cowardice! And if it is," he added, after a few moments' pause,
"it's Nature's fault for making a fellow like this. I don't want to be
a coward; I want to be as brave as brave--well, as brave as Murray is.
I wouldn't care if I was just as full of pluck as he is. Anyhow I won't
be a sham and go and pretend that some one is coming. I could never
look him in the eyes again for fancying that he was reading me through
and through. And he would--I'm sure he would."

"Oh!" ejaculated the lad excitedly, for just then one of the
floor-boards gave out a sharp crack.

"Hallo!" said the familiar voice of the lieutenant. "Did I startle you,
Roberts?"

"Something of the kind, sir," said the lad, breathing hard. "I didn't
hear you come."

"No, I suppose not. Seen anything?"

"No, sir. All is as still as if there wasn't a soul for miles, and I
felt at times as if I must come and ask you if you could hear anything."

"Ah, this silence is very trying, Roberts, my lad," said the lieutenant.
"The men are all suffering from it and feeling as if they would give
anything to be watching together."

"They feel like that, sir?" cried the lad eagerly.

"Yes, of course they do, sir. So do I: the utter stillness of the
place, and the expectation of a shot coming at any moment, is most
trying to a man. Here, how long do you think Mr Murray has been gone?"

"Can't say, sir. It feels to me like hours; but it can't be."

"I don't know, my lad. It certainly does, as you say, feel like hours.
But he ought to be back by now, with at least a dozen men. Let's see,
twelve men with Mr Munday and Mr Murray and his two will make sixteen.
Sixteen picked men; and they will bring plenty of ammunition. Well, I
should like the reinforcement before friend Huggins makes his attack. I
don't care then how many he brings with him. I wonder, though, whether
he will use any of his slaves to help him."

"He said they won't fight, sir," said Roberts.

"But he may force them to fight, my lad. Ah! Look out! Here they come
with a rush. There's no mistake about this."

And the officer ran to the door to shout a warning to the watchers at
the other windows, for not only away in front were the giant green
grass-like leaves of the Indian corn in full motion, but the rustle and
crush of feet reached the listeners' ears, while _click, click_, from
within, the cocking of the men's muskets was heard.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR.

"SEAFOWLS AHOY!"