ddle-aged negress, the only other
woman in the establishment; who took upon herself the out-door work and
rougher duties, with the exception of tending the poultry and milking
the cows, in which Clarice also engaged.

I have not yet described the rest of the party round the fire. There
was Bartle Won, a faithful follower, for many years, of Uncle Jeff; but
as unlike him as it was possible that any two human beings could be.
Bartle was a wiry little fellow, with bow legs, broad shoulders (one
rather higher than the other), and a big head, out of which shone a pair
of grey eyes, keen as those of a hawk--the only point in which he
resembled Uncle Jeff. He was wonderfully active and strong,
notwithstanding his figure; and as for fatigue, he did not know what it
meant. He could go days without eating or drinking; although, when he
did get food, he certainly made ample amends for his abstinence. He was
no great runner; but when once on the back of a horse, no animal,
however vicious and up to tricks, had been able to dislodge him.

Gideon Tuttle was another faithful follower of Uncle Jeff: he was a
hardy backwoodsman, whose gleaming axe had laid many monarchs of the
forest low. Though only of moderate height, few men could equal him in
strength. He could fell an ox with his fist, and hold down by the horns
a young bull, however furious. He had had several encounters with
bears; and although on two occasions only armed with a knife, he had
come off victorious. His nerve and activity equalled his strength. He
was no great talker, and he was frequently morose and ill-tempered; but
he had one qualification which compensated for all his other
deficiencies--he was devotedly attached to Uncle Jeff.

There were engaged on the farm, besides these, four other hands: an
Irishman, a Spaniard, a negro, and a half-breed, who lived by themselves
in a rough hut near the house. Although Uncle Jeff was a great advocate
for liberty and equality, he had no fancy to have these fellows
in-doors; their habits and language not being such as to make close
intimacy pleasant.

The two old followers of Uncle Jeff--although they would have laughed at
the notion of being called gentlemen--were clean in their persons, and
careful in their conversation, especially in the presence of Clarice.

Just before sunset that evening, our party had been increased by the
arrival of an officer of the United States army and four men, who were
on their way