dy road took us to the mansion, where we found
dinner in waiting. Meeting 'Massa Tommy'--who had staid at home with his
mother--as we entered the doorway, the Colonel asked after the overseer.

'He seems well enough, sir; I believe he's coming the possum over
mother.'

'Ill bet on it, Tommy; but he won't fool you and me, will he, my boy?'
said his father, slapping him affectionately on the back.

After dinner I went with my host to the room of the wounded man. His
head was still bound up, and he was groaning piteously, as if in great
pain; but I thought there was too fresh a color in his face to be
entirely natural in one who had lost so much blood, and been so severely
wounded as he affected to be.

The Colonel mentioned our suspicions to Madam P----, and suggested that
the shackles should be put on him.

'Oh! no, don't do that; it would be inhuman,' said the lady; 'the color
is the effect of fever. If you fear he is plotting to get away, let him
be watched.'

The Colonel consented, but with evident reluctance, to the arrangement,
and retired to his room to take a _siesta_, while I lit a cigar, and
strolled out to the negro-quarters.

Making my way through the woods to the scene of the morning's
jollification, I found about a hundred darkies gathered around Jim, on
the little plot in front of Old Lucy's cabin. Jim had evidently been
giving them the news. Pausing when I came near, he exclaimed:

'Har's Massa K----, he'll say dat I tells you de trufh;' then turning to
me, he said: 'Massa K----, dese darkies say dat Massa Andersin am an
ab'lisherner, and dat none but de ab'lisherners will fight for de Union;
am dat so, sar?'

'No, I reckon not, Jim; I think the whole North would fight for it if it
were necessary.'

'Am dat so, massa? am dat so?' eagerly inquired a dozen of the darkies;
'and am dar great many folks at de Norf--more dan dar am down har?'

'Yas, you fools, didn't I tell you dat?' said Jim, as I, not exactly
relishing the idea of preaching treason, in the Colonel's absence, to
his slaves, hesitated to reply. 'Hain't I tole you,' he continued, 'dat
in de big city ob New-York dar'm more folks dan dar am in all Car'lina?
I'se been dar, and I knows; and Massa K----'ll tell you dat dey--'most
on 'em--feel mighty sorry for de brack man.'

'No he won't,' I replied, 'and besides, Jim, you should not talk in this
way before me; I might tell your master.'

'No! you won't do dat; I knows you won't, massa