ng slowly
cringing up.

"No, sir. Now then, no nonsense; take hold of that head."

Pomp stuck the handle of the axe into the band of his short cotton
drawers, wiped a tear out of each eye, and took the hideous great head
off the stump, looking at me reproachfully, as he bent with its weight.

"Is it very heavy?" I said.

"Kill poor boy carry um all dat way, Mass' George."

I stood the gun up against the nearest tree, and went to him and lifted
the head, to find that it really was a pretty good weight.

"Yes," I said, replacing it on the stump; "it is heavy, Pomp."

"Den I go fess Mass' Bruton here," he cried, joyfully.

"No. Give me that axe."

He took the little chopper out of his belt, and slowly and shrinkingly
gave me the handle; then dropped on his knees, crossed his hands on his
breast, and lowered his head.

"Don' kill um dis time, Mass' George. Pomp berry sorry such a lazy
rascal."

"Get up, and don't to stupid," I said, roughly. "Who's going to kill
you?" and looking round, I had soon found and cut down a stout young
sapling, which I trimmed into a pole, Pomp watching me the while with a
piteous expression on his countenance.

"There," I said, when I had done, and provided myself with a stout pole
about ten feet long.

"Oh! Ow!" burst forth Pomp in a terrified howl.

"What's the matter now?" I cried in astonishment.

"Nebber tink Mass' George such coward."

"Eh? What do you mean?"

"Lil bit do, Mass' George."

"No, it wouldn't."

"Off!"

"Here, what's the matter? What do you mean?" I cried, as he threw
himself down on the moss, and kept on drawing up his legs as if in
agony, and kicking them out again like a frog.

"Nebber tink Mass' George such coward."

"I'm not, sir. Why?"

"Cut great big 'tick like dat to beat poor lil nigger like Pomp."

"Lil nigger like Pomp!" I cried, mockingly; "why, you're as big as I
am. Get up, you great tar-coloured stupid."

"No, no, Mass' George; hit um lyem down, please; not hurt so much."

"Get up!" I shouted; and I poked him in the ribs with the end of the
pole.

"Ow! Ow!" yelled Pomp at every touch, and the more he shouted the more
I laughed and stirred him up, till he suddenly sat up, drew his knees to
his chest, put his arms round them, and wrinkling his forehead into
lines, he looked up at me pitifully.

"Arn't done nuff yet, Mass' George?" he whimpered.

"Enough?" I cried. "Did you think I cut this great pole to whop