away!"

The boy drew her back down the rocks, following Cudjo, who was
descending on all fours, like an ape. She turned her face in terror to
look after Penn. There he stood, where she had left him, intrepid, his
fine head uncovered, looking steadfastly up at the men on the cliff, and
waving his hat, defiantly. At once she recognized his noble
self-sacrifice. It was his object to attract their fire, and so shield
her from the bullets as she fled.

She struggled from Carl's grasp. "O, Penn," she cried, extending her
hands beseechingly, and starting to return to him.

"Fire!" shouted Silas Ropes.

Crack! went a gun, immediately succeeded by an irregular volley, like a
string of exploding fire-crackers. Penn, expecting death, saw first the
rapid flashes, then the soldiers half concealed by the smoke of their
own guns. The smoke cleared, and there he still stood, smiling--for
Virginia was unhurt.

"Your practice is very poor!" he shouted up at the soldiers; and,
putting on his hat, he walked calmly away.

The bullets had struck the trees and flattened on the stones all around
him; but he was untouched. And before the rebels could reload their
pieces, he was safe with his companions in the cavern.

He found Cudjo hastily relighting his torch. Virginia was sitting on a
stone where Carl had placed her; powerless with the reaction of fear;
her countenance, white as that of a snow-image in the gloom, turned upon
Penn as if she knew not whether it was really he, or his apparition. She
did not rise to meet him. She could not speak. Her eyes were as the eyes
of one that beholds a miracle of God's mercy.

"Is no guns here?" cried Carl.

"De men hab all urn's guns,"' said Cudjo, over his kindlings. "Me gwine
fotch 'em!" And, his torch lighted, he darted away. In a minute he was
out of sight and hearing; only the flame he bore could be seen dancing
like an ignis fatuus in the darkness of the cavern.

"O, if I had only that pistol, Carl!" said Penn. "I could manage to
defend the chasm with it until they come. But wishes won't help us.
Virginia, Deslow has turned traitor! He must have known his friends were
going this morning to visit thy father, or else he could not so well
have chosen his time for betraying them." He lighted his torch, and
lifted Virginia to her feet. "Have no fear. Even if the rebels get
possession here, the subterranean passages can be held by a dozen men
against a hundred."

"I am not afraid now; I a