e as I saw all this bloodshed, but I
knew it would have been far more horrible if the savage wretches had
killed us. Then every other thought was driven out of my head by the
appearance of Hannibal, who was quite transformed. As a rule he was the
quiet, gentle-looking black, always ready to obey the slightest command;
now he seemed to tower up a ferocious-looking being, with wild glaring
eyes looking about for something else to destroy, and had I not caught
hold of his arm he would have used the axe he held on the fallen men.

"Under cover, my lad," said Morgan, who was panting heavily. "Don't
leave that gun. Now Hannibal, quick!"

He led the way in among the trees, where we quickly loaded the
discharged pieces, crouching down under bushes, while Hannibal knelt
beside us keeping watch, his wild eyes glaring round in every direction
for some fresh enemy to attack.

"Nice--narrow--escape that! Master George," said Morgan, in a low
voice, as he gave the ramrod a thud between every two words. "Pretty
object I should have looked if I'd had to go back to your father and say
you were killed by the Indians. Oh dear! Oh dear! I did hope I'd done
killing people to the end of my days, and now look yonder."

"It was forced upon you, Morgan," I whispered, as I finished charging
one of the pieces.

"Upon me!" cried Morgan. "Oh, come now, Master George, play fair.
Don't get putting on all down to my account. My word! Who'd have
thought old Hannibal here could fight like that?"

The great black looked fiercely round, but smiled sadly as Morgan held
out his hand and said--

"Thank you, old lad."

"Yes! Thank you, Hannibal, for saving my life," I whispered.

"Mass' George save Han's life," was the reply in deep tones. Then the
smile passed from the great fellow's face, and a terrible expression
came over it again as his eyes rolled round, and he said in a deep, low,
muttering voice--

"Come--quick find Pomp."

"And I was just going to say, let's make a run now for the boat," said
Morgan. "But we can't leave the boy, Master George."

"No," I said. "Here, take your gun, Han."

I passed the firelock to him, and followed his gaze as he glared round
among the trees from behind whose trunks I expected to see the enemy
peering, ready to take revenge for the death of their companions. But
there was no one near as far as I could see, and we rose cautiously to
get a better view round through the clustering boughs w