king it right to humour one who had
been more like a brother than a servant to him during his long illness,
"stoop down. Now, then, heave!"

In a twinkling Rosco was on the back of his "black horse," which carried
him a considerable distance in among the hills.

"Ah! Ebony," said the rider at last, "I feel sure you are deceiving
me--that you hope to conceal me here, but it is of no use, I tell you,
for I won't remain concealed."

"No, massa, I not deceive you. I bring you here to show you de stronary
place I hab diskiver, an ax you what you t'ink ob him."

"Well, show it me quickly, and then let us hasten home."

Without replying, the negro clambered up a somewhat steep and rugged
path which brought them to the base of a low precipice which was
partially fringed with bushes. Pushing one of these aside, he entered a
small cavern not much larger than a sentry-box, which seemed to have no
outlet; but Ebony, placing his right foot on a projection of rock just
large enough to receive it, raised himself upwards so as to place his
left foot on another projection, which enabled him to get on what
appeared to be a shelf of rock. Rising up, he entered another cavern.

"A strange place truly, but very dark," said Rosco; "does it extend
far?"

"You'll see, jus' now," muttered the negro, obtaining a light by means
of flint and steel, with which he kindled a torch. "You see I's bin
'splorin' here before an' got t'ings ready."

So saying, he carried Rosco through several winding passages until he
gained a cavern so large and high, that the torch was unable to reveal
either its extent or its roof.

"Wonderful! why did you not tell us of this place before, Ebony?"

"'Cause I on'y just diskiver him, 'bout a week past. I t'ink him
splendid place for hide our wimen an childers in, if we's iver 'tacked
by savages. See, I even make some few preparations--got straw in de
corner for lie on--soon git meat an' drink if him's required."

"Very suitable indeed, but if you have brought me here to hide, as I
still suspect, my poor fellow, you have troubled yourself in vain, for
my mind is made up."

"Dat's berry sad, massa, berry sad," returned Ebony, with a deep sigh,
"but you no object sit on de straw for a bit an' let me rest. Dere now.
You's growin' heavier every day, massa. I stick de torch here for
light. Look, here you see I hab a few t'ings. Dis is one bit ob rope
wid a loop on him."

"And what may that be for?" a