in fact it had been confined to firing
upon the retreating savages. They were taking matters very coolly, all
but their leaders, who were evidently holding a council before deciding
on their next step.

"Strikes me, Master George," said Morgan, "that they're thinking that
winning one little battle's enough work for the day, and I shouldn't be
much surprised if they went back on board. They don't want to fight us,
only to frighten us away."

"Think so?" I said. "They attacked the Indians very bravely."

"Don't see much bravery in a hundred men firing at a lot of savages who
are running away. They never expected to find us all ready for them in
a stout stockade, with every man Jack of us standing to arms, in full
fighting rig, and with our war-paint on."

He said this last meaningly, and I shuddered as I thought of what I had
seen.

"Well, I must go back," I said. "My father is anxious to know."

"Yes, of course sir. Then you go and tell him what you've seen, and
that I say I don't think they mean fighting; but that if they do, it
won't be till after they've had a good parly-parly, and asked us first
whether we mean to go."

Just then there was a burst of talking close by us, and a laugh; the
officer in command gave an order or two, and a couple of the men leaned
over and held out a hand each. Then there was a bit of a scramble, and
a curly black head appeared above the gates. The next moment its owner
was over, and had dropped down, caught sight of us, and run up.

"Why, Pomp!" I said; "I had forgotten you."

"What for send Pomp out to boat and no come? Pomp dreffle tire, and
come back."

"I say I had forgotten you."

"Ah, Pomp no forget Mass' George," he replied, reproachfully. "Eh? Lil
fire--two lil fire--twent lil fire," he cried, excitedly. "'Mell um
cook suffum. Come 'long, Mass' George, I dreffle hungly."

I led the way in and out among the busy groups, where, chattering over
the fires they had lit, the blacks were making bread or cooking, and
every now and then I had to catch hold of Pomp's arm and half drag him
along, so great was the interest he took in what was going on; for he
evidently felt no modesty or shrinking about making his presence known.

I soon had my father fully acquainted with the state of affairs, and
while I was talking to him, Colonel Preston came to sit down upon an
upturned barrel, and talk for a time about the state of affairs.

CHAPTER FIFTY TWO.

Our