The next step was to send the men out, one by one, imitating the precautions taken by Blodget.  Each individual had his own provisions, and most of the men carried some sort of arms, such as a pistol, or a knife, about his person.  In half an hour the four men were armed, and waited for the leader, concealed by the bushes on the border of the brook.  It only remained for captain Willoughby to give some instructions to those he left in the Hut, and to follow.

Pliny the elder, in virtue of his years, and some experience in Indian warfare, succeeded to the command of the garrison, in the absence of its chief.  Had there remained a male white at the Knoll, this trust never could have devolved on him, it being thought contrary to the laws of nature for a negro to command one of the other colour; but such was not the fact, and Pliny the elder succeeded pretty much as a matter of course.  Notwithstanding, he was to obey not only his particular old mistress, but both his young mistresses, who exercised an authority over him that was not to be disputed, without doing violence to all the received notions of the day.  To him, then, the captain issued his final orders, bidding him be vigilant, and above all to keep the gates closed.

As soon as this was done, the husband and father went to his wife and children to take a last embrace.  Anxious not to excite too strong apprehensions by his manner, this was done affectionately—­solemnly, perhaps—­but with a manner so guarded as to effect his object.

“I shall look for no other signal, or sign of success, Hugh,” said the weeping wife, “than your own return, accompanied by our dearest boy.  When I can hold you both in my arms, I shall be happy, though all the Indians of the continent were in the valley.”

“Do not miscalculate as to time, Wilhelmina.  That affectionate heart of yours sometimes travels over time and space in a way to give its owner unnecessary pain.  Remember we shall have to proceed with great caution, both in going and returning; and it will require hours to make the detour I have in view.  I hope to see you again before sunset, but a delay may carry us into the night.  It may even become necessary to defer the final push until after dark.”

This was melancholy intelligence for the females; but they listened to it with calmness, and endeavoured to be, as well as to seem, resigned.  Beulah received her father’s kiss and blessing with streaming eyes, straining little Evert to her heart as he left her.  Maud was the last embraced, He even led her, by gentle violence, to the court, keeping her in discourse by the way, exhorting her to support her mother’s spirits by her own sense and steadiness.

“I shall have Bob in the Hut, soon,” he added, “and this will repay us all for more than twice the risks—­all but you, little vixen; for your mother tells me you are getting, through some caprice of that variable humour of your sex, to be a little estranged from the poor fellow.”