dage in the greatest
terror, in vain trying to get on his Diplomatic coat; and Mr. Kitten
respectfully tying his pocket-handkerchief over Mrs. Pordage's nightcap.
I noticed Mrs. Belltott run out screaming, and shrink upon the ground
near me, and cover her face in her hands, and lie all of a bundle,
shivering. But, what I noticed with the greatest pleasure was, the
determined eyes with which those men of the Mine that I had thought fine
gentlemen, came round me with what arms they had: to the full as cool and
resolute as I could be, for my life--ay, and for my soul, too, into the
bargain!

The chief person being Mr. Macey, I told him how the three men of the
guard would be at the gate directly, if they were not already there, and
how Sergeant Drooce and the other seven were gone to bring in the
outlying part of the people of Silver-Store. I next urged him, for the
love of all who were dear to him, to trust no Sambo, and, above all, if
he could got any good chance at Christian George King, not to lose it,
but to put him out of the world.

"I will follow your advice to the letter, Davis," says he; "what next?"

My answer was, "I think, sir, I would recommend you next, to order down
such heavy furniture and lumber as can be moved, and make a barricade
within the gate."

"That's good again," says he: "will you see it done?"

"I'll willingly help to do it," says I, "unless or until my superior,
Sergeant Drooce, gives me other orders."

He shook me by the hand, and having told off some of his companions to
help me, bestirred himself to look to the arms and ammunition. A proper
quick, brave, steady, ready gentleman!

One of their three little children was deaf and dumb, Miss Maryon had
been from the first with all the children, soothing them, and dressing
them (poor little things, they had been brought out of their beds), and
making them believe that it was a game of play, so that some of them were
now even laughing. I had been working hard with the others at the
barricade, and had got up a pretty good breastwork within the gate.
Drooce and the seven men had come back, bringing in the people from the
Signal Hill, and had worked along with us: but, I had not so much as
spoken a word to Drooce, nor had Drooce so much as spoken a word to me,
for we were both too busy. The breastwork was now finished, and I found
Miss Maryon at my side, with a child in her arms. Her dark hair was
fastened round her head with a band.