onel,
turning fiercely on the new-comer.

"Wal, I cum ter du ye a naaboorly turn--I've kotched two on yer niggers
down ter my still, and I want ye ter take 'em 'way," returned the
corn-cracker, with the utmost coolness.

"Two of my niggers!" exclaimed the Colonel, perceptibly moderating his
tone--"which ones?"

"A yaller gal, and a chile."

"I thank you, Barnes; excuse my hard words--I was excited."

"All right, Cunnel; say no more 'bout thet. Will ye send fur 'em? I'd
hev fotched 'em 'long, but my waggin's off jest now."

"Yes, I'll send at once. Have you got them safe?"

"Safe? I reckon so! Kotched 'em last night, arter dark, and they've kept
right still ever sense, I 'sure ye--but th' gal holds on ter th' young
'un ter kill--we cudn't get it 'way no how."

"How did you catch them?"

"They got 'gainst my turpentime raft--the curren' driv 'em down, I
s'pose."

"What! are they dead?"

"Dead? deader'n drownded rats!" replied the native,

"My God! drowned herself and her child!" exclaimed the Colonel, with
deep emotion.

"It is terrible, my friend. Come, let us go to them, at once," I said,
laying my hand on his arm, and drawing him unresistingly away.

A pair of mules was speedily harnessed to a large turpentine wagon, and
the horses we had ridden the day before were soon at the door. When the
Colonel, who had been closeted for a few minutes with Madam P----, came
out of the house, we mounted, and rode off with the "corn-cracker."

The native's farm was located on the stream which watered my friend's
plantation, and was about ten miles distant. Taking a by-road which led
to it through the woods, we rode rapidly on in advance of the wagon.

"Sort o' likely gal, thet, warn't she?" remarked the turpentine-maker,
after a while.

"Yes, she was," replied the Colonel, in a half-abstracted manner;
"_very_ likely."

"Kill harself 'case har man war shot by thet han'som overseer uv
your'n?"

"Not altogether for that, I reckon," replied my host; "I fear the main
reason was her being put at field-work, and abused by the driver."

"Thet comes uv not lookin' arter things yerself, Cunnel. I tend ter my
niggers parsonally, and they keer a durned sight more fur this world
then fur kingdom-cum. Ye cudn't hire 'em ter kill 'emselves fur no
price."

"Well," replied the Colonel, in a low tone, "I _did_ look after her. I
put her at full field-work, myself!"

"By----!" cried the native, reining his horse to a dead