"House," replied the boy, shortly. "Well, what else?" "Lot man coming and going way 'gain." "There!" said Morgan, triumphantly. "Now, Master George, was I right?" "Who are they, Pomp?" I whispered. "Look, quick!" "Pomp can't look, so 'leepy." "But you must." "Pomp go back--go 'leep." "No, on, please look again. Oh, Pomp!" "Mass' George want Pomp look?" "Yes, yes." "Mass' George won't call Pomp 'tupid lil nigger 'gain?" "I'll promise anything, only pray look." The boy rested his chin on the fence, and gazed again, while I could hear my heart going _thump_, _thump_ with excitement. "Lot men. All black dark." "Black?" I said, eagerly. "You don't mean the slaves?" "Pomp nebber say dey nigger. Pomp say all black." "Don't talk so loudly," whispered Morgan, eagerly. "Pomp no want talk loud. Pomp go back 'leep." "No, no, pray look again and tell me, Pomp," I whispered. "Mass' Morgan talk sabbage. Want to flog Pomp." "No, no, he does not, and I want you to look and tell me." "Pomp look and tell Mass' George, but now too 'leepy, an' eye all 'tick togedder much, tell Mass' Morgan." "Then tell me," I whispered. He looked again, then seemed suddenly to grow interested, and as excited as we were, as he caught my arm. "Dem Injum!" "There, Master George. Quick! Fetch the captain." "No, no, fire and give the alarm," I said. "No. Better not. It will alarm them too. Go and fetch the captain." I hurried away, closely followed by Pomp, and luckily found my father on his way to go the rounds in company with Colonel Preston. I told them what we had seen, and they hurried with us to the spot where Morgan was on duty. "It can only mean one thing," said the colonel, excitedly. "They would not trouble much about plunder." "What do you mean then?" said my father; "a point from which to attack?" "No," said the colonel, hoarsely. "That!" As he said the words, there was a faint gleam of light in the direction of the house, a flash, then quite a burst of ruddy flame; and by the time we reached Morgan, his face was lit up by the glow as the wooden structure blazed away rapidly, and the flames like great golden tongues licked at porch and veranda; while from one window, which showed quite plainly, so great a volume rushed out that it showed where the house had been fired. There was no need to sound an alarm, the great golden fire-flag which floated in the darkness of the night brought every man out to gaze; and as the flames mounted higher, illuminating the settlement far and near, the other houses stood forth plainly, the trees seemed turned to gold, and the wavy corn and cane came into sight and died out again in a way wonderful to behold. "Preston! Bruton!" said a firm voice, "round to the men. Every one on his guard. Reserves in the centre ready. This is a ruse to take our attention prior to an attack."