id my father, excitedly; "but I might
have made it if I had been in the hurry and excitement there. Resting
here I had plenty of time to think."

At that moment the firing began to be fiercer, and my father groaned
aloud.

"Oh, it is pitiable!" he said, "obliged to lie by here, and not able to
help. Here, George, go to the front; don't get into danger. Keep well
under cover. I want you to take pity on me, my boy. Do you hear?"

"Yes, father; but I don't understand."

"Can't you see my position? I am helpless, and my friends and
companions are fighting for our lives. I want you to keep running to
and fro so as to let me know what is going on, and--mind this--keep
nothing back."

"Nothing, father?" I said.

"Nothing."

I hesitated a few moments, and then with the reality of the horror
impressed more and more by the shouting, yelling, and rapid firing going
on, I told him about Morgan and the other men, even to finding the
opened keg and loose powder.

"Great heavens!" he muttered as I finished; and I looked at him to hear
what more he would say, but he remained silent.

"Shall I send Morgan to you, father?" I said.

He remained silent for a few moments, and then said softly--

"No."

There was another pause, during which the firing grew more fierce.

"George."

"Yes, father."

"Go to and fro, as I told you, and keep me well informed till you think
matters are growing desperate. Then seize your chance, run down to the
water's edge, swim to one of the boats, and try and escape."

"Without you, father?"

He caught my hand.

"You could not escape with me, my boy," he said. "There, do as I
command. I can give you no farther advice, only use your own judgment
as to where you will go."

"But, father--"

"Silence! Is Hannibal there?" he said, raising his voice.

"Yes, massa."

"Here, my man," continued my father, as the great black came to him.
"You will try and serve me, will you not?"

"Massa want Han do somefin?"

"Yes. There is great danger from the Indians. I want you to stay with
and help my son; when the time comes, you will swim with him to a boat,
and try and get away."

"And carry massa down to the boat?"

"No. Save my son. Now go with him at once." His words were so
imperative that we both left him, and I went back toward where the
fighting was going on, with Han following me like a great black shadow,
till, all at once, he touched me on the arm.

"Yes," I said.