A Council of War

XL. The Wonders of the Cave

XLI. Prometheus Bound

XLII. Prometheus Unbound

XLIII. The Combat

XLIV. How Augustus Finally Proposed

XLV. Master and Slave Change Places

XLVI. The Traitor

XLVII. Bread on the Waters

XLVIII. Conclusion

L'Envoy

CUDJO'S CAVE.

I.

_THE SCHOOLMASTER IN TROUBLE._

Carl crept stealthily up the bank, and, peering through the window, saw
the master writing at his desk.

In his neat Quaker garb, his slender form bent over his task, his calm
young face dimly seen in profile, there he sat. The room was growing
dark; the glow of a March sunset was fading fast from the paper on which
the swift pen traced these words:--

"Tennessee is getting too hot for me. My school is nearly broken up, and
my farther stay here is becoming not only useless, but dangerous. There
are many loyal men in the neighborhood, but they are overawed by the
reckless violence of the secessionists. Mobs sanctioned by self-styled
vigilance committees override all law and order. As I write, I can hear
the yells of a drunken rabble before my school-house door. I am an
especial object of hatred to them on account of my northern birth and
principles. They have warned me to leave the state, they have threatened
me with southern vengeance, but thus far I have escaped injury. How long
this reign of terror is to last, or what is to be the end----"

A rap on the window drew the writer's attention, and, looking up, he
saw, against the twilight sky, the broad German face of the boy Carl
darkening the pane. He stepped to raise the sash.

"What is it, Carl?"

The lad glanced quickly around, first over one shoulder, then the other,
and said, in a hoarse whisper,--

"Shpeak wery low!"

"Was it you that rapped before?"

"I have rapped tree times, not loud, pecause I vas afraid the men would
hear."

"What men are they?"

"The Wigilance Committee's men! They have some tar in a kettle. They
have made a fire unter it, and I hear some of 'em say, 'Run, boys, and
pring some fedders.'"

"Tar and feathers!" The young man grew pale. "They have threatened it,
but they will not dare!"

"They vill dare do anything; but you shall prewent 'em! See vat I have
prought you!" Carl opened his jacket, and showed the handle of a
revolver. "Stackridge sent it."

"Hide it! hide it!" said the master, quickly. "He offered it to me
himself. I told him I could not take it."

"He said, may be whe