The overseer proposed dashing out, with a whip in one hand and a sword
in the other.
"The rascals won't stop running if they see us coming after them," he
said.
Mr Talboys, however, wisely ordered all of us to remain inside the
walls.
"There are brave fellows among them, notwithstanding the cowardice of
some, and they are very likely to turn round and cut us to pieces," he
observed.
This would certainly have been the case, for we heard the blacks
shouting and shrieking at no great distance off, though beyond the range
of our muskets. They had evidently halted.
"We must be ready for another attack, my friends," cried Mr Talboys.
"Keep at your posts."
Miss Lucy came up to where Tom and I were standing.
"We're so much obliged to you," she said. "If those dreadful blacks had
got in, we knew that we should all be killed. You have defended us
bravely, and we're so glad that no one has been hurt."
"When we think that we have you to defend, we'll fight as long as we
have a charge of powder and a ball remaining, and after that, too, for
we should make good use of our swords, depend on it," answered Tom
gallantly.
After this the blacks were quiet for some time, but we could not judge
whether they intended again to come on. Mr Talboys assured us that
they were still in the neighbourhood, and that we must be prepared at
any moment for an attack. The time went slowly by. I heard Caesar and
Cato talking; and as the danger appeared to lessen, the courage of the
former increased.
"Dem niggers, how dey did run when we fired at dem! great cowards! Just
dey cum on again, and see how we pepper der legs," said Caesar.
"Better dey not cum," observed Cato, like a true philosopher, probably
doubting his companion's resolution.
As there was no necessity to keep at our posts, I went up and asked Mr
Talboys if he would allow me to take his place, while he joined the
ladies.
"Thank you," he said; "I was intending to summon you, for I wish to take
a look round our fortifications, to be sure that we have no weak points,
for I strongly suspect we have not done with those fellows yet."
He was just about to descend, when I caught sight of a bright light away
to the northward.
"What is that?" I asked, pointing it out to him.
"It comes from the direction of Marchant's house," he answered. "I very
much fear the rebels have set fire to it. Yes, there is no doubt about
it," he added, as forked flames were observed to burst up round the
first light, and to extend on either side. Presently another light was
seen in the south-east.
"That must be from Peek's estate. I hope they had warning, and made
their escape in time, or the villains will have murdered them, to a
certainty. Fortunately there are no women or children there."
We stood watching the progress of the flames.
"We'll not tell the Marchants of the disaster," he continued. "It might
drive them out of their wits; but they may consider themselves fortunate
in having escaped with their lives."
Loud shouts rising from the spot where we supposed the blacks to be
showed the pleasure they felt at seeing the houses burning.
"They would be still more delighted could they destroy Belmont,"
observed Mr Talboys. "They will, I fear, soon again attempt to carry
out their design."
He now begged me to remain where I was, and to give him immediate
information, should I observe anything suspicious, and went down to
carry out his intention of examining every assailable point in the
house. I kept, my eyes turned, first to one side, then to the other,
peering into the darkness, when I observed something moving, away to the
right. It seemed like a black line; and after watching it for a few
seconds, I felt sure that it was formed by a number of negroes creeping
cautiously on to the right of the house, and endeavouring to conceal
themselves. I was afraid that my voice might be heard should I shout
out, so I went down the steps and soon found Mr Talboys. The moment I
told him what I had seen, he sprang up with me, but we could see
nothing, though we watched for some minutes.
"If they were really blacks you saw, they intend to take us by
surprise," he said. "We must keep a look-out, and be prepared for
them."
Just as he was speaking, there came a loud crashing sound, and the next
instant cries and shouts rang through the house. Mr Talboys sprang
down the steps, and I followed him. There was no difficulty in
ascertaining in what direction to go. A door had evidently been burst
open in the southern wing of the house. A piercing shriek was heard as
we hurried on. The rest of the party, deserting their posts, had
already gone to drive back our assailants. The overseer and clerk,
Sinnet and Chaffey, were encountering them bravely. Two had already
paid dearly for their temerity, when Mr Talboys, springing forward,
attacked them furiously. I kept with him, and did my best with my
hanger, cutting and slashing at the woolly pates of the fellows, who
evidently were not prepared for so determined a resistance. Those in
front gave way, and others who were about to enter hesitated to advance.
