CHAPTER IV.
It was only by dint of many reiterated questions that I elicited from the poor scared children the truth of what had occurred. The spot where they had landed was a strip of level sward a few hundred yards in width between the river and the forest behind. Here they had played games, run races, and enjoyed themselves with a hundred childish sports, till just before sundown a loud hoot was heard from the neighbouring trees. When they turned round startled to discover what might be the source of the sound, they were horrified to see emerging from the wood two monstrous engines, far larger, they declared, and far more elaborate than any of those that had besieged Jefferson City, bearing directly down upon them. Too terrified to move, they gazed open-mouthed, till Aurelia, who not only retained her presence of mind, but in an instant had taken her resolution, shouted, "Run for the boats, children, run," at which the spell was
