fort; and Donny de Mone's venerable nag "Ben Bow" astonished the
community by pulling at his halter.

While the boy stood valiantly holding the bridle, an old Negro came up
and pulled his sleeve. He was a shabby old Negro. His lean knees
protruded through his trousers,--a mass of patches from under which the
original material, like the jackknife in the mental philosophy problem,
had wholly disappeared. It was especially noticeable that tufts of white
hair found their way through the holes in his coon-skin cap. Across his
shoulder he carried a bundle knotted into an old red handkerchief with a
polka spot.

[Illustration: "AN OLD NEGRO CAME UP."]

"Say, boss, cud ye tell me whar a poah niggah cud fine a bit o' kivered
hay to sleep on, an' a moufful o' pone in de mauhnin? I'se footed it
clean from Charleston. I'se gwine to Branchville whar my dahter, Juno
Soo, is a dyin' ob fever. She ain't long foh dis wohl. I'se got money
'nuff foh de breffust."

He looked wistfully at the lad. Donny answered with the heartiness of a
child who has been brought up to think of others.

"My father will tell you when he comes in. I expect him every minute.
But why don't you go to Kittie's." He mentioned the name of a woman well
known in Summerville for strong character and wise benevolence. "She
lives up the track there. Anybody will show you. She'll help you; she's
the best colored woman in town."

[Illustration: "HE PLODDED SLOWLY UP THE TRACK."]

The old man turned away without answering. Perhaps he thought this a
pleasant device on the boy's part to get rid of him. Perhaps he meant
to follow his counsel. Who can say? He plodded slowly up the track and
disappeared in the darkness.

I.

[Illustration: "SNAPPED HIS HALTER AND BROKE AWAY."]

NOW, while Donny stood holding Ben Bow by the bridle, the old horse
reared, plunged violently, snapped his halter, and broke away. The boy,
at the same instant, was hurled to the ground. The ringing of hoofs and
whir of wheels made strange sensations in his ears. He thought what a
fool he was to be knocked down by old Ben Bow.

[Illustration: "HE GOT DOWN ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES AND CRAWLED."]

Then he tottered to his feet. Complete darkness had come. There was an
unearthly silence. Then a moan, then a howl and a shriek arose which
reached from group to group, from house to house, from square to forest.
Human and animal cries blended in one piteous appeal for mercy.

Again the unkn