tions that he slunk away into the darkness.

I followed him though, just making him out by his light, white cotton
clothes, and saw him at last throw himself down on his face; but he
started up into a crouching position, ready to bound away as I came up
to him.

"No good, Mass' George," he said, angrily. "I 'tupid lil nigger, and
done know nuff talk. Nebber see no Injum; nebber see nobody. Keep ask
say--`Are you suah?' `Are you suah?' Pomp going run away and lib in de
tree. Nobody b'leeve Pomp."

"Yes, some one does," I said, as I sat down beside him in the darkness;
and for the first time I noticed that we were close to the tarpaulin and
canvas spread over the powder-kegs.

"No. Nobody b'leeve Pomp. Um wish Injum come and kill um."

"No, you don't," I said; "because you know I believe you, and have often
seen that you have wonderful eyes."

"Eh? Mass' George tink Pomp got wunful eye?"

"Yes; you can see twice as well in the dark as I can."

"No; Mass' George tink Pomp 'tupid lil nigger; no good 'tall. Pomp go
run away."

"I shall call you a stupid little nigger if you talk like that," I said.
"Don't be foolish. I hope the Indians will not come any more, and that
we shall soon go back home."

"Injum coming; Pomp see um. Dey hide; lie flat down on um 'tummuck so;
and creep and crawl um."

He illustrated his meaning, but crouched down by me again directly.

"Dat on'y Pomp fun," he whispered. "Pomp nebber run away from Mass'
George, and ah!--look dah!"

He pointed away into the darkness so earnestly that I stared in that
direction, but for some little time I could see nothing. Then, all at
once, I made out a figure which came cautiously toward where we sat, but
turned off and went round to the opposite side of the heap out of our
sight, and it was evident that we were not seen.

I was going to speak, but just as the words were on my lips I recognised
Morgan, who must have just been relieved; and as I fully grasped now
where we were, I turned cold as ice, and a peculiar feeling of moisture
came in the palms of my hands.

I wanted to speak, but I could not; I wanted to cry to him hoarsely, but
no words would come; and if ever poor fellow suffered from nightmare
when he was quite awake, it was I in those terrible moments, during
which there was a peculiar rustling, then a loud cracking sound, as if
something was being wrenched open and broken, and the tarpaulin was
agitated and shaken.

My e