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