notice it."

"Where did you sleep that night?"

"On a pallet in the middle passage, nigh the star steps."

"Was that your usual custom?"

"No, sir. But the boy what had been sleepin' in the house while ole
Marster was sick, had gone to set up with his daddy's corpse, and I
tuck his place."

"Did you hear any unusual noise during the night?"

"Only the squalling of the pea-fowul what was oncommon oneasy, and the
thunder that was ear-splitting. One clap was so tremenjous it raised me
plum off'en the pallet, and jarred me to my backbone, as if a cannon
had gone off close by."

"Now, Bedney, state carefully all the circumstances under which you
found your master the next morning; and remember you are on your oath,
to speak the truth, and all the truth."

"He was a early riser, and always wanted his shavin' water promp'. When
his bell didn't ring, I thought the storm had kep' him awake, and he
was having a mornin' nap, to make up for lost time. The clock had
struck eight, and the cook said as how the steak and chops was as dry
as a bone from waitin', and so I got the water and went to Marster's
door. It was shet tight, and I knocked easy. He never answered; so I
knocked louder; and thinkin' somethin' was shorely wrong, I opened the
door--"

"Go on. What did you find?"

"Mars Alfred, sir, it's very harryfyin to my feelins."

"Go on. You are required to state all you saw, all you know."

Bedney drew back his right foot, advanced his left. Took out his
handkerchief, wiped his face and refolded his arms.

"My Marster was layin' on the rug before the fireplace, and his knees
was all drawed up. His right arm, was stretched out, so--and his left
hand was all doubled up. I know'd he was dead, before I tetched him,
for his face was set; and pinched and blue. I reckon I hollered, but I
can't say, for the next thing I knowed, the horsler and the cook, and
Miss Angerline, and Dyce, my ole 'oman, and Gord knows who all, was
streamin' in and out and screamin'."

"What was the condition of the room?"

"The front window was up, and the blinds was flung wide open, and a
cheer was upside clown close to it. The red vases what stood on the
fire-place mantle was smashed on the carpet, and the handi'on was close
to Marster's right hand. The vault was open, and papers was strowed
plentiful round on the floor under it. Then the neighburs and the
Doctor, and the Crowner come runnin' in, and I sot down by the bed and
cried like a