wards and forwards several times, and was standing at
last gazing over the fence in silence, trying to convince myself that
some objects I saw in the distance were bushes and not Indians, when
Pomp suddenly yawned very loudly.

"Hush!" whispered Morgan, sternly.

"Pomp can't help um. So dreffle tire."

"Then keep a sharp look-out, and try if you can't see the Indians."

"Pomp did, but eye got blunt now. Why not go look for Injum?"

"I wish the General would let the boy go," whispered Morgan. "He might
be able to get in some news."

"Pomp nebber see noting here. May Pomp go, Mass' George?"

"Of course you can't, boy," said Morgan, shortly. "Go and ask the
commanding officer, and see what he'd say to you."

Pomp yawned, put his arms over the edge of the fence, after getting his
feet into a couple of notches, and drawing himself up and resting his
chin upon his fists, he stared out into the darkness.

"Here de Injum," he said; and a thrill ran through me as I followed the
boy's pointing finger, but could see nothing.

"Can you, Morgan?"

"See? No!" he said, pettishly; "but you'd better go and give warning,
sir."

I hurried off, and found Colonel Preston with the General, who received
my news, and word was passed round to the various sentries, while the
colonel made for the reserves in the centre of the enclosure, where in
utter silence every man seized his piece, and stood ready to march to
the point threatened, while I guided the General to where Morgan was
stationed.

"No, sir. Not seen anything, nor heard a sound," said the latter, on
being questioned. "It was this boy who saw them."

"Yes, ober dah," said Pomp, pointing.

"Can you see them now?"

"No, sah. All gone."

This was unsatisfactory, but the General seemed to have perfect faith in
the boy's declaration, and a long exciting watch followed.

The Indians' habits had grown so familiar that every eye and ear was on
the strain, and finger upon trigger, as tree, shrub, and grassy clump
was expected momentarily to develop into a foe. The secretive nature of
these people made our position at times more painful and exciting, as we
knew that at any moment they might come close to us in the darkness, and
almost before the alarm could be given, dash up to the palisade and
begin climbing over.

But the weary hours crept on without any fresh sign, and the opinion
began to spread that it was a false alarm, while Pomp was so pressed
with ques