I was lying in my tent on this night, listening to the rain and thinking happy thoughts of the joys in store for me when I should return to the Hall and marry the beautiful girl I loved. Barron slept with me and was snoring away at a great rate for it was long past midnight. I had just made up my mind to cease building air-castles and follow his example, and had fastened the tent flies and stretched myself out comfortably in my wet blanket, when a noise outside startled me. It sounded like the stealthy tread of someone bent on a secret purpose, which, at this hour and place, would probably be anything but good. I reached carefully for my pistol and noiselessly cocked back the flint, and then stared through the inky darkness toward the tent fly. I lay listening for a moment or two longer and then was aware of something moving under the canvas at my side. In an instant I clapped the muzzle of my pistol to it and called out, "Stop!" "For God's sake, take your pistol away and let me in, quick!" said a well known voice, and the next instant Will Byrd was inside the tent. Another form followed his and for a moment I was almost smothered by Sam's embrace. "What time is it?" asked Will, quickly. "Not quite three, I believe," I answered. "But for heaven's sake, how did you get"-- "Hurry, then, we have just about time," interrupted Will, paying no attention to my question. "They attack you at daylight. We have just escaped, and came through the swamp to avoid being taken by these farmers and held until too late"-- "Hello! What's the matter? Who's that?" cried Barron, starting up from his blanket. "Will and Sam," I said, "They've just come over. The grenadier company from the fort will be on the causeway in an hour." And in less than a minute all of us were on our way to Colonel Woodford's tent to tell him the news. Little noise was made as we gathered our men at the end of the causeway, and as we hurried about Will told me, between breaths that my sister Mary and Harrison were living in the town of Norfolk where Will had been held close prisoner until an hour or two before. He had failed to gain the good will of the governor on going back to the frigate after our flight, and both he and Sam were closely confined. As soon as Sam was able to work, he was taken out and sent, with a lot of other captured slaves, to help strengthen the fortifications of the town. Here he heard the news of the proposed attack and managed to liberate Will and escape with him in time to warn us. "When was Mary married, and at what church?" I asked breathlessly. But Will suddenly turned away and did not answer and, taking an old musket from a farmer, pretended to be busily engaged in fixing the flint. I was working hard with my men, trying to get an old twelve pounder into position to sweep the bridge, but the wheels of its carriage were so rotten and stuck so deeply in the mud, that they finally broke down completely, leaving the gun useless.