The first thing to be done is to barricade the house, and I'll get you
to do that, with Caesar to assist you," he said. "Keep an eye on the
boy, lest he should run away, while I send off Cato to give notice to my
neighbours, who will probably assemble here, as this house can be more
easily defended than theirs. I will myself summon my overseer and
clerks. I, of course, shall also despatch messengers to Kingston for
assistance, and we may hope to hold out till the troops arrive. The
rebels expect to take us by surprise, and to murder us without
resistance, as they have the whites in other districts. I must,
however, tell my wife and daughters, or they may be alarmed should they
suddenly discover what is going on."

We heard a good deal of talking in Mrs Talboys' room, and then the
master of the house came out, with a brace of pistols in his belt, and a
sword in his hand.

"The ladies are quite prepared, and will give you all the help they
can," he said. "They'll show you where the arms and ammunition are
kept."

Having finished dressing, we set to work, under Caesar's directions, to
put up shutters, and to strengthen the doors with planks and stout
pieces of timber, which we found in a yard, apparently prepared for the
purpose. We were soon joined by Mrs Talboys and Miss Lucy, who both
appeared equal to the emergency. Having shown us where the arms and
ammunition were kept, they assisted to carry planks and to hold the
boards up while we nailed them on. Miss Lucy had a hearty laugh at the
grimaces made by Chaffey when he happened to hit his finger instead of
the nail he was driving in. We worked away as busily as bees, and
before Mr Talboys returned had already secured most of the doors and
the lower windows. They were all loopholed, so that on whatever side
our enemies might assault the house, a warm reception would be given
them. We were still working away when Mr Talboys appeared.

"Our friends will soon be here," he said. "We shall muster nearly a
dozen muskets, and I hope that with them we may be able to keep the
rebels at bay; though, if they're disposed for mischief, they may ravage
our plantations with impunity."

The overseer and clerks, each armed to the teeth, soon afterwards came
in, and our preparations for defence went on still more rapidly. It was
now midnight, but as yet none of the neighbours had arrived; and we
formed but a small garrison to defend so small a building from the host
o