fe," said the great negro, with a grave smile.
"Can't say well, but tink great deal 'bout all massa done for us."

"Don't talk about it," said my father, quietly.

"No, sah," replied the great black, turning to me, "not talk 'bout; tink
about much--much more."

"Well, Hannibal, if we live to get clear of this dreadful trouble, I
will try to be fair to--" He stopped for a few moments, wincing
evidently from pain.

"Better now," he said, with a smile. "I was going to say, I have never
considered either you, Hannibal, or your boy as slaves."

"No, massa," said the big black, calmly.

"But you are considered to be so here; and from this day I give you both
your liberty."

Hannibal smiled, and shook his head.

"Do you not understand me?"

"Massa give holiday. Han done want holiday," said the black,
laboriously.

"No, no; I set you both perfectly free."

"Massa tink Pomp lazy--Hannibal no fight 'nuff?"

"My good fellow, no," said my father, drawing his breath hard. "You do
not fully understand. You were brought to this place and sold for a
slave."

"Yes, understand. Massa bought Hannibal."

"Then now you are quite free to go where you like."

"Where go to, sah?"

"As soon as we have beaten off these Indians, back to your own country."

The black shook his head.

"You would like to go back to your own country?"

"No," said the black, thoughtfully. "'Top fight for capen and Mass'
George."

"But we shall have done fighting soon, I hope, and then you can go in
peace."

"No peace in Han country."

"What?"

"Alway fight--make prisoner--sell slave. Han want Pomp here talk for
um."

"Ah, well, wait till we get peace, and things are getting on smoothly
again, then we can talk."

"Capen cross wif Hannibal?"

"Cross? No; grateful."

"Han stay here 'long massa and Mass' George."

"Ah, George, any good news?" said my father, turning to me. "You see I
am forced to be a slave-owner."

I shook my head rather sadly as I thought of Morgan's words.

"Oh, don't despair, my boy," he said, cheerfully. "It has seemed very
desperate several times, but the Indians are still at bay, and we are
alive."

"Yes, father, but--"

"Well?"

"The fort is burnt down."

"Yes; the enemy got the better of us there, but we are not beaten yet.
Things looked black last night; after rest and food they are as
different as can be. When shall you be ready to start home to begin
rebuilding?"

"You are only tal