l at once Sam felt the grip of one of the black's hands loosen,
and a horrible thought flashed through his brain--

It was his adversary's right hand, and he was about to seek for his
knife!

"Look here, you black hound," panted Sam. "If you stab me you'll be
hung."

"Sam!" came in a hoarse voice, and the grip slackened.

"Who are you?" panted Sam. "Why!--what I--'Tain't you, is it, Master
Frank?"

"Oh, you idiot! you fool!"

"But I don't under--I say, Mr Frank, I took you for a nigger."

"You've dragged me all to pieces, and I'm so hot I--"

"But is it you, Master Frank, dressed up?"

"You knew it was," cried the young man angrily, as the grasp being
slackened he struggled up, to stand breathing hard.

"'Strue as goodness, sir, I didn't!" said Sam, rising to his knees.
"Oh, just wait till I get my wind again. I say, Mr Frank, you are
strong--strong as--as a donkey."

"I? Come, I like that!" panted Frank. "I'm a donkey, am I, sir?"

"'Pon my word, Mr Frank, I beg your pardon. I came into the tent and
saw, as I thought, a real nigger robbing the place, and though I felt
scared about his having a knife, I went at him, and it was you all the
time."

"Yes, it was I all the time," cried Frank angrily. "Why didn't you
speak?"

"Never thought about it, sir. Seemed to me that I ought to catch the
thief, and I caught a Tartar instead."

"It is most vexatious! Oh, how hot I am! Have you got a match?"

"Yes, I've got a box somewhere."

"Look sharp, then, and light the lamp."

"All right, sir," said Sam, fumbling in his box, and proceeding to
strike a light. "I 'spose you've made me in a pretty mess, sir."

"What! Have I made your nose bleed?"

"Oh, no, sir. I meant the lampblack. I suppose I shall be covered with
it."

"Wait till you get the light, and see," said Frank sharply.

_Scratch_! The little wax match flashed, the lamp was picked up
uninjured, and after a little trying, burned freely, so that the
adversaries could gaze in each other's faces.

But prior to doing this Sam examined his hands twice over, and then
passed them over his face. He next took out a pocket-handkerchief and
rubbed his face well, bringing away plenty of perspiration, but the
linen remained white.

"It hasn't come off, sir," he said, in a tone full of wonder; and then,
moistening his handkerchief with his lips, "Beg your pardon, sir, would
you mind?"

Frank, whose annoyance was dying out, being driven of