"But cannot I help you, Humphrey?" said Alice. "Surely I can do
something?"

"We will see, Alice; but I think I can do without you. We have still
plenty of daylight. I will take the box into your room."

Humphrey, who had only taken the box out of the cart and carried it
within the threshold of the door, now took it into his sisters' bedroom,
and then went out and called Pablo, who came running to him.

"Pablo," said Humphrey, "we must bring to the cottage some of the large
pieces we sawed out for rafters; for I should not be surprised if the
cottage were attacked this night." He then told Pablo what had taken
place. "You see, Pablo, I dare not send to the Intendant to-night in
case the robbers should come here."

"No, not send to-night," said Pablo; "stay here and fight them; first
make door fast, then cut hole to fire through."

"Yes, that was my idea. You don't mind fighting them, Pablo?"

"No; fight hard for Missy Alice and Missy Edith," said Pablo; "fight for
you too, Massa Humphrey, and fight for myself," added Pablo, laughing.

They then went for the pieces of squared timber, brought them from the
saw-pit to the cottage, and very soon fitted them to the doors and
windows, so as to prevent several men, with using all their strength,
from forcing them open.

"That will do," said Humphrey; "and now get me the small saw, Pablo, and
I will cut a hole or two to fire through."

It was dark before they had finished, and then they made all fast, and
went to Pablo's room for the arms, which they got ready for service, and
loaded.

"Now, we are all ready, Alice, so let us have our supper," said
Humphrey. "We will make a fight for it, and they shall not get in so
easily as they think."

After they had had their supper, Humphrey said the prayers, and told his
sisters to go to bed.

"Yes, Humphrey, we will go to bed, but we will not undress; for if they
come, I must be up to help you. I can load a gun, you know, and Edith
can take them to you as fast as I load them. Won't you, Edith?"

"Yes, I will bring you the guns, Humphrey, and you shall shoot them,"
replied Edith.

Humphrey kissed his sisters, and they went to their room. He then put a
light in the chimney, that he might not have to get one in case the
robbers came, and then desired Pablo to go and lie down on his bed, as
he intended to do the same. Humphrey remained awake till past three
o'clock in the morning; but no robbers came. Pablo was