“Any that you can think of; they must not disturb us until near midnight.”

“But I shall have to give a reason; I am as anxious as you to do my utmost, but I do not see how I can do anything.”

The quick wit of Jennie came to the rescue.

“Tell Capt.  Inman and Larch Cadmus for me that we have a number of articles we wish to save from destruction; ask them in the name of mother and myself to give us time in which to gather them together.”

Fred was silent for a moment.

“At least it will do no harm to try it, even though I do not believe it will be of any use.”

“Ask them to make it between 11 and 12; we will then have time to collect all we want—­in fact a good deal more time than is necessary.”

“I do not see the need of this,” replied the brother, who, it need not be repeated, had no knowledge of what was in the minds of the few; “I think I can say that if I do not return in the course of ten or fifteen minutes, you may consider your prayer granted.”

Bidding them good-by once more, he passed out of the door and disappeared in the darkness, which had now fully descended and shut from sight the impatient rustlers.

It was a peculiar situation in which the defenders, including the mother and sister, dreaded the return of the head of the household, but the front of the dwelling was watched with an intensity of interest it would be hard to describe.

“By gracious! there he is!” exclaimed Dick Hawkridge, hardly ten minutes after Fred’s departure; “it’s no use.”

A shadowy figure was observed moving across the dark space in front, but while they were waiting for him to enter the door, which was unfastened to admit him, he passed on and vanished in the gloom without checking his motion or speaking.

“That wasn’t Fred,” whispered Jennie; “I know his walk too well.”

“It makes no difference,” replied Sterry, “you can depend that he will soon put in an appearance.”

But the slow minutes dragged along and nothing was seen of him.  By and by a faint hope began to form that the urgent request of the ladies had been conceded, for they insisted that they could see no reason why it should not be.

A full hour passed, and, when it was after 9 o’clock, all doubt was removed.  The attack would not be made until close upon midnight.  Monteith Sterry would be given the chance, provided Duke Vesey showed the way for him.

The crisis was so near that it was deemed best to let all know what was in contemplation.  Capt.  Asbury, therefore, explained it to the men, as the daughter had explained to the mother.

“Those fellows can’t be trusted,” the leader added; “they may seek to give the impression that the delay has been granted, while preparing to assail us when least expected.  The night is dark, as you see, and favourable to their plans.  Keep the closest watch possible on all sides of the house, for to set fire to it they must approach near enough to touch the building.”