ell, and considerably in advance of the troops. Here
he sat down to await the approach of the enemy.

There is something very eerie and awe-inspiring in a solitary
night-watch, especially if it be kept in a wild, lonesome place.
Peterkin afterwards told me that, while sitting that night on the top of
the mound, looking out upon a plain, over which the enemy were expected
to approach, on the one hand, and down into the dark dell where our
troops were posted, on the other hand, his heart more than once misgave
him; and he could not help asking himself the questions, "What if our
plans miscarry? What if our united volley and cheer, and my demoniac
display, should fail to intimidate the negroes?" Such questions he did
not like to dwell upon, for he knew that in the event of failure a
regular pitched battle would be fought, and much blood would certainly
flow.

While indulging in such thoughts, he observed a dark form glide past the
foot of the mound on which he lay, and vanish in the obscurity of the
dell, which was so surrounded by crags and rocky places covered with
underwood that no light could penetrate into it. At first he was
startled, and thought of giving the alarm to his comrades; but on second
thoughts he concluded the person must have been one of his own scouts
returned with news; at all events, he felt that one man could do no harm
worth speaking of to so large a party.

Presently he observed a large band of men coming over the plain towards
the entrance of the dell. These, he felt assured, must be the enemy;
and he was right. They came on in a large, compact body, and were
well-armed; yet, from the quick and unguarded manner of their approach,
he could perceive that they suspected no ambush.

They entered the dell in a confused though solid and silent body; and
Peterkin could observe, by the dim light, that they were led by one man,
who walked in advance, whom he rightly judged to be the Portuguese
slave-dealer.

The time for action had now come. He examined the points of his
powder-cones, to ascertain that they were dry, then held a match in
readiness, and listened intently to the footsteps of the foe.

I have already explained that Jack had drawn his musketeers across the
dell, and placed the spearmen in the jungle on both flanks. They were
arranged in such a way as to form three sides of a square, into which
the unsuspecting enemy now marched. Jack allowed them to approach to
within thirty pa