tate who formed the garrison of
the house, there were several guests, planters and their families, from
the neighbouring small properties, who had come to Walton for
protection, knowing that they could not hold out should they be attacked
in their own houses. They all brought rumours of the massacre of
numerous families of whites. On still more distant estates one or two
like Mr Hayward had narrowly escaped with their lives. Notwithstanding
this, when they all assembled round Mr Pemberton's hospitable board,
few of them looked like people who had been exposed to fearful danger,
and were at any moment liable to have to fight with a savage foe. Some
of them, it is true, uttered threats of bitter vengeance on the heads of
the villainous slaves, as they called the blacks; but they passed the
bottle freely, and talked, and even laughed, as if nothing special was
happening.

Major Malcolm was surprised at their apparent indifference to danger.

"_Carpe diem_ is my motto," observed a jovial, bald-headed gentleman,
who sat next to him. "It does not do to think too much of to-morrow.
`Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.' Of course our pockets
will suffer, but the rebellion will be quickly put down, and all things
will come right in the end."

"I only hope so," observed the major; but he thought to himself, "If you
were to treat your slaves justly, and do your utmost to instruct them,
there would be less fear of outbreaks for the future." He did not say
this aloud, however, for he saw that his neighbour was not in a mood to
listen calmly to such a remark.

Major Malcolm was more pleased with the lady of the house than with any
of her guests. He had a good deal of conversation with her, the most
interesting subject being her daughter, of whom she was justly proud,
and she expatiated on her perfections with all a mother's fondness. He
won the good opinion both of his host and hostess, who begged that he
would again favour them with a visit on the first opportunity, when they
hoped that the country would be restored to peace.

The evening passed away quietly. So little was an attack expected that
some of the guests proposed retiring to their rooms.

"You will run the risk, my friends, of being roused up in an unpleasant
manner," said their host in a warning voice; "the very silence of the
rebels is, I suspect, ominous of their evil intentions."

Major Malcolm agreed with him, and advised that a vigilant wat