but blazing rapidly away--they drew
their cutlasses and threw themselves fiercely on the enemy. So little
did the negroes appear to expect the attack that they threw down their
bundles of wood, to which their torches, let drop at the same time, set
fire, and retreated in confusion. As they ran off, they encountered
another well-armed party of their friends, who were coming up the hill,
either to support them or to attempt carrying the fortification by
assault during the confusion they expected the blazing stockades would
produce. On seeing the white men before them, they fired a volley.
Instead of running away, however, they still advanced boldly up the
hill.

"Load, my lads, and meet them bravely," cried the lieutenant--"you have
time for it--but do not retreat, or we are lost." As he spoke, Archie,
who was near him, heard the thud of a bullet, and had just time to catch
the brave young officer in his arms before he fell.

"We must not let these savages get hold of him," exclaimed Archie to his
companions, taking the lieutenant up on his back. "You keep the enemy
in check, and I will carry him to the house."

He instantly did as he proposed, the blacks shouting and shrieking after
him as he ran, but not daring to advance farther, while the rest of the
party, loading and firing as they retreated--the garrison at the same
time redoubling their fire--kept the enemy in check, and Archie
succeeded in bringing in the wounded officer. The intention of the
blacks was thus frustrated; for, though most of the faggots were blazing
away, they were at a safe distance from the house.

The lieutenant was carried into a room and laid on a bed, where Mrs
Twigg and Martha immediately came and examined his wound. It was in the
shoulder, and though the sudden pain had made him drop, as far as they
could judge, it did not appear to be serious. He soon recovered after
taking a stimulant. He begged them to bind up his shoulder that he
might go forth and resume his command. The operation was soon
performed, and as he again appeared he was received with warm
congratulations. The other people who had been hurt had also gone in to
have their wounds dressed. Happily none had been killed,
notwithstanding the number of bullets fired at them.

Every one now believed that the blacks would abandon their enterprise,
but, though foiled so frequently, no signs could be perceived of their
retreating. They had managed to carry off those