ook like de ager. I told Big Mose
to be still and go to sleep, 'cause it seemed to me if I went to sleep
when t'ings looked bad, dey would be all right agin in de mornin'.
But, he wouldn't be still and says, 'I tell you, Cato, dar _am_ Injines
crawlin' around ob dis house dis very minute, 'cause I can hear dar
knees and hands on de ground.' I couldn't make Big Mose keep quiet.
Bimeby, he says, 'Cato, let's git up and be ready for 'em, for dey're
comin'. I _knows_ it, I ken _feel_ it in my bones. Let's wake up
Missis Mary and de niggers and fight 'em, for dey'll be here afore
morning, sure.' Wal, dat nigger worrid me awful. I told him I
wouldn't git up, but was going to sleep, and turned ober in bed, but I
couldn't keep my eyes shet.

"Bimeby, I heard Big Mose crawling soft-like out de bed. He was trying
to make no noise, so he wouldn't wake me, finking I was asleep. He
stepped like a cat on de floor, and I listened to see what he was going
to do. I heerd him move around and den all was still. 'What you
doing, Mose?' I axed. 'I'm going to say my prayers,' he said, 'and
it's de last time too, 'cause de Injines will soon be here.' I didn't
try to stop him, for I felt so bad, I commenced saying mine in de bed.

"Big Mose kept mumbling and crying for a long time, and I shaking more
and more, when all at once, hebens, golly! I see'd somefin'
bright-like shine trough de winder, and I looked out and de barn was
all afire. Den dar come a yell dat nearly blowed de roof off de house.
Big Mose gib a screech and run, and _bang-bang_ went a lot ob guns all
around us. De Injines was dar, burnin', tomahawkin', screechin',
shoutin', and killin' de poor niggers as fast as dey showed demselves.
I see'd Miss Mary----"

"Did they harm her?"

"No! She didn't 'pear _skeart_ a bit. She tried to keep de Injines
from killing de poor niggers, not t'inking anyt'ing about herself."

"How was it that _you_ escaped?"

"I stayed where I was till I was nearly burnt up, when I sneaked out
and none of 'em didn't 'pear to notice me. I hid in de woods and
stayed dar till mornin'."

"Did you see anything more of Miss Mary?"

"Yes, I see'd de Injines go away purty soon, and take her along. Dey
didn't take any ob de niggers, 'cause dey had killed 'em all but me,
and I was already dead, but I comed to agin."

"None of Captain Prescott's family were in the house besides Mary, were
they?" asked the Lieutenant, asking a question of w