Mrs Talboys was rendering us good service by holding up a lantern, by
which we could see our assailants, while the light, falling on their
eyes, prevented them from seeing us. Though I observed my other two
messmates, I could nowhere see Tom Pim. What could have become of him?
I thought. I was, however, sure that he would not have held back, for
though he was but a little fellow, he knew how to use his hanger as well
as any of us. The fight didn't last long; another black was killed, two
lay wounded on the ground, and the rest bolted out of the door, which,
though shattered, was not off its hinges.
"Quick! Bring some planks," cried Mr Talboys.
There were some near at hand, with which we had intended to secure that
particular door. We were not long in putting them up, and placing a
heavy chest of drawers against them. Just as this was done, Mrs
Talboys exclaimed--
"Where is Lucy?"
"And where is Tom Pim?" I cried out.
Neither of them answered. Before any search could be made, Mr
Marchant, who had been watching at the other side of the house, shouted
out--
"The enemy are upon us I the enemy are upon us! Quick! quick!"
We hurried to our posts, and before many seconds had elapsed, a shower
of bullets came rattling against the walls.
"Fire away, my friends," cried Mr Talboys.
We obeyed the order with alacrity. I was thinking all the time,
however, as to what could have become of Tom and Lucy. In vain I
expected my messmate to hasten to his post. Again the blacks were
checked. Had they been a minute sooner, the case would have been very
different. They calculated, of course, on their friends getting in at
the back of the house, and causing a diversion in their favour. For
twenty minutes or more we kept loading and firing as fast as we could.
Mr Talboys was everywhere, now at one window, now at another, while the
clerk and Cato were guarding the back and wings of the house. How the
hours had passed by I could not tell, when at length I saw a faint light
in the eastern sky. It gradually increased in brightness, and in a
wonderfully short time daylight burst upon the world. As the blacks had
failed to get into the house during the night, it was less likely that
they would succeed during the day. They fired a parting volley, and
then, to our great satisfaction, beat a rapid retreat. The search for
Lucy and Tom was now renewed.
"Oh, my dear husband, what can have become of her?" cried Mrs Talboy in
accents of despair.
That they were not in the house was very certain. I proposed to sally
forth and search for them.
"I'll go myself," said Mr Talboys. "The rebels will be on the
look-out, and you very probably will be captured if you go alone."
He consented, however, to my accompanying him. We went out at the back
door, which Mr Talboys ordered to be closed after us. We had not gone
far when we discovered a ribbon, which I knew Miss Lucy had worn on her
shoulder.
"She must have been carried off by the blacks when they first burst into
the house," cried Mr Talboys.
"The wretches cannot have had the barbarity to injure her," I said.
"I don't know! I don't know!" answered her father in an agonised tone
of voice.
We followed the track of the blacks, which was distinctly marked by the
plants and canes being trampled down where they had gone across the
garden and plantation, and continued on for some distance. No other
trace of Tom or Lucy could we discover. We had to proceed cautiously,
as at any time we might come suddenly upon a party of them, when we
might find it very difficult to escape. We were, however, both
well-armed, with muskets in our hands, braces of pistols in our belts,
and swords by our sides, so that we hoped, should we fall in with any
enemies, to keep them at bay while we retreated. We looked round on
either side, in the expectation of seeing something else that either
Lucy or Tom might have dropped; but sometimes I could not help fearing
that they might have been killed, and that we should come upon their
dead bodies. Still I tried to put away the thought from me, as it was
too dreadful I suspect the same idea occurred to Mr Talboys, who looked
stern and determined, and seldom spoke, while his eye was ranging round,
far and near. We were going in the direction we fancied the blacks had
taken. Mr Talboys was of opinion that, finding they could not succeed
in destroying Belmont, they had gone off to attack some other house and
ravage the plantations. We were making our way across the country
instead of along the high road, where the blacks might have discovered
us at a distance; but sometimes the foliage was so thick that we could
not see a dozen yards ahead. This had its advantages and its
disadvantages. It was evidently the line which the party of blacks who
had nearly surprised us had followed. Now and then we got close to the
high road, and we were able, while still keeping under shelter
ourselves, to look along it either way.
"The rebels have not, I suspect, gone off altogether, and we may not be
far from them now," whispered Mr Talboys. "Be very cautious; keep
under cover as much as you can, and avoid making any rustling among the
branches."
