block-house, I slowly advanced toward the group.

Sparks were being hurled high in the air at every fall of beam or
timber, and they rushed round and round, as if agitated by a whirlwind,
to be carried far away, but every now and then flashes of fire that
escaped the whirl floated softly here and there, making it seem horrible
to me as I watched them drop slowly to earth, some to be extinguished
and disappear just as a great pat of snow will melt away when it touches
the moist ground, while others remained alight and burned for a few
moments.

"If one did," I said to myself as I approached timidly, for I knew now
that I was opposite to the little heap of powder-kegs that had been
brought out of the magazine with so much risk, and were lying covered
over with canvas and a tarpaulin, whose surface was being kept wet.

"The powder, Morgan?" I said, as I approached, just as the men were
talking earnestly together, Morgan standing by and holding his empty
bucket.

"Yes, sir; the powder," he replied, turning and giving me a nod before
looking back at his companions and saying sadly--

"Then you do mean it, my lads?"

"I do," said one of the men, sternly; "and I think it's what we ought to
do."

"Without waiting for orders from our officers?"

"I shouldn't say do it while they can lead us and help us to fight and
drive these demons back. I say when all's over and we've got to the
last. I mean when the Indians have got in and are butchering us."

"Yes, yes," came in a murmur from one man, "It will be quite right then,
and they'll feel it too."

"Yes," said the first, "it wants doing just as they've crowded into the
place, and the lad among us left living must swear he'll do it."

"Don't need any swearing," said Morgan, in a low deep voice. "I'm
afraid that you're right, my lads, and for one I'll promise to do it
when it's all over."

"Do what?" I said in a whisper, though I felt that I did not need
telling.

Morgan looked round at the others.

"There's no harm in telling him," he said.

"Not a bit. Tell him."

Morgan coughed as if to clear his throat, and he raised the bucket and
threw a few drops from the bottom on the glistening heap.

"You see, Master George," he said, "we're afraid that we're getting
close to the time when the Indians will quite get the better of us, and
we shall be beaten."

"Englishmen are never beaten," I said, looking round proudly.

"Ah, that's only a bit of brag, Master