r him."

"Latour's is over that way," said Toussaint, pointing some distance
further to the south-east. "But see! there is fire there, too! God
have mercy!"

He was silent, in mournful fear that he knew now too well the reason why
Jean had not come, and the nature of the conversation Jean had desired
to have with him. As he stood with folded arms looking from the one
conflagration to the other, Genifrede clung to him trembling with
terror. In a quarter of an hour another blaze appeared on the horizon;
and soon after, a fourth.

"The sky is on fire," cried Denis, in more delight than fear. "Look at
the clouds!" And the clouds did indeed show, throughout their huge
pile, some a mild flame colour, and others a hard crimson edge, as
during a stormy sunset.

"Alas! alas! this is rebellion," said Toussaint; "rebellion against God
and man. God have mercy! The whites have risen against their king; and
now the blacks rise against them, in turn. It is a great sin. God have
mercy!"

Margot wept bitterly. "Oh, what shall we do?" she cried, "What will
become of us, if there is a rebellion?"

"Be cheerful, and fear nothing," replied her husband. "I have not
rebelled, and I shall not. Monsieur Bayou has taught me to bear and
forbear--yes, my boy, as this book says, and as the book of God says: We
will be faithful, and fear nothing."

"But they may burn this plantation," cried Margot. "They may come here,
and take you away. They may ruin Monsieur Bayou, and then we may be
sold away; we may be parted--"

Her grief choked her words.

"Fear nothing," said her husband, with calm authority. "We are in God's
hand; and it is a sin to fear His will. But see! there is another fire,
over towards the town."

And he called aloud the name of his eldest son, saying he should send
the boy with a horse to meet his master. He himself must remain to
watch at home.

Placide did not come when called, nor was he at the stables. He was
gone some way off, to cut fresh grass for the cattle--a common
night-labour on the plantation.

"Call Isaac, then," said Toussaint.

"Run, Genifrede," said her mother. "Isaac and Aimee are in the wood.
Run, Genifrede."

Genifrede did not obey. She was too much terrified to leave the piazza
alone; though her father gently asked when she, his eldest daughter, and
almost a woman, would leave off being scared on all occasions like a
child. Margot went herself; so far infected with her dau