We had moved on scarcely a dozen paces after this, when suddenly a
number of black heads appeared above the bushes close in front of us.
The white eyes of the negroes, as they caught sight of us, showed that
they were more astonished than we were at the sudden encounter.
Exclamations of surprise escaped from their lips.
"On, lads," shouted Mr Talboys at the top of his voice, as, drawing his
sword, he sprang forward. "Send those rascals to the right about."
Uttering a shout, I imitated his example.
The blacks, evidently supposing that a strong body of whites was upon
them, turned, and endeavoured to make their way through the brushwood,
without looking back to see who was pursuing them. As they had no other
encumbrances than their muskets, they soon distanced us. Not one of
them fell, for Mr Talboys refrained from firing, as did I, waiting
until he told me to do so.
"Now, my young friend, it will be well to beat a retreat before these
rascals discover that we are alone," he said.
We were about to do as he proposed, when, unfortunately, one of the
blacks, who was nearer to us than the rest, looked round, and seeing no
one besides us, shouted to his companions. Now one stopped, now
another, till the whole party came to a stand-still, turned round, and
faced us.
"Spring back and try to get under cover," said Mr Talboys in a low
voice. "If the fellows advance, fire; but not till then. I'll speak to
them." He then shouted, "You have carried off two young people from my
house. Give them up at once unhurt, and we will not punish you as you
deserve; but if they're injured, not one of you shall escape hanging."
"We not got de young white folks here," sang out a voice from among the
negroes. "You talk ob hanging, massa; take care we not hang you. What
we stop here for?" continued the speaker to his companions; "dere not
many dere, or dey cum on."
From the way the blacks were looking, I guessed that they were trying to
discover how many persons were opposed to them; but as yet they fancied
that there were others behind us.
"Do you quietly retreat, my young friend," said Mr Talboys in a low
voice. "Make your way back to the house as fast as you can, and tell
them to be on their guard. I can manage these fellows as well alone,
and your life would be needlessly risked by remaining."
"I will do as you wish, sir; but if there's to be fighting, I should
prefer to stay by you," I answered.
"I'll try to avoid it, then," said my friend, and once more he spoke to
the blacks.
"If the young folks are not with you, tell me where they are."
"We know nothin'," answered the black. "Maybe by dis time dey hang from
de branch ob one tree."
"I don't believe that any of you would have had the cruelty to kill
them," he cried out. "Do as I wish you," he continued, in a low voice,
to me.
Still I could not bring myself, for the sake of saving my own life, to
leave him to be taken by the blacks; for it seemed to me that he would
have but a small chance of escaping from them. I was hesitating, when I
heard a shout from beyond where they were standing, and presently a
number more rushed up, who by their furious gestures, as soon as they
saw us, seemed to threaten our immediate destruction.
"I'll kill the first who comes on," cried Mr Talboys.
They answered with derisive cries, and several of them levelled their
muskets. Mr Talboys and I kept ours pointed at them, sheltering
ourselves as we could behind the trunks of two trees which stood close
together.
Our chance of escaping appeared very small.
While we thus kept the blacks in check, a sound in the rear struck my
ears. It was the tramp of many feet. It became louder and louder. The
blacks, jabbering away as they were to each other, did not apparently
hear it. Mr Talboys did, however, and he knew that it was more
important than ever to refrain from firing. He again shouted to them--
"Do any of you who have just come know where my daughter and young
friend are gone to?"
They didn't reply, but we heard them talking to one another. This
further put off the time. The sound of tramping feet grew louder.
"You make fool ob us, Massa Talboys," at last said one of the blacks,
who, probably from his understanding English, had been chosen as
spokesman.
Gesticulating violently, the whole body now gave vent to loud shouts and
cries, and dashed forward, with the intention of overwhelming us. We
both fired, in the hopes of delaying their advance, and then sprang back
to the shelter of some other trees we had noted behind us. The blacks,
as they rushed on, fired, but their bullets passed high above our heads,
stripping off the bark and branches, which came rattling down upon us.
We had but a small chance of again escaping, should we attempt the same
proceeding; but, as the blacks were within twenty paces of us, a party
of redcoats dashed through the brushwood, one of their leaders being a
small naval officer whom, to my joy, I recognised as Tom Pim. The
blacks saw the soldiers, and, without waiting to encounter the sharp
points of their bayonets, turned, and scampered off as fast as they
could manage to get through the bushes, the speed of most of them being
increased by the bullets poured in on them, while several bit the
ground.
