across the fractures in his course, and often passing
spots on which he would scarcely have ventured had not a foe been at his
heels. The blacks in their eagerness to catch him scarcely took notice
of the boat, though had they done so they might have suspected that her
crew possessed firearms, with which they could be reached. They were
scarcely more than a hundred yards off, when the boat got up to the
ledge of rock, and the white man, springing forward, aided by the
bowman, leaped on board and was passed along by the crew to the
stern-sheets.

The lieutenant immediately ordered the boat to be backed off, and her
head being turned in the direction of the ship, the crew once more gave
way. The blacks, meantime, finding that their expected victim had
escaped, gave vent to their feelings of anger in shouts and cries. A
few also, who had been in the rear, now appearing armed with muskets,
had the audacity to fire at the boat, but happily the bullets fell short
of her, and she was soon entirely beyond their range.

"Where do you come from? What has happened?" asked the lieutenant, as
the stranger sank down by his side.

"I was hiding from the rebel slaves in the wood up in the hill, when I
saw the ship out there, and came down in the hopes that the commander
would land some of his crew and send them to the assistance of a white
family, friends of mine, whose house is surrounded by savages who are
threatening their destruction," answered the latter. "There is no time
to be lost, for they were fearfully beset, and have neither food nor
water remaining, while nearly all their ammunition is, I fear,
expended."

"Who are they?" asked Norman Foley, in an evident tone of agitation.

"A Mr Twigg and his family, with whom Mr Ferris, an Irish gentleman,
and his daughter are staying. There are several other white people in
the house," was the answer.

"Mr and Miss Ferris in danger!" ejaculated the lieutenant and Gerald in
the same breath. "How far off is the house? Can we soon reach it?"
inquired the former.

"Twelve or fourteen miles to the westward from here," answered the
stranger. "I should think with this breeze you might get off it in less
than a couple of hours."

"We'll lose no time, and the commander will, I am sure, afford every
assistance in his power," said Norman Foley. "Mr and Miss Ferris are
friends of mine, and I will use every exertion to go to their
assistance. But how do you know that they are