ket in his hand. As there was ample shelter
down to the yam ground, the lieutenant hoped that his friend would not
be discovered. One thing was very certain, that, should the enemy come
upon them, the slaves would scamper away in all directions, and very
likely make their escape.

Before Archie set out, every man had been stationed at his post, to be
ready for the rebels should they approach. They stood anxiously waiting
his return. At length one of the slaves appeared, loaded with a basket
of yams; a second and a third followed, and they repelled that Massa
Sandys had made them fill one basket at a time, and had sent them off so
as at all events to secure some. They were looking out for a fourth
man, when two people were seen rushing up the hill without baskets on
their heads. A third followed, but scarcely was he visible, when a shot
was heard and he dropped to the ground.

"We must go and rescue Mr Sandys," cried the lieutenant; "he must have
fallen into the hands of the rebels."

"If so, the poor fellow is dead by this time," said the overseer.

The report of the two blacks who now came tended to confirm this latter
opinion. A party of negroes had suddenly sprung out from a neighbouring
cover as they had just got their baskets on their heads to come away,
when, throwing down their loads, they had made off, though the
hindermost had been nearly caught; and it was more than probable that
Mr Sandys, who was stopping to cover their retreat, had been unable to
escape. This was the saddest event which had hitherto occurred, and all
sincerely grieved for his loss.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

MAJOR MALCOLM PROCEEDS TOWARDS WALTON HALL--SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES--
THE PARTY CUT THEIR WAY THROUGH THE REBELS AND GAIN THE HOUSE--
PREPARATIONS FOR AN ATTACK--THE REBELS ATTEMPT TO STORM THE HOUSE WITH
LADDERS AND FIREBRANDS--BEATEN BACK--AN EXPEDITION TO FOLLOW THE
REBELS--MAJOR MALCOLM AND HIS PARTY SET OUT--JACK PEMBERTON TRIES TO
REACH BELLEVUE--FINDS IT STILL BESIEGED--RETREATS--QUASHIE SENT WITH A
MESSAGE TO BELLEVUE--SUCCEEDS IN GETTING IN--A NOVEL FLAG OF DISTRESS
HOISTED--A FIERCE ATTACK MADE ON THE HOUSE--THE STOCKADES SET ON FIRE--
BLACKS AGAIN DRIVEN BACK--CUDJOE OFFERS TO ABANDON THE SIEGE IF THE
OVERSEER IS GIVEN UP--AMMUNITION OF THE DEFENDERS ALMOST EXHAUSTED--THE
OVERSEER SHOT--ANOTHER FIERCE ATTACK MADE BY THE BLACKS ON THE HOUSE.

Major Malcolm, influenced by the admiration he felt for Fanny
Pemberton-