as read, this
hyar's a powerful bit of evidence. Look at them shoes!"

"I'm satisfied," the other remarked gloomily, "I reckon the boy's
right. But I'd have sworn that it was him I saw. All right, Sheriff,
I'll withdraw the charge."

"Let him go, Bill," said the sheriff, nodding to his assistant. "That's
a mighty narrow escape fo' yo' nigger," he continued, "I thought it was
yo' myself, for sho'."

For a moment Dan'l did not understand. Then it flashed over him.

"Ah's free! Ah's free!" he cried, and fell on his knees on the floor.

CHAPTER VIII

IN THE WHIRL OF A TORNADO

The success of the Weather Forecasts which had been put out in the
weekly _Review_ and the saving of Jed Tighe's crop had given the League
a high standing among the farmers of the neighborhood, but when the
story became noised abroad how Anton had saved Dan'l from unjust arrest,
every darky in the neighborhood became its devoted slave.

Dan'l himself racked his brains for some way to show his appreciation,
but none occurred to him. He could not be any more faithful and loyal
than he had been in the past. A dozen plans occurred to him, all to be
set aside as useless. He wanted to do something that really would help
the League. What was there that he could do? As in all cases of
difficulty, he decided to go to blind Mammy for advice. The conference
in the old fortune-teller's cabin was a long one, but when Dan'l came
out, he carried a huge bundle in his arms and his black face shone with
triumph.

As spring advanced, kite-flying resumed its former sway among the boys
and Tom's place became again a centre of attraction. Assiduous as he had
been before, Dan'l had redoubled his attentions, and he was seldom found
far distant from Anton's side. One Saturday, however, he did not appear
at the kite-ground until well on in the afternoon, and when he did come,
he was carrying something big in his arms, and stepping along as
gingerly as if the burden were a baby.

"What on earth have you got there, Dan'l?" asked Tom.

"Ah done got somethin' fo' the League," the darky answered, and, coming
up to the midst of the group, which was gathered around the kite-reel,
he lowered the burden gently, very gently, to the ground.

"What is it?" asked Anton.

Dan'l looked around. There was triumph in his glance. He was evidently
very proud of himself.

"Ah's made a discovery," he said. "Mistah Fred, yo'-all wants to take
notes of what I say, so's yo'