so hard-pressed?" he
added, anxiously. "Have you made your escape from the house?"

"I did not do so intentionally. Having set out with a number of others
to obtain some yams, we were attacked by a party of blacks, and I was
made prisoner. Happily I had done some service to two or three slaves
among the party, and had saved them more than once from a flogging.
While some of the others proposed putting me to death, they dragged me
off among them, and before the rest of the gang knew what had happened,
it being at night, they enabled me to get off. I made my way along the
shore, as I knew that part of the country and recollected places where I
could conceal myself. I felt pretty sure, however, that should the
black leader or any other instigators of the rebellion discover that I
had escaped they would send in pursuit of me. I could not move fast in
the darkness, and had got to no great distance when daylight broke, so I
climbed up into a big cotton-tree and hid myself among the mass of
creepers to rest. I had intended trying to reach a fort where I could
obtain assistance, but on looking out of my hiding-place in the morning
I saw a party of blacks, who were apparently searching for me. I
therefore crouched down among the creepers, where, as I was pretty well
worn out, I fell asleep. At night I again pushed on, hoping that the
blacks had given up the pursuit. I had reached the hill below which you
saw me, when another day broke, and I had once more to hide myself for
fear of being discovered. On looking out next morning I saw your ship
approaching, and though I thought it probable that the blacks might
still be looking for me, I hurried down in the hope that you would see
me and would go to the assistance of my friends. But two days have
passed since I left them, and I know not what may have happened in the
meantime."

Norman Foley's anxiety was greatly increased by the account given him by
Archie Sandys, for he it was who had so happily escaped destruction. He
observed the lieutenant's evident agitation, though he might not have
suspected the cause. Gerald plied him with questions, and drew forth
many particulars of the siege and defence of Bellevue.

On reaching the ship Norman Foley introduced Archie Sandys to the
commander, who, learning from him the state of affairs at Bellevue,
ordered the sails to be filled, and the _Champion_ under every stitch of
canvas she could carry stood along the coast. As s