"I shall load the pistols. I have got four more now. Then I shall take my place at the mouth of the cave again. I hope that when Dinah comes she will bring us news that will enable us to move away. The fact that this party was coming here for refuge shows that the blacks are growing alarmed, and perhaps have already suffered a defeat, in which case the way will be clear for us. If not, I must get her to help me clear the place down below, it will not be difficult. What have you got on the fire?" "There is a fowl that I have been stewing down to make the broth for mother. I have another cut up ready for grilling." Two hours later Nat, to his surprise, saw Dinah hurrying down the ravine, for he had not expected her until evening. He stood up at once. She paused when she caught sight of the bodies lying below the cave. "It is all right, Dinah," he shouted. "We have had a bit of a fight, but it only lasted for a minute or two, and except that I got a graze from a pistol-ball, we are unhurt." "De Lord be blest, sah!" she said as she came up. "Eight ob dem, and you kill dem all, sah?" "Yes; one could hardly miss them at that distance. I am glad to say that none of them got away. You are back earlier than I expected." "Yes, sah; me found out all de news in good time, and den, as eberyone say hurricane come on, I hurry all de way to get here before he come." "Well, come up, Dinah. Madame is going on very well. You know those two mulattoes?" "Me know dem, sah; dey bery bad men, dey lead de black fellows to de attack." "Well, it is well that they came up here, for they had, hidden in their sashes, all madame's jewels." "Dat am good news, sah," the old woman said as she joined him, "dat powerful good news. Madame didn't say anyting about jewels, but Dinah tought of dem, and what a terrible ting it would be if she had lost dem! Dat good affair." "So you think that we are going to have a storm, Dinah?" "Sartin suah, sah; bery hot las' night, bery hot dis morning, and jest as me got to top of hill me saw de clouds coming up bery fast." "I didn't notice the heat particularly. Of course it is very shady in this deep gorge, and one does not see much of the sky." "Dis bery good place, sah--better dan house, much better dan forest. Me was despate frighted dat storm would come before me got here." "I was wanting you to help me put the bodies into the stream, Dinah." "No need for dat, sah; when storm come wash dem all down--no fear ob dat." She went into the cave, and Nat followed her.