ght return, and a fresh expedition be on foot from Florida, though
this was looked upon as of little consequence, every one feeling that if
the block-house were rebuilt, and the enclosure strengthened, we could
laugh any Spanish attack to scorn.

With this in view, and with an eye to the attack of the Indians, very
little was done in the way of rebuilding houses and cottages, but the
whole strength of the settlement was devoted to the rebuilding of our
little fort, and the strengthening of the stockade; and so much energy
was thrown into the work by the little white and black population that a
stronger building was erected, and left to be finished off afterwards.

I remember well standing with Morgan one day, and seeing the
powder-kegs, which had for safety been buried under a heap of sand,
disinterred and borne into the new cellar-magazine prepared for them
early in the making of the block-house.

Nothing was said for some time, but all at once, as our eyes
encountered, Morgan exclaimed--

"There, it's of no use for you to keep looking at me like that, Master
George; I know what you are thinking about."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I just do; and I teclare to cootness, I feel as if it would have
been right. The only thing against it that I can see is, that I was
rather in too great a hurry."

"But it was utter madness," I said, with a shudder.

"Ah, you say so now, sir, because help came, and we were saved; but how
would it have been if the Indians had got the mastery, as they nearly
did? There is nothing that they stop at in the way of torture and
murder, and it would have been a blessing for an end to have been made
of us all at once."

"Well," I said, "don't talk about it. Let's be thankful we were saved."

"Oh, I won't say another word, sir, and I wouldn't have spoken now, only
you're always looking at me in an aggravating manner."

"Ah, well, Morgan," I replied; "the powder's being put out of sight now,
and I will not think about it any more."

"Yes, sir," he said, as a man lifted a keg; "and if I had my way in the
world, it should never be brought out again."

"And suppose the Indians came?"

"Didn't I say if I could have my own way in the world, sir? If I did
the Indians wouldn't come, nor the Spaniards neither--you said it was
Spaniards didn't you? I always thought it was Spaniels."

"Yes; Spaniards. And suppose they come?"

"Bah! Who cares for them? Why, I'd send them flying with a regiment of