The soldiers continued the pursuit till the blacks, scattering in all
directions, got out of range of their muskets. Mr Talboys and I
accompanied them; but not till the halt was called had we an opportunity
of speaking to Tom.
"And where is Lucy, my dear fellow?" asked Mr Talboys, grasping Tom by
the hand.
"All right, sir," answered Tom. "She's safe in the house. When the
blacks broke in last night, she was close to the door, and a piece of
wood striking her, she fell to the ground. The blacks, rushing in,
seized her before I was able to lift her up, and while I was shouting
out for assistance, and trying to defend her, they got hold of me, and
carried us both off. It was only a short time ago that I knew you were
safe; for I was dreadfully afraid that they had got into the house, and
murdered you all. Fortunately, the blacks allowed Miss Lucy and me to
remain together; so I told her to keep up her spirits, and that I would
try and help her to run away. Most of the blacks who at first had
charge of us hurried back, expecting to pillage the house, and only two
remained. We heard the shots you fired, but I still did not know that
you had driven them out. Meantime our two black guards were so occupied
in trying to find out what was going on, that I took the opportunity of
drawing my hanger, which had not been taken from me, and giving one a
slash across the eyes, and another a blow which nearly cut off his arm.
I seized Miss Lucy's hand, and we ran off as fast as we could. Neither
of our guards were in a condition to follow us, and we ran and ran,
scarcely knowing in what direction we were going. Miss Lucy said that
she thought we were on the high road to Kingston; but she became at last
so tired that she could go no further, and we had to rest. It soon
became daylight; and just as we were going on again, we met with the
soldiers, who were being brought up by Captain Ryan to your assistance."
"You behaved most bravely, and I am deeply indebted to you, my young
friend," said Mr Talboys, grasping Tom's hand. "Had you not offered so
determined a resistance, I believe that the blacks would have got into
the house, and we should all have been destroyed."
As the men had had a long and rapid march, their commander was glad to
accept Mr Talboys' invitation to return at once to Belmont, to partake
of the refreshments they so much needed.
Miss Lucy on our arrival rushed into her father's arms, and was warm in
her praises of the gallant way in which Tom had rescued her.
Everybody was engaged either in cooking or carrying provisions to the
soldiers, who had assembled under the shade of the trees in front of the
house. Sentries were of course placed, to give due notice should the
blacks rally and attempt another attack, though Mr Talboys considered
it very improbable that such would be made.
As our leave was to expire the day after these events took place, having
enjoyed a sound sleep, early in the morning we started in the carriages
that had brought us, Cato driving Tom and me. We were glad to think
that our kind friends were well protected, as Captain Ryan said that his
orders were to remain there until reinforcements arrived.
I won't describe our parting, or what Tom said to Miss Lucy; if not
affecting, it was cordial.
On our way we met more troops moving towards Belmont. We got back to
Kingston, and thence on board the frigate, within the time Mr Saunders
had given us leave to be absent.
The account of our adventures created great interest on board. When I
told Larry of our narrow escape with Mr Talboys--
"Thin, Maisther Terence dear, don't be after going on shore again
without me," he exclaimed. "If you had been killed I'd never have
lifted up my head, nor shown my face at Ballinahone again; for they
would be saying that I ought to have been by your side, and died with
you if I could not save you."
I promised Larry not to go anywhere, if I could help it, without him.
We expected soon to have sailed, but we were detained by Sir Peter
Parker, then the admiral at Jamaica. There were also several other
frigates and three line-of-battle ships in the harbour. Tom and I
especially wanted to be off, as we could not expect to obtain leave
again to go on shore, though we determined if the ship was detained to
ask for it.
"Not much chance of that," observed Nettleship, who had just come from
the shore. "The people are expecting an attack from the French and
Spaniards, who have large fleets out here under the Count De Grasse, and
the Governor has just got a letter, it is said, taken on board a prize,
in which the whole plan for the capture of the island is detailed. The
inhabitants are everywhere up in arms, and vow that they will fight to
the last sooner than yield. More troops are expected, and every
preparation is being made for the defence of the island."
