"Keep silence," whispered the lieutenant to the men, as he went his rounds; "when they get near enough we will show them that we are wide awake. The blacks can then be picked off by any good marksmen among you." As he spoke, the lieutenant's voice may have been heard, or the negroes may have observed the heads of the sentries above the palisades, for they suddenly disappeared under cover. Towards the morning the darkness increased, and the garrison redoubled their vigilance, every moment expecting an attack, for the rebels might have got close up to the house without being discovered. The ladies, meantime, with the nurses and children, had been placed in one of the lower rooms, into which it was believed no shot could penetrate. Mr Ferris had urged them, in case of an attack, to lie down, so that, should any balls make their way through the planking, they might pass over their heads. "But surely we can help in some way or other," exclaimed Fanny. "We might load the muskets, even if we do not fire them; and if any of our defenders are wounded, we will come out and take their places with the rest." "I will do my best, but I do not feel that I could try to kill the poor blacks," answered Ellen. "They deserve to be killed," exclaimed Miss Pemberton, "for daring to rebel against their masters." She spoke as a planter's daughter. "Perhaps we might better employ ourselves in attending to any of our defenders who are unfortunately wounded," observed Mrs Twigg, who knew Ellen's sentiments, and did not wish to enter into any discussion on the subject. "I trust that, now they have seen the preparations made for their reception, the rebels will not attempt to attack the house," said Mr Ferris. "All I beg you to do is to remain quiet, and to keep up your spirits. Perhaps in the morning we shall find the blacks have retreated, and gone off to attack some more defenceless houses. However, if any of the people are wounded, we will place them under your care. In the mean time, let me entreat you to lie down and get some rest." Somewhat reassured by his remarks, the ladies followed his advice; and, except the sentries and the officers on guard, the greater number of the inmates of the house might have been found fast asleep. Not a sound was heard throughout the building, nor was a light shown which might attract the notice of the rebels. Occasionally their voices and the shrill blasts of their horns could be heard rising out of the valley, but even the keenest pair of eyes among the garrison failed to detect a single object moving in any direction. Day at length broke, and it was hoped that the enemy might have disappeared; but as the light increased, the blacks were seen amid the openings of the trees, collected in still greater numbers than on the previous evening, while in the far distance parties were observed moving across the country, some approaching the house, others going in the direction of Walton.