sh bands, discovering that it was unguarded,
might visit it during his absence.

No news had come from Bellevue, and at length his son Jack and three
other men volunteered to make their way very cautiously in that
direction and ascertain the state of affairs. If the rebel slaves were
attacking the house, or were in the neighbourhood, so that they could
not approach it without the risk of being cut off, they were to return;
but if not, they had leave to go on and visit their friends, and report
that all had gone well at Walton.

"Remember, my lads, you are to be cautious and not expose yourselves to
the risk of losing your lives by getting between the savages and the
road by which you can retreat to this house. Discretion, in this case,
is the better part of valour. By the time you return we may perhaps
have obtained further assistance, and we will then, if Bellevue is
really besieged, do our best to go to the relief of our friends. The
slaves are, I suspect, especially bent on revenging themselves on
Thompson, the overseer, who is looked upon by them as a hard man and a
severe taskmaster, though our friend Twigg thinks well of him, and is
satisfied with his management of the estate. A slave who has become one
of their leaders--Cudjoe, I am told by our people, is his name--was
flogged some time back by Thompson, and the savage has ever since
threatened to revenge himself on the overseer. This makes me fear that
they will persevere longer than under other circumstances they might
have done, but if our friends at Bellevue can hold out it will be an
advantage, by occupying the slaves who would otherwise have been roaming
through the country and devastating other estates. You may, Jack, if
you have an opportunity, warn Thompson to beware of Cudjoe when the rest
of the slaves have been again brought under subjection, for the savage
is not likely to forego his desire of vengeance, even should the
overseer escape at this time."

These remarks were made while Jack was preparing for his expedition. He
promised strictly to obey his father's directions.

He and his friends, well armed, forthwith set out. They were all
spirited young men, who had been educated in England, but had been long
enough in the country to be well acquainted with its ways, and had also
been accustomed to field sports. They were thus admirably suited for
the task they had undertaken. Well aware of the danger they were
running, they advanced cau