"Thank you," he said; "I was intending to summon you, for I wish to take a look round our fortifications, to be sure that we have no weak points, for I strongly suspect we have not done with those fellows yet." He was just about to descend, when I caught sight of a bright light away to the northward. "What is that?" I asked, pointing it out to him. "It comes from the direction of Marchant's house," he answered. "I very much fear the rebels have set fire to it. Yes, there is no doubt about it," he added, as forked flames were observed to burst up round the first light, and to extend on either side. Presently another light was seen in the south-east. "That must be from Peek's estate. I hope they had warning, and made their escape in time, or the villains will have murdered them, to a certainty. Fortunately there are no women or children there." We stood watching the progress of the flames. "We'll not tell the Marchants of the disaster," he continued. "It might drive them out of their wits; but they may consider themselves fortunate in having escaped with their lives." Loud shouts rising from the spot where we supposed the blacks to be showed the pleasure they felt at seeing the houses burning. "They would be still more delighted could they destroy Belmont," observed Mr Talboys. "They will, I fear, soon again attempt to carry out their design." He now begged me to remain where I was, and to give him immediate information, should I observe anything suspicious, and went down to carry out his intention of examining every assailable point in the house. I kept, my eyes turned, first to one side, then to the other, peering into the darkness, when I observed something moving, away to the right. It seemed like a black line; and after watching it for a few seconds, I felt sure that it was formed by a number of negroes creeping cautiously on to the right of the house, and endeavouring to conceal themselves. I was afraid that my voice might be heard should I shout out, so I went down the steps and soon found Mr Talboys. The moment I told him what I had seen, he sprang up with me, but we could see nothing, though we watched for some minutes. "If they were really blacks you saw, they intend to take us by surprise," he said. "We must keep a look-out, and be prepared for them."