his head.

"No," he said; "it's getting too dim. What's that?"

"Only father and uncle," said Rifle, for just then their elders entered
the house, and closed and fastened the door before coming into the back
room.

"It's getting so dark, boys, that we'll trust to the place now to
protect us. Close that window all but the narrow slit. Are the other
windows fast?"

"Yes, father," said Norman; "all but the loopholes in our bedroom and
the kitchen. Think they'll come?"

"Can't say, boy; but we think it is not wise to risk a spear from some
fellow who has crawled up."

"Black fellow crawl up," said Shanter, as Norman secured the window.

"They had better stay away," said the captain, gravely. "Poor wretches,
it is very horrible to have to fire at their unprotected bodies. If
they would only keep away."

The captain cast an eye over the defences, and at the boys' weapons
before going to the girls' bedroom, which stood a little higher than the
other rooms of the house, and being considered the safest spot in the
stronghold, the ladies were all gathered there.

Here the boys could hear him talking cheerily as the place grew darker
and darker, for the fire in the kitchen had been extinguished, and
lights were of course forbidden. From the front room by the door came
the low murmur of voices, where Uncle Munday and Sam German sat
together, the latter now armed with a gun, though his pitchfork was
placed beside him, as if even now he might require it for his defence.

At last, wearied out with sitting in one position, Rifle rose and went
to the door, where his uncle and Sam German were keeping watch.

"Think you can hit a black, Sam?" whispered Rifle, after a few words
with his uncle.

"Dunno, Master Rifle; but I have hit sparrers afore now, and brought
down a rabbit."

"Oh!" ejaculated Rifle. Then after a pause. "I say, Sam, which did you
put in first, the powder or shot?"

"There, it's of no good your trying to be funny, my lad," whispered back
the gardener, "because it won't do. You feel as unked as I do, I'm
sewer. What I says is, I wish it was to-morrow mornin'."

"Or else that they would come, German, and let us get it over," said a
voice out of the darkness, which made them start. "The suspense is
painful, but keep a good heart.--Raphael, boy, you ought to be at your
post. Mind and report every sound you hear."

"Yes, father," said the boy, who crept back to the room he had left, but
not wi