len seemed to hesitate, but catching a glimpse of Paul, who stood
leaning proudly on his rifle, whistling, with an appearance of the
utmost indifference, the air of a boating song, she recovered her
recollection in time to answer,--

"I have been left the captain of the rock, while my uncle and his sons
hunt, and captain will I remain till he returns to receive back the
charge."

"This is wasting moments that will not soon return, and neglecting
an opportunity that may never occur again," the young soldier gravely
remarked. "The sun is beginning to fall already, and many minutes cannot
elapse before the squatter and his savage brood will be returning to
their huts."

Doctor Battius cast a glance behind him, and took up the discourse, by
saying--

"Perfection is always found in maturity, whether it be in the animal
or in the intellectual world. Reflection is the mother of wisdom, and
wisdom the parent of success. I propose that we retire to a discreet
distance from this impregnable position, and there hold a convocation,
or council, to deliberate on what manner we may sit down regularly
before the place; or, perhaps, by postponing the siege to another
season, gain the aid of auxiliaries from the inhabited countries, and
thus secure the dignity of the laws from any danger of a repulse."

"A storm would be better," the soldier smilingly answered, measuring the
height and scanning all its difficulties with a deliberate eye; "'twould
be but a broken arm or a bruised head at the worst."

"Then have at it!" shouted the impetuous bee-hunter, making a spring
that at once put him out of danger from shot, by carrying him beneath
the projecting ledge on which the garrison was posted; "now do your
worst, young devils of a wicked breed; you have but a moment to work
your mischief!"

"Paul! rash Paul!" shrieked Ellen; "another step and the rocks will
crush you! they hang by but a thread, and these girls are ready and
willing to let them fall!"

"Then drive the accursed swarm from the hive; for scale the rock I will,
though I find it covered with hornets."

"Let her if she dare!" tauntingly cried the eldest of the girls,
brandishing a musket with a mien and resolution that would have done
credit to her Amazonian dam. "I know you, Nelly Wade; you are with the
lawyers in your heart, and if you come a foot nigher, you shall have
frontier punishment. Put in another pry, girls; in with it! I should
like to see the man, of them a