oot at both ends, and form a "nap!" From the sides of this sable
sphere stood out a pair of enormous ears, suggesting the idea of wings,
and giving to the head a singularly ludicrous appearance.

It was this peculiarity that had set me laughing; and, indecorous though
it was, for the life of me I could not help it.

My visitor, however, did not seem to take it amiss. On the contrary, he
at once opened his thick lips, and displaying the splendid armature of
his mouth in a broad and good-natured grin, began laughing as loudly as
myself!

Good-natured was he. His bat-like ears had infused nothing of the
vampire into his character. No--the very type of jollity and fun was
the broad black face of "Scipio Besancon," for such was the cognomen of
my visitor.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

"OLE ZIP."

Scipio opened the dialogue:--

"Gollies, young mass'r! Ole Zip 'joiced to see um well 'gain--daat he
be."

"Scipio is it?"

"Ye', mass'r--daat same ole nigger. Doctor told um to nuss de white
genl'um. Won't young missa be glad haself!--white folks, black folks--
all be glad, Wugh!"

The finishing exclamation was one of those thoracic efforts peculiar to
the American negro, and bearing a strong resemblance to the snort of a
hippopotamus. Its utterance signified that my companion had finished
his sentence, and waited for me to speak.

"And who is `young missa'?" I inquired.

"Gorramighty! don't mass'r know? Why, de young lady you fotch from de
boat, when twar all ober a blaze. Lor! what a swum you make--half cross
de riber! Wugh!"

"And am I in her house?"

"Ob sartin, mass'r--daat ar in de summer-house--for de big house am on
oder side ob de garden--all de same, mass'r."

"And how did I get here?"

"Golly! don't mass'r 'member how? Why, ole Zip carried 'im in yar in
dese berry arms. Mass'r an young missa come 'shore on de Lebee, down
dar jes by de gate. Missa shout--black folks come out an find um--white
genl'um all blood--he faint, an missa have him carried in yar."

"And after?"

"Zip he mount fastest hoss--ole White Fox--an gallop for de doctor--
gallop like de debil, too. Ob course de doctor he come back along and
dress up mass'r's arm.

"But," continued Scipio, turning upon me an inquiring look, "how'd young
mass'r come by de big ugly cut? Dat's jes wha de Doc wanted to know, an
dat's jes wha young missa didn't know nuffin 'tall 'bout."

For certain reasons I forbore satisfying the curiosity