ff?"

"Debbil, massa! Didn't I har you say de store broke open?"

"You did; and I want you to be up, and stirring quickly."

"Well, if dis doesn't beat de witches! Nuffin dis kin' eber happen
afore. All jest 'cause dis nigger lef his post. See'f ole Massa don't
say dat."

Wilkins bade him talk less, and dress quick; and in a few minutes the
three descended the stairs together.

The fury of the storm was well-nigh spent; and the flashes of lightning,
and loud peals of thunder, came at longer intervals. Faint streaks of
light in the horizon, also told of scattering clouds, and approaching
dawn. Closing the open pane as well as he could, so that he could carry
his lamp without danger of its being extinguished, Wilkins, with Jeff
and Arthur, proceeded to examine the "amount of damage done."

Suddenly Wilkins paused, and pointing out a number of clearly-defined
tracks upon the floor, distinctly marked, in yet moist mud, he bade them
be careful in preserving them as they might possibly give some faint
clue to the robber, whoever he was. Jeff's quick eye caught at that
moment what Wilkins failed to see--he observed that Arthur eagerly
inspected the foot-prints, and cast a furtive glance from them to his
own feet, as if to note if there were any similitude; and he saw, too,
as the youth bent beneath the rays of the lamp, that his black curls, in
one or two places, sparkled with heavy rain-drops. Jeff's ready mouth
was open to speak; when the thought of Guly flitted, like a restraining
angel, before him, and he remained silent; but, with his quick mind,
convinced of Arthur's knowledge of the affair.

It was decided, that as soon as it was day, Jeff should be dispatched
for Mr. Delancey; and, waiting for the dawn to break, they gathered
round Guly's bed, to discuss the events of the night, and propose
measures for the future.

When Mr. Delancey arrived he said but little, going about to see what
goods had been taken--minutely examining the spot where the apparent
entrance had been made, and silently drawing his own conclusions.

When the foot-print upon the floor was pointed out to him, he started,
and turned slightly pale; inspecting it at the same time closely. There
were marks of other feet, but they were mixed and confused, but this had
gone higher in the store than the rest; there were tracks going and
returning. The foot was small, elegantly-shaped, and, from appearance,
with an instep so high that water might flo