will be guide enough; I believe he often
steals off to go long distances into the forest after woodchucks and
squirrels."

"You will take a gun, I suppose. Any game will be welcome."

"Yes, father."

"And take care not to get into danger."

"What danger?"

"Snakes and other reptiles may be in abundance."

"I'll take care."

"And for aught we know Indians may be hunting in the neighbourhood."

"Should not we have heard them or seen them, if they were?" I said, for
I did not like the idea of giving up my trip.

"Well, perhaps so," said my father. "There, I will not stop you; I only
say again, be careful when you do go."

"Can't I go to-morrow?" I said.

"No, I would rather that you did not go right away while I am from home.
Wait a few days, and then have your trip."

I said no more, but of course felt disappointed, and a strange
temptation came over me next day, on finding how bright it was, to go
and explore a little, the more especially that Pomp came up with his
face shining and full of excitement.

"Now," he cried, "go and find summer-house."

"No, no," I said; "the boat."

"Mass' George call him summer-house yesterday."

"We'll go soon," I said, "but not for a few days."

"What Mass' George going do, then?"

"Stop about at home and take care of the house."

"Mass' George tink water come 'gain, wash um away?"

"No, no, I hope not," I said, laughing. "But I'm not going far away."

"Mass' George come fish terrapum?"

"No, Pomp, I'm going to stop about here. Perhaps I shall go and have a
bathe at the pool by and by, but I'm not sure."

"Pomp go wif Mass' George have 'wim."

"No, no," I said, pettishly, for I was out of temper, hot and
disappointed at not being able to go and hunt for the boat. Then I felt
annoyed at having to stop at home when my father had gone to the
settlement, and somehow that place had never seemed to attract me so
much before.

"Father might have taken me," I said to myself, as I thought of how
beautiful the sugar-canes must be now, after the soaking and dressing
they had had with the mud. Then, too, the Indian corn must be waving
gloriously, and I longed to see slaves at work in the cotton-field.

"Father will be seeing all that," I thought, "and it's all nonsense
about stopping and taking care of the place. I couldn't do anything if
there was a flood, or if the Indians came. I should have liked to go."

All of which was very absurd and stupid, but I