! Down went the spade, and Pomp began to stalk away sulkily,
working his toes about--a way he had of showing his annoyance.

"Hi! Stop!" I cried; "where are you going?"

"Pomp go jump in um ribber, and let de ole 'gator eat um."

"Nonsense! What for?"

"Mass' Morgan call um 'tupid lil nigger. Allus call um 'tupid lil
nigger, and hurt Pomp all over."

"No, no; come along. Morgan didn't mean it."

"Eh? You no mean it, Mass' Morgan?" cried the boy, eagerly.

"No, of course not. You're the cleverest boy I ever knew."

"Dah, Mass' George, hear dat. Now see Pomp wheel dat barrow, and neber
spill lil bit ob ashums, and nex' time he go over oder place, he bring
um pockets full for Mass' Morgan garden."

"He's a rum un, sir," said Morgan, "but somehow I like him. Rather like
to paint him white, though. Lor', Master George, what a treat it is to
be getting down the weeds again. Look at old Han, how he is giving it
to 'em. I'm 'bliged to check him a bit though, sometimes; he aren't
quite strong yet. Here's the captain."

"Well, Morgan," said my father, as he came up, "how soon do you think we
might plant a few creepers about the house? The finishing and glazing
need not interfere with them."

"Oh, we can't put in any more, sir."

"What? Why not? I particularly want two of those wild vines to be put
in."

"Did put 'em in before you come out this morning, sir, and the 'suckle
and passion-flowers too. They'll be up a-top of the roof before we know
where we are."

My father looked pleased, and turned to examine the young plants that
had been set.

"Does me good, Master George, to see the captain coming round as he is.
Quite takes to the garden again. But dear, dear! It's in a melancholy
state."

"Nonsense!" I cried; "why, it's wonderful how well it looks."

"Wonderful? Well, sir, I wouldn't have thought you could talk in that
way of such a wilderness. Why, even old Han there, in his broken
English savage way, said he was ashamed of it."

"Oh, well, I'm not," I said. "It's glorious to be able to get back once
more to the dear old place. I say, though, you don't want Pomp any
longer?"

"Ah, but I do, sir. Why?"

"I want to row up and have a bit of fishing. It does seem so long since
I've had a turn."

"Eh? Who said go fis?" cried Pomp, sharply. "Mass' George go fish?
Catch terrapum, and take de gun?"

"Morgan says he can't spare you."

"Oh!" exclaimed Pomp; but Morgan smiled on