We had seen the _Triton_ frigate go out that morning, though we were not
aware of her destination. She carried despatches from Sir Peter Parker,
giving Lord Howe the information which had been received, and requesting
that reinforcements might immediately be sent to the island. The people
on shore were actively engaged in strengthening Fort George, Fort
Augusta, and the Apostles' Battery, and throwing up new forts in various
directions. While the blacks were labouring at the fortifications, all
the white men were being drilled to serve in the militia, which was
numerous and enthusiastic; so we hoped that even should the French and
Spaniards land, they would be soundly thrashed.
Some days passed before we received any news of our friends at Belmont.
No leave was granted, as the captain could not tell at what moment we
should be ordered to sea. Tom and I were therefore unable to go to
Kingston to make inquiries about them. At length a shore-boat came off
with letters, and one, which I knew by the superscription to be from Mr
Talboys, was handed to me. As I opened it, a small delicate note--
addressed, Tom Pim, Esquire, H.M.S. _Liffy_--fell out. As Tom was
standing close to me at the time, he eagerly snatched it up. I was
right in my surmises with regard to my letter. Mr Talboys having again
expressed his thanks for the services my messmates and I had rendered
him, after saying that his family were all well, went on to inform me
that the outbreak of the blacks had been quickly suppressed, the
ringleaders having been caught and hanged. Mr Marchant's house and
three others had alone been destroyed, and with the exception of an
overseer and two clerks, the remainder of the inhabitants had managed to
escape. "I hope," he added, "that we shall see you and your messmates
again, and I shall be especially pleased to welcome that brave young
fellow who so gallantly rescued my daughter."
"What does your letter say, Tom?" I asked, when I had finished mine.
"Well, I shouldn't like to show it to any one else," he said; "but as
you know how I regard Miss Lucy, I will to you. I can't say that I am
quite satisfied with it. It's a little too patronising, as if she
thought herself a great deal older than I am. You shall have it," and
he handed me the note.
"My dear Tom,"--it began,--"you are such a dear little fellow that I
feel I must write to you to say how grateful I am to you for having
saved me from those dreadful blacks. I should not have supposed that
you would have been able to do it, but I shall never forget your
bravery. I long to come back to Kingston, to see you again, and tell
you so. But papa says that you are not likely to obtain leave, so I
must wait patiently till we have beaten the French and Spaniards who
threaten to invade our island, and peace is restored. I wish I could
promise to do as you ask me, but mamma says I should be very foolish
if I did. Do you know, I think so likewise; because it may be years
and years before you are a commander, or even a lieutenant; but I want
you to understand, notwithstanding, that I like you very much, and am
very grateful, and shall always be so, as long as I live. So, my dear
Tom, believe me, your sincere friend,--Lucy Talboys."
"It's very clear, Tom, that Miss Lucy will not commit herself, and it's
fortunate for you probably that she is so hardhearted," I observed.
"I'd advise you not to be downcast about the matter, and be content with
the friendship and gratitude of her family."
Tom, however, looked very melancholy, and some time afterwards Chaffey
observed to me that he was sure something was amiss with Tom, as he was
completely off his feed.
While we were allowed to go on shore our life was pleasant enough, but
when confined on board it was somewhat dreary work, and we all longed
for a change of some sort. A climate with the thermometer at ninety
doesn't conduce to high spirits.
We were aroused one evening as most of us were below, by Sinnet rushing
into the berth, and exclaiming--
"The _Glasgow_ is on fire, and the boats are ordered away to her
assistance."
The _Glasgow_ was a frigate, lying at no great distance from us, and was
to have sailed with the land breeze with a company of troops to the
westward. We hurried on deck. Our boats were being lowered, as were
those of the other ships in the harbour. Smoke in dense volumes was
rising from the hatchways of the _Glasgow_, and more was pouring out of
her ports. Her crew were at their stations, hauling up buckets of
water, and labouring like brave men to quench the rising flames; but all
their efforts, as far as I could see, were ineffectual. Nettleship and
some of the older midshipmen went off in the boats.
"I hope that they'll draw the charges of their guns, or we shall have
some of their shot rattling on board us," said Tom. "There are plenty
of boats, so I don't suppose any of the crew will be lost."
"I should think not, unless the magazine catches fire," I answered.
"They'll drown that the first thing, if they can," remarked Tom. "I
wish we could have gone in one of the boats. I don't like to see people
in danger and be unable to try and help them."