ing
the garden his part, and the house wherein he always lived too as being
ours.

We went all round and were on the way to the hut where the blacks slept,
when I suddenly noticed that Pomp was not with us, and I drew Morgan's
attention to the fact.

"He was here just now, because I saw him stoop down and pick up
something to throw at a bird."

"No, no: don't shout," I said. "I dare say he'll be here directly, and
one don't know how near the enemy may be."

But Hannibal did not seem satisfied, and he began looking round the
garden and peering about close up to the trees in search of the boy,
though without success.

I had taken little notice of this, for I had been talking in a low voice
to Morgan about the garden, and whether it was worth while to do
anything, seeing that beyond a little weeding nothing hardly was
required.

"I thought the fences would all be down, and the place trampled, and
that I should have to cut rails and stakes to save the place from
desolation."

So said Morgan, and I agreed that as far as the garden was concerned we
had met with a pleasant surprise.

"We'll have a good meal now," I said. "Let's sit down under the big
cypress," and I pointed to the great tree which had proved so good a
friend during the flood, and unslinging the bag which he had been
carrying, Morgan led the way toward the resting-place.

"Why, Hannibal's gone now," I said, looking round wonderingly. "Oh, I
know," I added, laughing; "he heard me say we would have something to
eat, and he has gone to look for Pomp."

We were soon comfortably seated with the food spread before us, and as I
cut some of the bread and salt pork we had brought, I said--

"It's of no use to go looking out for Indians, I suppose. We must
chance their being near."

"If we go looking for them, Master George, we shall have to spend all
our time over it. I'm beginning to hope we shan't see them any more."

Then Morgan's mouth became too full for him to talk with comfort, and
I'm afraid mine was in a similar condition, for the long row, the fresh
air, and the absence of breakfast before starting had had a great effect
upon my appetite.

"I wish they'd come now," I said, as I half turned to Morgan, who was
leaning forward with his head thrown back in the act of drinking from a
bottle, when I felt as if turned to ice--frozen--motionless--gazing up
at a great muscular brown arm raised to strike; and I don't know how to
explain it, for