"Well, it was the better of the two," he replied, laughing, "but the old
devil can't afford any thing good, he don't get enough pay."

"Why, how much does he get?"

"Only a hundred dollars."

"That _is_ small. How does the man live?"

"Well, he teaches the daughter of my neighbor, Captain Randall, who
believes in praying, and gives him his board. Randall thinks that
enough. The rest of the parish can't afford to pay him, and I _wont_."

"Why wont you?"

"Because he's a d----d old hypocrite. He believes in the Union with all
his heart--at least so Randall, who's a sincere Union man, says--and
yet, he never sees me at meeting but he preaches a red-hot secession
sermon."

"He wants to keep you in the faith," I replied.

A few more miles of sandy 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."

"I'll bet on it, Tommy; but he wont 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 have been.

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 segar, 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. He 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;" and 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