r
hoss! Won't you take a-hole, Mah'sr Harry, afore dey're de death uv me?"

The old man had certainly got the horses into a mixed-up condition. One
of them was beside the horse he rode, two were behind, and one was
wedged in partly in front of these in such a way that he had to travel
sidewise. The bridle of one horse was tied to that of another, so that
Uncle Braddock led them all by the bridle of the horse by his side. This
was tied to his long cane, which he grasped firmly in his left hand.

Harry jumped down from Selim, and, tying him to the fence, went over to
the assistance of Uncle Braddock. As he was quite familiar with horses,
Harry soon arranged matters on a more satisfactory footing. He
disentangled the animals, two of which he proposed to take charge of
himself, and then, after making Uncle Braddock lengthen his stirrups,
and lead both his horses on one side of him, he fastened the other two
horses side by side, mounted Selim, and started back for Akeville,
followed by Uncle Braddock and his reduced cavalcade.

The old negro was profuse in his thanks; but in the middle of his
protestations of satisfaction, Harry suddenly interrupted him.

"Why, look here, Uncle Braddock! Where did you get these horses? These
are the horses George Mason stole."

"To be sure they is," said Uncle Braddock. "What would I be a-doin' wid
'em ef they wasn't?"

"But how did you get them? Tell me about it," said Harry, checking the
impatient Selim, who, now that his head was turned homeward, was anxious
to go on with as much expedition as possible under the circumstances.

"Why, ye see, Mah'sr Harry," said the old man, "I was up at Miss
Maria's; she said she'd gi' me some pieces of caliker to mend me
wrapper. I put 'em in me pocket, but I 'spects they's blowed out; and
when I was a-comin' away fru de woods, right dar whar ole Elick Potts
used to hab his cabin--reckon you nebber seed dat cabin; it was all
tumbled down 'fore you was born--right dar in de clarin' I seed five
horses, all tied to de trees. 'Lor's a massy!' I said to mesef, 'is de
war come agin?' Fur I nebber seed so many hosses in de woods sence de
war. An' den while I was a-lookin' roun' fur a tree big enough to git
behind, wrapper an' all, out comes Mah'sr George Mason from a bush, an'
he hollers, 'Hello, Uncle Braddock, you come a-here.' An' then he says,
'You ain't much, Uncle Braddock, but I guess you'll do!' An' I says,
'Don't believe I'll do, Mah'sr George,