sed the more he dwelt on the idea.

"A colored pusson as light complexum as a white man in de dark,"
exclaimed Primus, grinning.

"Well, old Prime, you're the cleverest nigger I ever did see," said
Tom, slapping him on the back, and still laughing; "but take care you
don't feel too proud after your ride. Put a nigger on horseback, and
you know where he goes. But what have you got there?" he inquired,
seeing the General draw a paper out of his pocket.

"Dis paper fall out ob Missa Basset hat when de ghost strike him last
night, and I pick him up."

"Golly! if it ain't the warrant. Prime, you're the ace o' clubs. I'm
gladder of this than if I found a good dinner."

"Well, what shall I do wid him?"

"Why, man, burn it up; it's the constable's sword and gun, and
baggonit and cartridge-box; he can't do nothing without it; why,
without the warrant, he's just like a cat without claws. He daresn't
touch a man without a warrant."

"If Missa Basset trow de paper away, I 'spose he don't want him, and
he ain't good for noting, and nobody can find fault wid me for burning
up a little piece ob waste paper, just to kindle de fire," said
Primus, throwing the warrant into the flames, where it was immediately
consumed.

"There, we've drawn Basset's eye-teeth now," said Gladding. "Holden's
as safe as you or me. And, Prime," he added, rising, and, as he took
leave, making a peculiar gesture with the thumb of his right hand
touching the end of his nose, and his fingers twinkling in the air,
"you're too old a fox to need teaching, but it will do no harm to say
I advise you to keep as dark as your skin."

Such was the conversation that, on the morning after the adventure of
the island, took place at the cabin of Primus, and the reader will now
perfectly understand (if, indeed, he has not before discovered it) the
relation which the associates bore to the constable. Yet, there
was some difference in the feelings of the two: Gladding felt only
unmitigated contempt for Basset, while the good-nature of the negro
(proverbial of the race) infused some pity into the sentiment.

"Tom Gladding hab no manners," said Primus to himself, after the
departure of his friend. "It is bery onpleasant to hear sich pussonal
inflections. But, probumbly, arter he keep company wid me a little
longer, he larn better."

How it got out, nobody could tell. Tom and the General both declared
they had said nothing about it, and Basset was equally positive he