know 'tall."

"But I told you to do them," said Morgan, angrily. "Didn't I?"

"Yes, sah."

"Then why didn't you do them?"

"Wanted to go and kedge terrupum."

"Now, look here, sir, you've got to do what you're told."

"What you tell me, den?"

"I told you to go and hoe those yams, and you neglected the duty to go
fishing."

"Yes, sir, go fishing; kedge terrupum."

"Instead of doing your work."

"Mass' Morgan, sah," began Pomp, in a tone of protest, but Morgan
interrupted him.

"Now then, how is it those yams are not hoed?"

"Don't know, sah. Tell Hannibal hoe them."

"You told Hannibal to hoe them--your father?"

"Yes, tell um fader hoe um; Mass' Morgan want um done."

"Yes, but I wanted you to do them."

"Yes, sah, and I want um fader to hoe um yam while I go kedge terrupum.
You make big holler at um for not do um."

"Now then, look you, Master George, oughtn't this fellow to be flogged?"

"You say no, Mass' George, and--"

Morgan darted out a hand to catch Pomp's arm, but the boy was too quick,
and dodged behind me.

"Let him be," I said; "he doesn't know any better."

"But I want to teach him better," grumbled Morgan.

"Hist! Mass' George. I find great 'gator."

"Where?" I asked, eagerly, for I had long had an idea that I should
like to see another of the monsters.

"Down by de ribber. All lay long so, out in de hot sun."

Pomp threw himself on the ground, and wallowed along a little way. "All
along so, sah, while I done kedge de terrupum, and then all along tell
Mass' George come and shoot um."

"How big was it?" I said, eagerly.

"Big as ebber so much. Come on, see um, Mass' George."

"It's only some little one, half as big as the one we pulled out of the
hole," said Morgan. "You never want to go on them games now you've got
that black chap."

"Oh, I'll go with you any time, if you'll come."

"Too busy, sir, too busy. Going to get a gun?"

"Yes, I'll go and see. It may be a big one. Colonel Preston's man told
me there are some very big ones up the river on the mud-banks."

"Yes, sir, but nobody ever sees them."

"Well, I'll try this time, and if my father asks for me, say where I've
gone."

I heard Morgan mutter something, but paid no heed, knowing that it was
something about being careful with the gun, for I was not without my
share of conceit and belief in my capacity of taking care of a gun. For
my father had rather encouraged me to practise with his fo