sk
or cost. The ghastly idea occurred to me (suggested, I fancy, by Moore's
demand for a razor) that Gumbo, at some period of his career, must have
swallowed a priceless diamond. This gem must still be concealed about
his person, and Moore must have determined by foul means, as no fair
means were available, to become its owner. When this fancy struck me I
began to feel that it was my duty to interfere. I could not sit by
within call (had poor Gumbo been capable of calling) and allow my friend
to commit such a deed of cruelty. As I thus parleyed with myself, the
heavy iron door of the store-room opened, and Moore came out, with the
razor (bloodless, thank Heaven!) in his hand. Anxiety had given place to
a more joyous excitement.

"Well?" I said interrogatively.

"Well, all's well. That man has, as I felt sure, the Secret of the
Pyramid."

I now became quite certain that Moore, in spite of all his apparent
method, had gone out of his mind. It seemed best to humour him,
especially as so many loaded rifles were lying about.

"He has seen the myst'ry hid
Under Egypt's pyramid,"

I quoted; "but, my dear fellow, as the negro is dumb, I don't see how you
are to get the secret out of him."

"I did not say he _knew_ it," answered Moore crossly; "I said he _had_
it. As to Egypt, I don't know what you are talking about--"

At this moment we heard the crack of rifles, and in the instant of
silence which followed came the note of the "Bob White."

Once it shrilled, and we listened eagerly; then the notes came twice
rapidly, and a sound of voices rose up from the negro outposts, who had
been driven in and were making fast the one door of the house that had
been left open. From the negroes we learned that our assailants (Bill
Hicock's band of border ruffians, "specially engaged for this occasion")
had picketed their horses behind the dip of the hill and were advancing
on foot. Moore hurried to the roof to reconnoitre. The dawn was
stealing on, and the smoke from the still smouldering trees, which we had
felled and burned, rose through the twilight air.

"Moore, you hound," cried a voice through the smoke of the furthest pile,
"we have come for your new nigger. Will you give him up or will you
fight?"

Moore's only reply was a bullet fired in the direction whence the voice
was heard. His shot was answered by a perfect volley from men who could
just be discerned creeping through the grass about four hundr