"Good heavens! they are going to try and set our fortifications on fire, and the house also, I fear, if they can," exclaimed Mr Twigg. "And they will succeed too, I am afraid," said the overseer gloomily. "I was sure they had some accursed trick in contemplation." "What do you advise, Lieutenant Belt?" asked Mr Ferris, who remained more collected than any one else. "We must make a sortie and drive them back before they reach our lines," answered the lieutenant. "I will lead it myself, and I am sure I shall not want followers." Archie was the first volunteer, and nearly a dozen more white men immediately sprang forward. Not a moment was to be lost. "Come on, my lads," cried the lieutenant. "We must make our sortie by the outlet leading to the well. We will then get round and attack them on the flank; and, remember, the remainder of the garrison must keep up a hot fire as they come on at the rest of the line, aiming at the black fellows' bodies, not at their faggots, which they will hold before them as shields." Saying this, he led out his brave band of followers, Archie keeping close to him. They had got within sixty yards or so from the blacks before they were perceived, when, firing their muskets--the garrison, meantime, not neglecting their duty, but blazing rapidly away--they drew their cutlasses and threw themselves fiercely on the enemy. So little did the negroes appear to expect the attack that they threw down their bundles of wood, to which their torches, let drop at the same time, set fire, and retreated in confusion. As they ran off, they encountered another well-armed party of their friends, who were coming up the hill, either to support them or to attempt carrying the fortification by assault during the confusion they expected the blazing stockades would produce. On seeing the white men before them, they fired a volley. Instead of running away, however, they still advanced boldly up the hill. "Load, my lads, and meet them bravely," cried the lieutenant--"you have time for it--but do not retreat, or we are lost." As he spoke, Archie, who was near him, heard the thud of a bullet, and had just time to catch the brave young officer in his arms before he fell. "We must not let these savages get hold of him," exclaimed Archie to his companions, taking the lieutenant up on his back. "You keep the enemy in check, and I will carry him to the house." He instantly did as he proposed, the blacks shouting and shrieking after him as he ran, but not daring to advance farther, while the rest of the party, loading and firing as they retreated--the garrison at the same time redoubling their fire--kept the enemy in check, and Archie succeeded in bringing in the wounded officer. The intention of the blacks was thus frustrated; for, though most of the faggots were blazing away, they were at a safe distance from the house.