and piccaninnies. You lub dem. You see
what we do dis night; we soon come again wid more faggots and fire and
ladders, and we burn de house ober your heads and kill ebery one.
Cudjoe no fool--Cudjoe speak de truth. Listen, massa, what I say--gib
up de overseer or die."

"It is useless making such a proposal," answered Mr Ferris; "no one
would consent to it. If you have any other terms to offer we will
listen to them. We can hold out against all your attempts to take the
house. You have already lost a number of your foolish followers, and
many more will be killed if you venture again to attack us."

While Mr Ferris was speaking, he heard a person coming up the ladder,
and glancing round he saw Thompson the overseer standing by his side,
and on the point of lifting a musket, which he had placed on the roof.
Before Mr Ferris had time to stop him, he had raised it to his shoulder
and was taking aim at the insurgent leader. As he pulled the trigger
Mr Ferris struck up the weapon, and the bullet whistled over the
black's head.

"Respect a flag of truce, even in the hands of a savage," he exclaimed
indignantly. "If we set such an example, what can we expect in return?"

Cudjoe had observed the act. "I tank you, massa," he shouted, "but dat
man die before de sun go down;" and, rapidly turning, he bounded down
the hill.

Several shots, which went whistling after him, were fired by the men on
guard in the lower story.

"You have done an ill service to the country, sir, and worse to all
within this house," exclaimed the overseer. "That man is the mainspring
of the rebellion. Had I killed him, the blacks in this neighbourhood,
without a leader, would have taken to flight, and we should have been
safe."

"I did what was right. A flag of truce should ever be held sacred,"
answered Mr Ferris. "I do not regret refusing his request, but your
act has prevented us from making other terms, which might have been
done."

"No terms can be kept with savages. It is impossible to trust them,"
exclaimed the overseer. "However, we must now stand the consequences."

Mr Ferris, who felt his anger rising at what he considered Thompson's
insolence, descended from the roof.

The firing had aroused the rest of the party. The lieutenant even,
although musket-shots were familiar sounds, started to his feet,
believing that the house was about again to be attacked. Mr Ferris
explained what had happened, and both the lieutenant