The Missing Ship Part 34

The shrieks and yells uttered by the blacks for the purpose of intimidating the garrison were certainly terrific, and even the gallant lieutenant began to fear that all the efforts made to resist them would be in vain. On inquiry, too, he found that the ammunition was running short, a large proportion having been expended during that and the previous night. Still undaunted, he went round among the people, inspiring others with his own cool courage.

"We have more serious work than hitherto, my friends," he said; "but if we are true to ourselves, we shall beat the enemy as before. Never mind though they burn the _chevaux-de-frise_, they will not venture through the flames, depend on that; and if we fail to put out the fire, we must retreat into the house. As I told you before, do not throw a shot away.

Here they come."

As he spoke, the savages carrying the f.a.ggots rushed forward with the intention of casting them over the outer line against the stockades.

Many, however, were shot down before they succeeded in doing this; others were killed or wounded after they had thrown forward their loads.

A number of men now advanced, carrying candlewood torches.

"Those fellows must be picked off," shouted the lieutenant.

In some cases the command was obeyed; but many of the blacks, now leaping on one side, now on the other, eluded the bullets aimed at them, and threw the burning brands amid the bundles of wood, which catching fire began to blaze up in all directions, the smoke almost concealing the combatants from each other. Whenever it lifted, however, the flames exposed the shrieking ma.s.s of blacks clearly to view, and many were shot down in the moment, as they supposed, of their triumphant success.

As Lieutenant Belt had expected, none of them ventured through the burning ma.s.s; but here and there the stockades were catching fire, and it appeared too probable that they would be burnt through and afford an ultimate ingress to the foe. The scene was indeed terrible to those standing in the narrow s.p.a.ce within the stockades--the crackling of the burning wood, the lurid flames, the dense ma.s.s of smoke, and outside the shouting, shrieking savages eager to break through the defences and ma.s.sacre all within.

Efforts were made to extinguish the fire, and had there been an ample supply of water, it might easily have been done, for it was only in spots where the flames blew against the woodwork that they produced any effect. Still the back and sides of the house were protected, and until the stockades were destroyed the besiegers could make no use of their ladders.

"I do not think we need fear them," said Lieutenant Belt. "We must watch narrowly where they are placed, and shoot down the people from the windows immediately they attempt to mount."

The blacks, as before, carried off their dead and wounded, and it was difficult to ascertain how much they had suffered. Already a good many had retreated, but others were seen coming up with more f.a.ggots, which they attempted to throw amid the already burning ma.s.s. By this time the whole house was surrounded by a hedge of flames, and Mr Twigg, who had exerted himself as much as any one, made his way up to the lieutenant, and advised that they should retreat into the house while the enemy were unable to follow them.

"Let us make another attempt to drive them off," was the answer. "They are afraid themselves of the flames they have kindled, and will not venture through them. Now, my lads, give them one more volley," he shouted, "and if I mistake not they will turn tail."

As he shouted "Fire!" at the top of his voice, the order was heard by the blacks, and away they went scampering down the hill, hoping to avoid the bullets which they expected would follow.

The greater number got under cover, or escaped by falling flat on their faces. Ignorant savages as they were, they were unable to take advantage of the success their bravery and hardihood had accomplished.

On this the ultimate safety of the hard-pressed garrison depended. Had they pressed on through the opening which the fire had produced, they might have forced their way, not only within the stockade, but into the house itself. Hopes were entertained that the enemy had had fighting enough for the night, and intended to allow the fire to do its work before making another a.s.sault. Fresh efforts were made by the garrison to extinguish the fire, which had got hold of the stockades. They had been composed chiefly of dry timber, which easily ignited and burned furiously. At length the lieutenant saw that all attempts to save them would be futile, and that the utmost that could be done would be to prevent the doors and windows of the house itself from catching fire.

This, by constant watchfulness and great exertion, was done; and he then, complying with Mr Twigg's earnest appeals, summoned the people to come within the house, when the door was barricaded, and they prepared to hold out, in what they had from the first called their citadel, till the moment for the intended sortie had arrived.

It was a night of terror to many and anxiety to all. Their ammunition was running terribly short; but a few rounds only remained, and there was barely food sufficient to afford a breakfast for the weary garrison.

The water also was almost exhausted.

Daylight came, and the lieutenant went himself to the roof of the house to look out, but could see no friendly band coming to their relief. The young ladies' dresses were flying in the morning breeze, sadly rent by the bullets which had pa.s.sed through them. The lieutenant then turned his glance into the valley, where he saw the black besiegers still apparently as numerous as ever. The hedge of fire had now burned itself out; large gaps existed in the stockades, but portions still remained standing, and would afford some protection to his men in case a sortie had to be made. His chief object was to examine the ground which they would have to traverse, should Mr Pemberton carry out his intention of coming to their relief. He at last descended, and went round to each of the windows, where he had posted a sentry to keep a look-out on the movements of the rebels; then, feeling that he had done his duty, he threw himself down on a cane sofa, to s.n.a.t.c.h for a short time the rest he so much required.

The other inmates of the house, who had been kept awake all the night, were dozing in their chairs or on their sofas; the men not on guard were lying down on the ground; the children were in their cribs, watched over by Martha. She had reserved some food for them, and they were in that respect better off than any one else. The young ladies and Mrs Twigg had positively refused to take more than their share. They were happily also forgetting their troubles in sleep.

