very often do so, and mamma can, but we will
not call her until it is necessary, she is attending to Aunt Augusta,
who is in a dreadful state of alarm."

"But where is the powder?"

"Here is a powder flask," cried Edgar, "but, dear me! there's nothing in
it."

In vain they searched about. No one could tell where the captain kept
the powder. It was in a safe place, that they knew, and he was certain
to have a store in the house, probably in some spot from whence he could
easily remove it in case of fire.

"The blacks have evidently been watching the house, and have seen all
the gentlemen go away," observed Miss Saville. "If we could fire a few
shots at them, they would fancy that some of our friends have returned,
and would probably take to flight."

They hunted round and round; even Mrs Hugh could not tell where the
powder was to be found. Not a moment was to be lost, and already the
blacks were almost at the top of the hill. Up they came, about a
hundred of them. Probably they were those who had attacked Paul and had
been so signally defeated. They had now come to revenge themselves in a
terrible way. The girls could hear them approaching. They halted for
an instant on finding the doors and windows closed, and were consulting
together. They were evidently disappointed, having expected to surprise
the house. At any moment a fire might be opened on them. Finding,
however, that they were allowed to remain with impunity in front of the
house, a party of them rushed up to the door and began battering away
with their clubs, hoping to break it open. In addition to the bars, the
girls had placed the dining-room table and the heaviest articles of
furniture they could find against it.

"If they break in we must run for refuge to mamma's room, and barricade
the door as well as we can. We may delay them, at all events. Oh! if
we had but a charge of powder, one single shot might frighten the
savages."

All this time the search was continued for powder, but with the same
want of success. Already the door was giving way. It was strong and
heavy, being formed of thick slabs fastened to cross-pieces. First one
slab was broken and beaten in, then another, and the blacks began to
thrust through the hole with their spears.

"We must fly!" cried Miss Saville, taking Effie and Sybil. "Do, Janet,
do, Adela--come, come; do not venture to remain here longer. Run, Edgar
and Albert! the savages will kill you if you