not
to make a fuss."

"Pompey! Pompey!" rang out from close by now, and Hannibal let fall the
uniform, and clasped his hands.

It was evident that Sarah was coming to see if the boy was in the hut,
and there was nothing for it but to bear the blame.

"Pompey! Do you hear me?"

"A--y--ou," came from right the other side of the house. "You call a
me, missie Sarah?"

"Oh, there you are, are you?" she cried; and as I peeped through the
trees, I saw her turn sharply round and hurry back, talking volubly the
while. Then she called again--

"Pompey!"

"Yes, missie."

"Come here, sir."

"You call a me, missie?"

"Yes, you know I called you. Where are you?"

"Hey--oh--hi--ho! Hey oh--hi oh! Ally olly hi--oh--olly olly hi!" came
in musical tones from the other side of the house; and as I peeped once
more through the windows I saw Hannibal's bent back, as he stooped and
picked up the clothes, brushed off some dust, and then with them held
all ready and his face working with excitement, he crept to the door.

"Pompey, do you hear me?" cried Sarah, who was gone up now to the house.

"Hey--oh--hi--oh! Yes, missie, you call a me?" came from a little
farther away.

"Do you hear what I say, sir?"

"Yes, missie."

"Then come here directly."

"Ole massa go along, an' Massa George a 'top alonga."

"Pompey!"

"Yes, missie; you call a me?"

"Oh!" cried Sarah, fiercely, "just wait till I get hold of you, sir;"
and she ran off down the path at the other side of the house, shouting
for the boy, who kept on answering, and, as I realised now, purposely
leading her farther and farther away to give his father time.

For, stooping low down, and with wonderful speed and agility, Hannibal,
who had crept out of the hut, suddenly darted into and down the garden,
and as I followed, keeping well hidden among the trees, I saw him reach
the front of the house, shake out the uniform, hang coat and breeches on
the rail, stick the cap on the end, and dart off away in another
direction, so to reach the path leading into the forest on the way to
the stream.

I ached with my efforts to keep down my laughter, as I saw him scud off,
glad at heart though, all the same, for, poor fellow, he had escaped.
Then all at once my admiration for Pomp increased to a wonderful degree,
for I heard a howl from the other side of the house, the sound of blows,
heavy ones too; and as Pomp shrieked and howled, it was evident that
Sarah was cu