fire to the place and
burning them all up together?"

"Yes, sah," said the black sadly. "Caesar go and set fire to
sugar-barrel; all burn up."

"Bah! Take too long, darkie. Now, if you'd got a barrel o' powder!"

"Big Massa Tom want barrel o' powder?"

"Do I want a barrel of powder?" growled the big sailor, in a deep-toned
voice full of contempt and scorn.

"Not big barrel sugar," said the black sadly; "lilly barrel black
powder, all black like niggah."

"Here, what are you talking about, you old pitch kettle?" cried the
sailor, full of animation now. "You don't know where there's a lilly
barrel, do you?"

"Yes," said the man quietly.

"Not a lilly white barrel?"

"No, sah; lilly black barrel. Two--ten--twenty lilly barrel."

"What!" cried Murray excitedly. "Where is it?"

"Down'tair," said the black, speaking with more animation now. "Massa
Murray Frank wantum?"

"Yes, of course," cried the lad. "Where do you say it is?
Down-stairs?"

"Yes, massa. Down'tair long wi' Massa Allen bottle of wine. Plenty
bottle o' wine. Two, ten, twenty lilly barrel black powder."

"Avast there, my lads," said the big sailor, in a deep, low whisper.
"Rouse and bit, my chickens. Here's corn in Egypt and no mistake." And
then, as the men sprang up ready to meet another attack, even if it
might be the last, Tom May turned to Murray. "Beg pardon, sir, but
what's it to be?"

"Get a barrel of powder up directly, Tom," replied the lad; "that is, if
it doesn't turn out too good to be true. You serve it out to the lads,
too, and be ready to give the enemy a surprise when they come on again."

"Beg pardon, sir, but hadn't we better make it a mine, sir? Clap a
couple o' barrels just in their way. Lay a train, and one on us be
ready to fire it just as they're scrowging together under the window."

"Yes, far better, Tom; far better than blazing at the wretches with the
muskets. Here, Caesar, show us where the powder is. Is it locked up?"

"Yes, massa; down'tair. Caesar know where key."

The feeling that he was going to be of some great assistance to those
who were the friends of his master seemed to rouse up the black, who
staggered at first as he rose, and then seemed to grow stronger as he
led the way towards the door, caught at the balustrade, and before he
could be seized fell and rolled heavily down the stairs, to lie groaning
feebly at the bottom.

"Look at that now!" cried the big sailor, as he helpe