ge to the house.

Presently he saw a party issue from the stockades, and he thought even
at that distance he could recognise Archie Sandys. The leaders were
white men, and were followed by several blacks with buckets on their
heads. He at once divined their object. For some time, apparently,
they were not discovered by the rebels, but presently one of the latter,
doing duty as a sentinel in advance of the rest, saw what was taking
place. He giving notice to the others, a number of them started forth,
and, dashing up the hill, began firing away at the white men. Jack
witnessed the gallant way in which Archie defended his followers, and
had the satisfaction of seeing them regain their fortifications without
any of them apparently being wounded.

While this scene was being enacted, as the rebels' eyes were turned
toward the house, he was able, without much risk, to creep forward and
get a more complete view of their position.

"We should not have the slightest chance of getting in, that's very
certain," he said to himself; "but if we remain here, we shall run a
great risk of being caught." And, not without some fear that he might
be seen by the blacks, who now covered the opposite hill, he hurried
back to his friends.

They agreed with him that the sooner they were off the better, but that
if they could collect a sufficient force of white men and trustworthy
mulattoes, they might without difficulty out their way through the
undisciplined band of savages, with some prospect also of putting them
to flight.

"In my opinion, if they are attacked in a determined way, they will very
quickly take to their heels," said Jack.

Their return occupied a shorter time than they had before taken, for, as
they cared less for being seen, they were able to follow the highroad.
On their way, about a mile distant from Walton, they passed through a
village which appeared to be entirely deserted. Looking into one of the
huts, however, they saw a boy of about twelve years old sitting on the
ground, crying and looking very miserable.

"What is the matter?" asked Jack, who recognised him as the son of one
of the Walton slaves.

"Me out in de fields, and when come back find fader gone, me not know
where, but s'pose rebels take him away to kill him, for dey kill
eberybody else who not get off and hide," answered the boy, who was
evidently an unusually intelligent little fellow.

"Well, Quashie," said Jack, who was kind-hearted as w