t certain things which they had done for strengthening the defences,
and they ended by proposing that I should accompany them as a sort of
aide-de-camp, and bear messages to and fro.

I followed them, and was soon after going with them from post to post,
to see that the men were well supplied with ammunition; and I could not
help noticing that in spite of all they had gone through, they looked
rested and self-reliant; quite ready in fact for a fresh encounter with
our hidden foe.

For as the setting sun turned the plantations and edge of the forest to
ruddy gold, all was perfectly calm, and for aught we could see there was
no sign of an enemy. In fact to judge from appearances the Indians
might have departed finally to their home, satisfied with the harm they
had done.

As night fell all fires were extinguished, and we then commenced our
dreary watch, every one feeling that the attack was coming, but how soon
or from what quarter it was impossible to say.

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT.

I passed the early part of that night now seated in the darkness by my
father, now stealing away when I believed him to be asleep, and joining
Morgan, who was acting as one of the sentries, and had kept Pomp by his
side so as to make use of his keen young eyes, which seemed to see
farther through the darkness of the night than those of any one else in
the camp.

And as I stood at Morgan's side I could not help thinking of the great
change that had taken place. Only a few hours before the fort was
crackling and blazing, huge logs splitting with a loud report, and
wreaths of fire and smoke circling up into the lurid sky, while all
within the enclosure was lit up, and glistened and glowed in the intense
light. Now all was gloom, depression, and darkness--a darkness so thick
that it seemed to me as if the Indians had only to come gently up and
select the place to climb over and then carry all before them.

I was tired and despondent, and that made me take, I suppose, so dreary
a view of my position, as I waited for the enemy's advance. And yet I
think my despondency was warranted, for I felt that if the Indians
attacked they would carry everything before them; and if they did I
could not doubt the determination of Morgan and his companions. And
there I found myself standing beside the man who was ready to put a
light to the powder and send everything into chaos--for that he would do
it in the emergency I felt sure.

I had been back