Weary as he was, Mr Ferris felt the dangerous position in which they were placed too much to rest, and continued going from room to room, looking out at each window, and occasionally mounting to the roof. He was standing there, when he saw a single black advancing up the hill from among the savages. He was unarmed, and carried in his hand a pole with a large white flag waving from it. He evidently understood the use of a flag of truce, and trusted to its being respected. He advanced till he got within hearing distance of the house. He was a tall, strongly built man, his features unusually hideous even for a negro. On seeing Mr Ferris, he shouted at the top of his voice, "Will you gib in?

You see what we can do. We ask you to make friends."

"We shall be ready to do so on condition that you lay down your arms and return to your duty," answered Mr Ferris.

The black laughed loud and hoa.r.s.ely. "Do you know who I am?" he asked.

"No," answered Mr Ferris.

"Den I tell you--I Cudjoe. Some inside de house know me, and know dat I no fool. Listen den. We go away and leave Ma.s.sa Twigg--he good man-- and all de people alone on one 'dition, dat you gib up the oberseer and let us hab him to do wid him as we like. Dat is our 'dition; 'cept it and you safe. If not--listen, ma.s.sa--you got one lily-white daughter, and Ma.s.sa Twigg him got wife and piccaninnies. You lub dem. You see what we do dis night; we soon come again wid more f.a.ggots and fire and ladders, and we burn de house ober your heads and kill ebery one.

Cudjoe no fool--Cudjoe speak de truth. Listen, ma.s.sa, what I say--gib up de overseer or die."

"It is useless making such a proposal," answered Mr Ferris; "no one would consent to it. If you have any other terms to offer we will listen to them. We can hold out against all your attempts to take the house. You have already lost a number of your foolish followers, and many more will be killed if you venture again to attack us."

While Mr Ferris was speaking, he heard a person coming up the ladder, and glancing round he saw Thompson the overseer standing by his side, and on the point of lifting a musket, which he had placed on the roof.

Before Mr Ferris had time to stop him, he had raised it to his shoulder and was taking aim at the insurgent leader. As he pulled the trigger Mr Ferris struck up the weapon, and the bullet whistled over the black's head.

"Respect a flag of truce, even in the hands of a savage," he exclaimed indignantly. "If we set such an example, what can we expect in return?"

Cudjoe had observed the act. "I tank you, ma.s.sa," he shouted, "but dat man die before de sun go down;" and, rapidly turning, he bounded down the hill.

Several shots, which went whistling after him, were fired by the men on guard in the lower story.

"You have done an ill service to the country, sir, and worse to all within this house," exclaimed the overseer. "That man is the mainspring of the rebellion. Had I killed him, the blacks in this neighbourhood, without a leader, would have taken to flight, and we should have been safe."

"I did what was right. A flag of truce should ever be held sacred,"

answered Mr Ferris. "I do not regret refusing his request, but your act has prevented us from making other terms, which might have been done."

"No terms can be kept with savages. It is impossible to trust them,"

exclaimed the overseer. "However, we must now stand the consequences."

Mr Ferris, who felt his anger rising at what he considered Thompson's insolence, descended from the roof.

The firing had aroused the rest of the party. The lieutenant even, although musket-shots were familiar sounds, started to his feet, believing that the house was about again to be attacked. Mr Ferris explained what had happened, and both the lieutenant and Mr Twigg agreed that he had acted rightly, and blamed the overseer for firing.

Lieutenant Belt especially was indignant at his conduct.

"They may or may not venture again to attack us, but if they do, and succeed, we can expect no mercy at their hands," he said.

"We could have expected none, at all events, I believe," observed Mr Twigg.

Some of the garrison, who had a lower sense of honour than Mr Ferris, were not so well satisfied with his decision, and declared that if they had had their will they would have given up the overseer to Cudjoe, though they took care not to utter such an opinion in his hearing.

The position of the garrison was now truly critical. The shots uselessly fired had expended several of the few rounds, now of such inestimable value. The lieutenant, on making inquiries, found that some of the men had only a single charge apiece; none had more than two.

Should another attack be made, what hope had they of beating off the foe? He did not conceal the state of affairs from the gentlemen.

"Then our best chance will be to sally out at once and fight our way towards Walton," said Mr Twigg.

"Unless our friends should appear to our relief we should be surrounded and cut to pieces," answered the lieutenant. "When the blacks find that we have no powder, they will attack us with greater confidence. We may still hold out for some hours in the house, and as the enemy are not as yet aware of our want of ammunition, they may possibly not again venture on an a.s.sault."

"But if they do?" asked Mr Twigg.

"Then we must reserve each bullet for the most daring among them. If we can shoot their leaders, the rest will probably take to flight."

"But if we fail, and should they force their way in?" asked the planter, whose spirits were sinking as he thought of the fearful danger to which his family were exposed.

"Then, sir, we must endeavour to drive them out again with our cutla.s.ses and bayonets; or, if the worst happens, place ourselves round the ladies and children, and fight to the last," answered the lieutenant in a confident tone. "Though my sword-arm cannot serve me, I can use a pike or bayonet."

Mrs Twigg had heard of what had taken place, and began to suspect their desperate condition. She imparted her apprehensions to Ellen and f.a.n.n.y, though neither of them showed any signs of fear.

"I wish that I could use a pistol or sword," exclaimed f.a.n.n.y; "but surely we can do something. We can hurl stones or logs of wood down on the heads of our a.s.sailants from the windows or roof."

"I will help you," cried Ellen, inspired by her friend's courage. "Let us get them carried up at once, in case they are wanted. There are paving-stones which can be dug up and broken into fragments, or pieces of the heavy furniture will serve the purpose. We will at once tell Mr Twigg what we are ready to do."