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through it. The garrison were too much occupied with what was going forward on the other side of the house to observe him; indeed, his small, black, lithe body could scarcely have been perceived. He ran on like a mouse, looking for a hole through which to escape, and considering whether he should not cry out for assistance and ask to be taken in. At last he got to an opening, and in he darted, just as two men rushed up from the lower ground, no one in the darkness perceiving him. As soon as the men were in the inside, several persons filled up the gap, and he made his way undiscovered within the palisades and through the door of the house. The first person he met was Martha, who had come out to learn what was going forward. Their delight was mutual. Tears streamed from the eyes of his mother as she pressed him to her heart. The planter who had lately expressed an opposite opinion would have acknowledged that the slaves, degraded as they were, were capable of human affection. His errand was soon told, and Martha, proud of his performance, took him to her master, who was naturally very much surprised at seeing him. "I bring message from Massa Pemberton," he said. "Where is it?" asked Mr Twigg. "Here, massa," answered Quashie, presenting his woolly pate. "You take it out, please." Martha, however, performed the operation; and the note being eagerly read, a consultation was held on its contents, which considerably raised the spirits of the besieged party, lowered as they had been by the loss of Archie Sandys. None of them, however, were disposed to attempt cutting their way through the rebels. Lieutenant Belt was almost disabled--for though, in spite of much suffering, he still continued the command in the fortress, he could not use his sword--while the gallant young Scotchman was lost to them. Mr Ferris was willing to make the attempt if others wished it, but he feared the risk to which the ladies would be exposed; and it was finally determined to hold out till the arrival of the troops. "The small quantity of yams we have secured will not last us long," observed Mr Twigg, "and we must remember that we are threatened with starvation, as well as with another attack from the savages." "We have food sufficient for another day," remarked Lieutenant Belt; "before the end of that time, relief may be sent to us." "But should it not come, what then are we to do?" inquired Mr Ferris. "Act as our fr
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