The worthy planter showed that he was a man of spirit--he immediately issued the necessary orders, and the overseer, now convinced that the report of the insurrection was founded on truth, ably seconded him. Coats were thrown aside, and the carpenter's tools in the house being collected, each person took such as he could best use, and, as soon as the wood was brought in, began sawing and nailing away with might and main. Others went on with the _chevaux-de-frise_, while a third party dug a trench and began erecting a palisade between it and the house. Major Malcolm and Lieutenant Belt were everywhere, showing the people how to put up the palisade and lending a hand to the work. Archie Sandys was especially active; the planter and Mr Ferris laboured away with hammer and nails in barricading the windows; while the three troopers who had accompanied the officers, having cast a sufficient store of bullets, came out and gave their valuable assistance. Major Malcolm was too good a soldier to forget the importance of having timely notice of the approach of a foe, and had directed the overseer to select four trustworthy negroes, who were sent out to do duty as scouts, with orders to make their way back the moment they discovered the enemy. "Can you entirely trust those fellows?" asked the major, after the men had been despatched. "As to that, sir, I can't be answerable for their not running away, though I believe that they'll not willingly join the rebels," answered the overseer. "Then we must not depend implicitly on them," said the major. "I must ask some of the young gentlemen to undertake the duty; Lieutenant Belt and one of my men will accompany them."