ried into the hut. My uncle lay on a low bedstead
covered with straw, while one of his followers stood near him with his
rifle in his hand. The black, taking a lamp, led the way to the bed.
As the light fell on my uncle's countenance, I saw that his features
were set, and his eyes had lost their expression. I knelt by his side
and took his hand: though warm, it failed to return my pressure.

"Speak to me--speak to me, uncle!" I exclaimed, but no reply came.

The black shook his head. "Him gone, massa," he said; "no 'gain speak."

I turned to the other man for an explanation.

"He was shot, sir, leading us on against the Redskins. We brought him
in here at once to look to his hurt, and when we saw you coming we hoped
that you might have a doctor with you; but the bullet had done its work,
and he was dead before you entered the hut."

I was deeply grieved, for I knew how my father would feel the loss of my
uncle, who was, however, thus saved the pain of hearing of his son's
death.

I had no time to give way to sorrow, for the rattle of musketry showed
me that the fight was still continuing; the shouts and shrieks of the
Indians, which came from no greater distance than before, proving that
they held their ground. It was not a time for any one with a rifle in
his hand to be idle; and bidding the black remain by his master's body,
I called to the other men to accompany me, and hurried out to join my
companions. There was barely sufficient light to enable me to
distinguish them, but the cracks from their rifles showed where they
were posted. Just as I joined them, Captain Norton appeared, and
ordered us to charge the enemy, who, as we advanced, broke and, fled.
We fired, pouring in a couple of volleys, which brought down several of
the Indians, and hastened the flight of the rest. The captain then
ordered us to retire to the neighbourhood of the hut, where we could the
better defend ourselves should the enemy rally. Had we not arrived, the
whole of my uncle's party would probably have been destroyed; as it was,
several had fallen, and we lost two, besides three wounded. We could
not ascertain how many of the Indians had been killed, as their friends
had carried off most of them. Two or three bodies, however, were still
in the open, but at such a distance from our camp that it would have
been dangerous to have approached them, for some of the Redskins might
be lurking in the wood. As it was more than probab