r before, as the ladies and women were put in the
enclosure, busy, with the black people, obeying the surgeon's orders.
For it was felt that if another encounter took place, it would only be
after due warning, and then that we had ordinary enemies to contend
against, not the savages, who had received a severe enough lesson to
perhaps check further attack.

A strong desire too was manifested to make the best of things in our
enemies' sight, and stores were attacked, rations served out, and every
man who was wounded was disposed to treat it lightly.

I cannot explain it, but I know now that in the reaction, all felt as I
did--ready to forget pain, weariness, and the peril through which we had
passed. We knew that another enemy had come; but though he had driven
off the savages, he did not seem at all formidable; and the blacks in
their quick, childlike way, taking their tone from us, were soon
laughing and chattering, as they made fires, fetched water, and busied
themselves about the camp as if nothing unusual was the matter.

After seeing my father comfortably lying down and refreshed, I left him
to go and find out what was going on in front of the gate, where Morgan
was one of the little party on guard.

As I went up to him he stared at me curiously, and I looked at him, each
of course thinking of our encounter, and it appeared to me as if it was
something that had occurred a long time ago, and that I ought not to
refer to such a horror--at least not till some time in the future, when
we could speak of it calmly, as of some adventure of the past.

The change in his aspect was striking as I spoke, his face lighting up;
and he looked like the Morgan of old, as I said, quietly--

"What are the Spaniards doing?"

"Smoking, some of 'em, Master George," he said, eagerly. "And some of
'em's eating and drinking; and, look you, the big Dons are all together
yonder having a sort of confab. Think it'll come to a fight with them,
sir?"

"I don't know. But hasn't any one been up to the gate or brought a
message?"

"No, sir, and they don't seem to be in any hurry. Look!"

He made way for me to look over the gate at the little force, which lay
about half-way between us and their boats at the river-side, while about
a couple of hundred yards away lay their ship, with the Spanish flag
blown well out by the breeze.

The men were standing or lying down, and, as far as I could see, no one
had been hurt in their encounter;