e
remotest suspicion that a friend was so near him, and even went so far
as to insult him as much as was in his power, for not bringing him a
larger quantity of food. To carry out still further the appearance of
things, Kent tore a small tuft from the negro's head, as if to revenge
himself.

"Blast you," he shouted, "if I doesn't flog you till you can't stand.
Just hold out your paw a minute."

Zeb used his utmost powers of persuasion to induce Kent to reach his
hand toward him, hoping to revenge himself as he had upon a former
occasion; but the hunter was too shrewd for him, and with a threatening
gesture, left him to himself, and joined his companions.

"Gorra!" said Zeb to Leland, "if I doesn't believe dat dat's de nigger I
sawed up in de barn toder day."

"You mean cut up?"

"All de same; leastways ef 'tis him, he's cotched his pay afore he come
sneakin' about here."

Now that Leland knew assistance was at hand, he experienced a desire to
converse with the negro, and thus help to pass away time, which had
grown intolerably monotonous. Turning to the old slave, he resumed:

"He is a savage-looking individual."

This was said in order to quell any suspicion or doubt that might have
entered his head.

"Dat he is; but he'd better keep away from me, if he doesn't want his
picter sp'iled," returned the negro.

"What were you abusing him for, a few minutes ago, when he brought your
food?"

"Well, you see, he's afraid I's agwine to hurt him, and begun to beg
off. It makes me _so_ mad to see any feller afraid dat I let out on him,
and he took himself off in a mighty big hurry."

"Have you lost much of your wool?"

"Two or free hands full; dat's all. 'Bout all growed in ag'in; but I
ca'culate dat de next dat gits his hand in my head'll get it in a
steel-trap. If I gits my grinder on 'im he'll see," said Zeb, with a
meaning shake of his head.

"I guess that they will not trouble you further for the present," added
Leland, with that air of assurance which one feels for the safety of
another when his own case is free from danger.

"Don't know 'bout dat, but I'd like to have 'em try."

"Well, your wish is about to be gratified," said Leland, as he noticed a
savage approaching him.

"Gorra, don't come here!" said Zeb, staring at him. The savage did not
heed his warning, however, but continued to advance, and made a motion
as if to strike him. The black man closed his eyes, bent his head toward
him and drew