iend Pemberton suggests," said Mr Twigg. "To-morrow
evening, as soon as it is dark, we will send off Quashie. We must take
care in the mean time that the rebels do not see him, or they will know
that by some means or other he got in, and will be on the watch for him.
We may depend on Pemberton's carrying out his plan, and I should advise
that the attempt be made in the night-time."

Quashie was rather disappointed at finding that he was not to set off at
once, as he was eager to get his dollar. His mother consoled him by
assuring him that he would be allowed to go the following night, and Mr
Twigg made him perfectly happy by at once giving him a dollar, so that
he would become the possessor of two dollars, should he accomplish his
return journey.

The garrison were not allowed to rest in quiet. The blacks, growing
impatient, made several attempts to surprise them, but, in consequence
of the severe punishment they had received, were more wary than at
first. Each time, on finding that they were discovered, they retreated
so rapidly that few, if any, of them were shot.

Morning at length arrived; the blacks had retreated to their cover, and,
except that a few shots were at times wantonly fired from a distance at
the house, the day went on as the previous ones had done. Much as they
wanted food, it would be evidently a dangerous undertaking to attempt
procuring it from the yam ground.

The arrival of Major Malcolm was eagerly looked for, but in vain, and it
was resolved to send Quashie off at dark, with an account of their now
truly desperate condition. He was confident of being able as before to
get through the enemy's lines.

In accordance with Mr Pemberton's suggestion, it was resolved in the
mean time to get up a flagstaff at the top of the house, with a flag
hoisted half-mast high as a signal of their distressed condition. This
would hasten the arrival of friends to their relief, should any be in
the neighbourhood. It would not, however, prevent the necessity of
sending off Quashie to urge that aid might at once be despatched.
Fortunately a long pole, which Mr Twigg had intended to put up for that
purpose on a neighbouring height, had been brought to the house to be
prepared by the carpenter. It was at once carried indoors, and, the
lower end being fixed in a beam of the ceiling of the upper story, was
run through the trap which led to the roof. Here, under the direction
of Mr Ferris, who had some nauti