out the footsteps, sir," replied the lad, "but I can't say I
understand them."

"Oh no, of course not," said the lieutenant, "but I suppose our black
friend here can. Tell us all about it, what's your name--Caesar?"

"Yes, massa," said the black promptly; and he began eagerly to point out
the various impressions in the earth, carefully keeping on one side and
nearly touching the ground as he bent down.

"Dose niggah foots," he whispered, picking out carefully the trails of
four pairs of footsteps which had passed to where they stood, evidently
coming to an end. "Yes, sah; dose niggah foots. Carry Massa Allen.
All 'tick down deep in de mud."

"Ah, to be sure!" cried Murray. "I see."

"Dey get tire' carry Massa Allen long way. No, Caesar t'ink Massa Allen
say he walk bit now, and jump down. Dose Massa Allen foots. Got shoe
on. Massa officer see?"

"To be sure he does, darkie. Well done! You see, Mr Murray?"

"Oh yes, sir; I can see now he shows me."

"Yes; young buccra officer see Massa Allen shoe 'tick down in de mud.
Dose black niggah foots," continued the black, pointing.

"How do you know they are black footsteps?" asked Murray.

"All a toes 'tick out wide," replied the man promptly; and he raised one
of his own feet with the toes spreading widely, stepped to a soft patch
of green-covered mud, and pressed his foot down and raised it again.
"Dah," he continued; "Massa buccra see? Dat black niggah foots, and dat
are white man foot. Look toopid all queezum up in hard boot. Dat Massa
Huggin foots."

"Ah!" cried the lieutenant eagerly. "How do you know, darkie?"

"Massa Huggin put foots in big hard boot. Caesar know um--kick Caesar.
`Get outah way, black dog!' he say."

As he spoke the black went through something of a pantomime so perfectly
that the lieutenant and Roberts burst out laughing. Murray's
countenance remained unchanged, and he met the black's eyes gravely, and
noted their fierce aspect as his brow wrinkled up and his thick, fleshy,
protuberant lips were drawn away from the beautifully perfect white
teeth.

"Hurt pore black niggah, massa," he said, rather piteously. "Kill some
niggah. Massa Huggin sabage. Pore niggah die dead. Hurt Caesar
sometime. Wouldn't die."

"Well, go on, my lad," said the lieutenant; and the black continued his
object-lesson.

"Massa Allen say walk now. Look at um foots. Lilly shoe dah, big boot,
hard boot, dah. One boot, 'noder boot. Massa H