tly on the hard shuck pillow and gazed curiously
about. When my eyes had first opened all I could perceive was the
section of log wall against which I rested, but now, after painfully
turning over, the entire interior of the single-room cabin was
revealed. It was humble enough in all its appointments, the walls
quite bare, the few chairs fashioned from half-barrels, a packing box
for a table, and the narrow bed on which I lay constructed from
saplings lashed together, covered with a coarse ticking, packed with
straw. The floor was of hard, dry clay; a few live coals remained,
smoking in the open fireplace, while a number of garments, among them
to be recognized my own clothing, dangled from wooden pegs driven into
the chinks of the farther wall. I surveyed the entire circuit of the
room wonderingly, a vague memory of what had lately occurred returning
slowly to mind. To all appearances I was there alone, although close
beside me stood a low stool, supporting a tin basin partially filled
with water. As I moved I became conscious of a dull pain in my left
shoulder, which I also discovered to be tightly bandaged. It was late
in the day, for the rays of the sun streamed in through the single
window, and lay a pool of gold along the center of the floor.

I presume it was not long, yet my thoughts were so busy it seemed as if
I must have been lying there undisturbed for some time, before the door
opened quietly, and I became aware of another occupant of the room.
Paying no attention to me he crossed to the fireplace, stirred the few
smouldering embers into flame, placing upon these some bits of dried
wood, and then idly watched as they caught fire. The newcomer was a
negro, gray-haired but still vigorous, evidently a powerful fellow
judging from his breadth of shoulder, and possessing a face denoting
considerable intelligence. Finally he straightened up and faced me,
his eyes widening with interest as he caught mine fastened upon him,
his thick lips instantly parting in a good-natured grin.

"De good Lord be praised!" he ejaculated, in undisguised delight. "Is
yer really awake agin, honey? De docthar say he done thought ye'd cum
round by terday sure, sah. Enyhow I's almighty glad fer ter see yer
wid dem eyes open onct mor'--yas, sah, I sure am."

"The doctor?" I questioned in surprise, my voice sounding strange and
far away. "Have I been here long?"

"Goin' on 'bout ten days, sah. Yer was powerful bad hurt an