rrow scrape; and den
you say you tell de massa, and hab me flog."

"Yes," I said, half aloud, "he might have seized me."

"Oh, he hab you, sure 'nuff, Mass' George, and um be pickin' you bone
now down in de mud--iyah--iyah--iyah!" he roared, in a great burst of
laughter as he turned round to the water, rested his hands on his knees,
and shouted--

"How you like big 'gator head, eh? You find um berry hard? Hope you
like um, sah."

He faced round to me again, showing his teeth, and with his eyes
twinkling with merriment.

"Don't tell a massa," he said, pleadingly.

I was conquered, for it was clear enough to me now that the boy's prank
had in all probability saved my life. But I still hesitated as I seized
him by both ears now, and gently swayed his head to and fro.

"Dat's right, Mass' George, pull um hard. I no mine a bit."

"You rascal!" I cried; "will you promise never to do it again?"

"Can't do it again, Mass' George; ugly great 'gator got de head."

"But will you play me such a trick again?"

"Dunno, Mass' George. You pull hard bofe ears togedder, and kick um."

"Where are your clothes?" I said, quite disarmed now.

"In de tree, Mass' George. Hab noder pull."

"No," I said. "Put on your clothes."

Pomp threw himself on the ground and began to howl.

"What's that for, sir?"

"You go tell de capen, and hab poor nigger flog. Ah, Mass' George, you
bery cruel young massa."

"Get up, Pomp. I'm not going to tell father, but you shouldn't have
played me such a trick."

The boy seemed as if made of india-rubber, for he sprang up, ducked
down, stood on his head, and then went over and over head over heels
three or four times before leaping up with a loud shout.

"Oh, Mass' George, pull um out; got big forn in um back."

It was quite true, and after I had relieved him of the spine, he ran to
the biggest tree near, climbed up into the fork, and descended directly
with his clothes, into which he slipped--not a long job, for he was by
this time dry, and his garments consisted only of a short-sleeved shirt
and a pair of cotton drawers, which came down to mid thigh.

"Now, look here, Mass' George," he cried, excitedly; "you'n me got to
kill dat 'gator."

"Yes," I said, "I must lie in wait and shoot him."

"I tink so. What did he come in young mass' bath for? I go fetch um
gun now."

"No, no," I said. "It would be no use."

"No," said Pomp, thoughtfully, and then showing his teeth; "to