her more, elapsed when we heard footsteps advancing
along one of the roads. They came at a leisurely pace, as if the people
were in no hurry. I gave the signal. It was answered by the persons
approaching. "All's right," I observed to Mr Douglas; but almost as I
spoke, the dark figures of a body of men could be distinguished in the
gloom, turning a corner of the other road. Seeing this, Mr Douglas had
no resource but to give the order to our party to retreat, for it was
very evident that the enemy far outnumbered us. As we did so, I called
to the spies to hasten forward, for I knew that we could no longer
remain concealed. Hearing my voice, the two men ran on; but at the same
time our foes advanced at a double quick step along the road. I saw
that not a moment was to be lost if we would save the lives of old Meeks
and his nephew; so, calling on Grampus and Tom, I made a dash forward in
the hopes of checking the enemy till we could meet them. Unfortunately
the rebels were too quick in their movements for us, and before we could
reach the fork of the road they had already gained the same place, and
effectually prevented us from saving our friends whom we had too much
reason to apprehend had fallen into their hands, unless they had been
able to save themselves by flying in an opposite direction. From what I
had seen of the old soldier, I feared he was not likely to run even on
an occasion like the present. Mr Douglas now hailed me to return, and
of course I did so as fast as I could, as I should inevitably have been
made a prisoner. As it was we had enough to do to keep our enemies at
bay, and had not the darkness prevented them from learning the smallness
of our numbers, they might easily have surrounded us. Though they
pressed us hard we kept as close together as the nature of the ground
would allow, and every now and then, led on by Mr Douglas, we uttered
loud cries and shouts, as if we were going to make a rush on them. The
stems of the trees also assisted to protect us from the fire which they
opened on us, so that not a man was hit. We were not sorry, however, to
reach our boats, when we jumped in with no little haste, for the
Americans were close upon us. They were almost seizing the bows of the
boat before we had time to get out the oars and shove into the stream.
One, indeed, had seized the painter, but Tom Rockets dealt him such a
blow with his cutlass that he was glad to let go. The enemy now rushed