you all we can; but we must go back now, befo' Mammy hunts for us;
so good-bye;" and again they left him to himself.

As they neared the house, Dumps asked Diddie how far it was to Mr.
"Tight-fis' Smith's."

"I don't know exactly," said Diddie; "'bout three miles, I think."

"Couldn't we walk there, an' ask him not to whup Uncle Pomp? Maybe he
wouldn't, ef we was ter beg him right hard."

"Yes, that's jest what we'll do, Dumps; and we'll get Dilsey to go with
us, 'cause she knows the way."

Dilsey was soon found, and was very willing to accompany them, but was
puzzled to know why they wanted to go. The children, however, would not
gratify her curiosity, and they started at once, so as to be back in
time for dinner.

It was all of three miles to Mr. Smith's plantation, and the little
girls were very tired long before they got there. Dumps, indeed, almost
gave out, and once began to cry, and only stopped with Diddie's
reminding her of poor Uncle Pomp, and with Dilsey's carrying her a
little way.

At last, about two o'clock, they reached Mr. Smith's place. The hands
had just gone out into the field after dinner, and of course their
master, who was only a small planter and kept no overseer, was with
them. The children found the doors all open, and went in.

The house was a double log-cabin, with a hall between, and they entered
the room on the right, which seemed to be the principal living-room.
There was a shabby old bed in one corner, with the cover all
disarranged, as if its occupant had just left it. A table, littered with
unwashed dishes, stood in the middle of the floor, and one or two rude
split-bottomed chairs completed the furniture.

The little girls were frightened at the unusual silence about the place,
as well as the dirt and disorder, but, being very tired, they sat down
to rest.

"Diddie," asked Dumps, after a little time, "ain't yer scared?"

"I don't think I'm scared, Dumps," replied Diddie; "but I'm not right
comfor'ble."

"_I'm_ scared," said Dumps. "I'm _jes_ ez fraid of Mr. Tight-fis'
Smith!"

"Dat's hit!" said Dilsey. "Now yer talkin', Miss Dumps; dat's er mean
wite man, an' he mighter git mad erlong us, an' take us all fur his
niggers."

"But we ain't black, Diddie an' me," said Dumps.

"Dat don't make no diffunce ter him; he des soon hab wite niggers ez
black uns," remarked Dilsey, consolingly; and Dumps, being now
thoroughly frightened, said,

"Well, I'm er goin' ter put my pe