" asked the major, after the men
had been despatched.

"As to that, sir, I can't be answerable for their not running away,
though I believe that they'll not willingly join the rebels," answered
the overseer.

"Then we must not depend implicitly on them," said the major. "I must
ask some of the young gentlemen to undertake the duty; Lieutenant Belt
and one of my men will accompany them."

Archie Sandys, on hearing this, immediately volunteered, as did two
other of the book-keepers. The party made their way for some distance
in the direction it was expected that the rebels would appear; and,
leaving Archie in a sheltered spot, the lieutenant conducted the others
round, posting first one and then the other in positions in which they
could command a view of the different approaches, so that on whatever
side the enemy might come, time would be given to the garrison to
prepare for their reception. All the men who had been collected
continued diligently engaged in erecting the fortifications, and were
thus employed when daylight returned. The works were by this time in a
tolerably forward state, and were of a character well calculated to
resist an attack by an undisciplined and ill-armed force, though they
would have been useless against artillery or well-trained troops. No
one proposed stopping for breakfast, for all saw the importance of
getting the works completed before the arrival of the foe. The house
standing high, and a good view over the country round being obtained
from it, there was no necessity to keep the sentries at their posts
during the daytime. The lieutenant accordingly went out to call them
in. They had seen nothing of the black scouts--as the overseer had
thought probable, they had run away and hidden themselves. They,
however, came back during the morning, each one bringing the same
account--"All right, massa, no enemy come yet."

"You hid yourselves, you rascals," said Mr Twigg.

"Ki Massa Twigg, de ossifer tell hide selves," answered one of the
scouts.

"But you went to sleep, Quasho, into the bargain, I suspect," observed
the planter.

"If ever shut eyes, hear all de same, massa," replied Quasho, with
perfect coolness.

It was not a time to inflict punishment if it could be avoided, and the
negroes were ordered to assist at the work going forward.

It was past noon before the fortifications were completed. They were in
such a form that the enemy attacking any portion would be expos