dat, is you!" His jaw had fallen, and when
the Major bowed with deep solemnity and replied, "Yes, sir, and you can
shoot at me," he burst out.

"Marse Nat, I don' warn' shoot at you. What I warn' shoot at you for? I
ain' got nuttin 'ginst you on de fatal uth. You been good master to me
all my days an'----" The Major cut short this sincere tribute to his
virtues, by saying: "Very well, you can shoot or not as you please. I
shall aim at that waistcoat." He raised his pistol and partially closed
one eye. George Washington dropped on his knees.

"Oh, Marse Nat, please, suh. What you want to shoot me for? Po' ole
good-for-nuttin George Washington, whar ain' nuver done you no harm"
(the Major's eye glanced over his blue coat and flowered vest; George
saw it), "but jes steal you' whiskey an' you' clo'es an'--Marse Nat, ef
you le' me off dis time I oon nuver steal no mo' o' you' clo'es, er you'
whiskey, er nuttin. Marse Nat, you wouldn' shoot po' ole good-for-nuttin
George Washington, whar fotch' up wid you?"

"Yes, sir, I would," declared the Major, sternly. "I am going to give
the word, and--" he raised the pistol once more. George Washington began
to creep toward him. "Oh, Lordy! Marse Nat, please, suh, don' pint dat
thing at me dat away--hit's loaded! Oh, Lordy!" he shouted. The Major
brandished his weapon fiercely.

"Stand up, sir, and stop that noise--one--two--three," he counted, but
George Washington was flat on the ground.

"Oh, Marse Nat, please, suh, don't. I'se feared o' dem things." A sudden
idea struck him. "Marse Nat, you is about to loss a mighty valuable
nigger," he pleaded; but the Major simply shouted to him to stand up and
not disgrace the gentleman he represented. George Washington seized on
the word; it was his final hope.

"Marse Nat, I don't ripresent nobody, suh, nobody at all, suh. I ain'
nuttin but a good-for-nuttin, wuthless nigger, whar brung de box down
heah cuz you tole me to, suh, dat's all. An' I'll teek off you' coat an'
weskit dis minit ef you'll jis le' me git up off de groun', suh." Jeff
suddenly appeared. George lay spraddled out on the ground as flat as
a field lark, but at Jeff's appearance, he sprang behind him. Jeff, in
amazement, was inquiring the meaning of all the noise he had heard, when
Lawrence appeared on the scene. The Major explained briefly.

"It was that redoubtable champion bellowing. As our principals failed to
appear on time, he being-an upholder of the Code, sugges