at to do, when I heard the Chieftain blow up the river; so I tore
off to the levee, where I was lucky enough to succeed in attracting
Captain Smith's attention, who sent off a boat, and we managed to get
Phil on board. I wanted Smith to put back to our landing, but he
thought the current too strong; and on the whole, I believe it is
better for Phil to keep on to Hilton, as it would be impossible to get
a doctor at home in this high water. Phil's hurt is not very serious,
I hope.

Your dutiful nephew,

Harry Brace.

* * * * *

On the day succeeding Harry's homecoming, he entered the room
designated the "study," in which the Squire was usually to be found
when indoors.

The room probably owed the name of "study" to a set of _Farmer's
Magazines_ which, in all the dignity of expensive bindings, divided
the shelf with a rather damaged edition of "The Turf Register," a
"Farrier's Manual," a brace of antiquated medical works, and a stack
of newspapers. Fishing tackle, a cupping apparatus, a set of
engineering instruments, half a dozen ears of extra fine seed corn,
medicine scales, and a huge cotton stock filled the rest of the
bookcase.

The Squire, seated before a blazing fire, in the lazy comforts of
convalescence, with pipe and tobacco at his elbow, presented a not
unenviable picture when contrasted with the wintry grayness outside.

Harry, who had been greatly touched by the old hog-feeder's
affectionate fidelity, now sought his uncle in order to beg that as a
recompense he might be given his freedom.

"Freedom!" exclaimed the Squire; "why, confound it, my dear boy, what
would he do with freedom, if he had it?"

"I think he would like it," Harry murmured, a little sheepishly.

"Why, he's as free as air now; a deuced sight freer than I am."

Nevertheless Harry gained his point, and though the Squire growled,
"You young jackanapes, you've robbed me of the best hog-feeder on the
river," still he was evidently pleased, and in the evening old Jerry
was sent for.

When, in answer to the summons, Jerry presented himself at the study
door, his master said to him, with a stateliness fitted to the
occasion:--

"Jerry, I have sent for you to tell you that your young master here,
as a reward for your fidelity, desires to give you your freedom."

Here the Squire paused, and Jerry, not knowing what else to say, said,
"Yes, Marster."

Harry, standing by, was feeling rather