and the bellowings and croakings from the wood, "how
hot it is! I do wish it was day."

But it seemed that many hours must elapse before day could come, and in
a curious dreamy way I was wandering on and on through the tangled wood
close to the river-bank, when Pomp said in a whisper--

"Hi! Mass' George, you go 'top seep all day?"

I started up to find that I had slept for hours, and light in the shape
of the morning was at the window, in company with darkness in the form
of Pomp's black face.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

I lost no time in dressing after opening my window wide, there being no
fear now of Pomp getting at me to have his revenge while I was asleep
for the tricks I had played upon him.

The boy thrust in his legs with an easy motion, as soon as the window
was thrown open, raising himself and dropping gently into a sitting
position to watch me wash and dress.

"Well, why are you looking on in that contemptuous way?" I said at
last, as I noted the play of his face.

"Dat not temshus, Mass' George," he said. "I only sit and fink what
long time you are wash and dress."

"That's not long," I said; "why, how long are you?"

"No time, Mass' George. I go bed like am now, and get up like am now,
and come on."

"But do you mean to say you haven't washed this morning?"

"How I 'top go to ribber an' wash, when Mass' George wait to be called?
Hab good 'wim when we get to ribber."

I finished dressing, and took Pomp into Sarah's kitchen, where we both
made a hearty meal, which was interrupted by Pomp insisting upon having
the shot and powder pouches buckled on him at once, so that he might
make sure of them, and not be defrauded of the honour of carrying them
by any tricks on my part.

He did not look so pleased at having to carry the wallet which had been
well stored ready for our use, but he submitted to have the strap thrown
over his head, and passed one arm through. Then full of eagerness I
shouldered the gun, and we started off into the forest, passing the
clearing where the rattlesnake had been killed, and next passing on to
the little river, up whose course we were to make our way, keeping a
good look-out for the boat the while.

The morning was glorious, the sun piercing the low-lying mist, which
rapidly grew more transparent, broke up, and seemed to dissolve away.
The birds were piping and screaming in the trees, and as we reached the
river, where all was light and sunshine, we started f