g exposed to the aim of
the two best marksmen in the fortress, the rest of the assailants in the
mean time firing away, aiming at the loopholes and roof. As few of them
had before handled muskets, their bullets flew wide of the mark, while
the garrison kept pouring down a continual fire among them. Even more
experienced troops might have retired before such a reception.

The blacks showed the most desperate courage, and it was some time
before they discovered that their attempt was hopeless. A few of them,
indeed, again endeavoured to place the ladders against the wall, but as
all of those who did so were shot, the rest, finding that so many of
their companions had fallen, were seized with a panic and began to rush
down the hill. The braver fellows among them lifted the slain and
wounded, and, in spite of the bullets which flew about their ears,
carried them off.

"If all the insurgents behave as these rascals have done it will be no
easy task to subdue them," observed Major Malcolm to his host.

Not a single person in the house had been injured, but they could not
help acknowledging that the case would have been very different had they
met the insurgents in the open field, for it would have been no easy
task to drive back a host of savages who displayed the desperate courage
their assailants had done, as Major Malcolm was afterwards to find.

No one expected that another attack would be made during the night, but
of course a watch was kept as before, though many of the gentlemen threw
themselves on the cane sofas and chairs, or went to sleep on the ground
overcome with fatigue.

The next morning, when daylight enabled them to discern objects at a
distance, not a black could be seen. Jack Pemberton and several other
young men, on this, volunteered to go out and ascertain if the rebels
had really retreated. They had been gone for some time, and fears began
to be entertained that they had been cut off. However, they at length
were seen coming up the hill. They gave the satisfactory report that
not a black was to be discovered in the neighbourhood. "In what
direction have they gone?" asked Major Malcolm. They had not thought of
making any observations on the subject. "Then I must beg you and a few
of your friends to accompany me that we may ascertain the point," he
said. Jack would go with the greatest pleasure.

They set out, and in a short time Major Malcolm expressed his opinion
that they had gone nort