were now running up at full speed and close to
the walls of the house. At that moment the door opened, and Moore,
heading a number of negroes, picked off the leading ruffian and rushed
out into the open. The other assailants fired hurriedly and without aim,
then--daunted by the attack so suddenly carried into their midst, and by
the appearance of one or two of their own beaten comrades--the enemy
turned and fairly bolted. We did not pursue. Far away down the road we
heard the clatter of hoofs, and thin and clear came the thrice-repeated
cry of the "Bob White."

"Dick's coming back with the soldiers," said Moore; "and now I think we
may look after the wounded."

* * * * *

I did not see much of Moore that day. The fact is that I slept a good
deal, and Moore was mysteriously engaged with Gumbo. Night came, and
very much needed quiet and sleep came with it. Then we passed an
indolent day, and I presumed that adventures were over, and that on the
subject of "the Secret of the Pyramid" Moore had recovered his sanity. I
was just taking my bedroom candle when Moore said, "Don't go to bed yet.
You will come with me, won't you, and see out the adventure of the Cheap
Nigger?"

"You don't mean to say the story is to be continued?" I asked.

"Continued? Why the fun is only beginning," Moore answered. "The night
is cloudy, and will just suit us. Come down to the branch."

The "branch," as Moore called it, was a strong stream that separated, as
I knew, his lands from his brother's. We walked down slowly, and reached
the broad boat which was dragged over by a chain when any one wanted to
cross. At the "scow," as the ferry-boat was called, Peter joined us; he
ferried us deftly over the deep and rapid water, and then led on, as
rapidly as if it had been daylight, along a path through the pines.

"How often I came here when I was a boy," said Moore; "but now I might
lose myself in the wood, for this is my brother's land, and I have
forgotten the way."

As I knew that Mr. Bob Moore was confined to his room by an accident,
through which an ounce of lead had been lodged in a portion of his frame,
I had no fear of being arrested for trespass. Presently the negro
stopped in front of a cliff.

"Here is the 'Sachem's Cave,'" said Moore. "You'll help us to explore
the cave, won't you?"

I did not think the occasion an opportune one for exploring caves, but to
have withdrawn would have demanded a "moral courage," as pe