edge of the forest beyond the
plantations, which all lay in darkness that was almost black.

I strained my eyes, and held my breath, looking and listening, but could
make out nothing, and at last I placed my lips close to Pomp's ear.

"Where are they?" I said.

"Dah!"

As he uttered that one word he stretched out his black hand, pointing
straight away toward the forest; but still I could see nothing, and
there was not a sound.

At that moment the s