--How long--how long--how--"

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

A jerk! Then a hasty movement. I must have left the window open, and a
fly or a beetle had got in and was tickling my ear. Now it was on my
cheek--then on the other cheek--my neck again--my ear--my eyes--and
now--

"Ertchsshaw--ertchsshaw!" It was right on my nose, and I start up to
brush it away, and in the gloom recognise the figure of Pomp, who burst
into a roar of laughter.

"Mass' George tiddle lil nigger; now lil nigger tiddle Mass' George."

"Why, Pomp," I said, sitting up and staring, "I--I thought I was at
home."

"No, Mass' George. Home long a way. Been sleep, and Pomp been sleep."

I shivered, got up, and stamped about.

"Yes, Mass' George, um dreffle cole."

"Here, get the powder and shot, and let's go back."

Pomp shook his head.

"No good go now. Get 'tuck in de forn, or tumble in de ribber."

"But we must go."

"No see de way; an' all de big 'gator go out for walk now, Mass'
George."

"What time can it be?"

"Dunno, Mass' George, o'ny know not morrow mornin' yet."

I looked about me, and tried to make out the forest path by which we
should have to go; but all was dark as night could be, except overhead
where a faint gleam showed where the moon should have been giving her
light, had not the clouds and mist interposed.

I did not like the look of it, but on the other hand I was afraid to
give up; I knew that my father would be anxious, perhaps setting out in
search of me.

That last thought fixed me in my determination, and taking up the gun, I
said firmly--

"Come along."

"Mass' George go shoot somefin?"

"No; let's get back home."

"No get home now. Too dark."

"But we must get home."

"Mass' George say muss get home, but de dark night say he no get home."

"Let's try," I said.

Pomp was obedience itself, and he followed me as I strode back to the
edge of the forest, entered the dense thicket close to the river, and
had not gone a hundred yards before just in front of me there was a
crashing, rustling noise, and a dull sullen plunge.

"I yah, ugly ole 'gator. Take care, Mass' George, he don't hab you."

I felt my heart beat fast, but I tried to fix it upon my mind in the
foremost place that the reptiles fled from me, and were perhaps more
alarmed than I was; but as I pressed forward, Pomp suddenly said,
piteously--

"No got shoe like Mass' George. Poor Pomp put him foot in 'gator mouf.
Oh!"

Pomp