l farther off than they had
yet ridden. Paul, Harry, and Reginald escorted Mary, Lizzie and
Gertrude, while Miss Saville, Janet, and Adela remained at home. Mr
Hayward had gone out emu shooting, while the captain and Mr Berrington
had started off to visit a station at some distance. Janet and Adela
were seated at their work in the verandah in front of the house, when
Albert, who was playing in the shade near them, exclaimed, "See! what
can those black things be floating in the river?"

"They must be fish," said Effie.

"Fish! No, they are round and black."

Janet looked out. She, too, could distinguish some black objects. The
captain's spy-glass hung in the hall. Getting it she saw at once that
the black objects were the heads of natives. They quickly came to the
shore and began crawling along towards the house. There were a
considerable number, armed with spears and clubs. In another minute
they would have landed and have escaped her observation, had not it been
drawn to them by Albert's exclamation. They could be coming with no
good intent. All the gentlemen were away. To obtain assistance in time
was impossible. The blacks might attack and pillage the house, and be
off again, before any of the party could return. Sandy, and perhaps
another man might be in the stock-yard near the hill, but how to summon
them in time was the question.

Janet called Rob, who, with Edgar, was in the carpenter's shop at the
back of the house.

Rob at once volunteered to go down and try and find Sandy. She charged
him to be careful to keep out of the view of the savages. The first
thing to be done was to shut the doors and windows. Adela and Edgar at
once began to do so, while Janet hurried in to tell her mother, and
aunt, and Miss Saville. The latter immediately assisted in preparing
the house for defence.

Though the savages, if they intended an attack, might ultimately force
their way in, it would take some time to tear down the shutters, which
were secured by strong bars. The ladies were looking out eagerly for
the return of Rob with Sandy. Scarcely had all the doors and windows
been made fast, than the natives appeared hurrying up the hill with
their spears and clubs in hand.

"What arms have we got?" asked Miss Saville. "We must use them and
fight to the last, sooner than yield."

They found two rifles and three brace of pistols.

"Can you load them?" inquired Miss Saville.

"I have seen my brothers