limb; "it's growing worse,
and I'm in haste to get home, where I can be nursed by mother and sisters,
before I quite give out."

"She's a awful sperited cratur, and you'll have a hard job o' it to manage
her, with one hand."

"I must try it, nevertheless; I believe I can do it too; for she knows her
master."

"She'll go like lightnin'," said the boy, as he brought the animal to the
door; "she's been so long in the stable, she's as wild and scary as a
bird."

Jackson threw the gold into the woman's lap, turned about and taking the
bridle from the boy, stroked, patted, and talked soothingly to the excited
steed, who was snorting and pawing the ground in a way that boded danger
to any one attempting to mount.

His caresses and kindly tones seemed, however, to have a calming effect;
she grew comparatively quiet, he sprang into the saddle and was off like
an arrow from the bow.

It was about that time the doctor returned to his office to find it
deserted. Nap was summoned.

"What's become of the man I left here in your charge, sirrah?" asked the
doctor sternly.

"Dunno, sah, Massa Doctah," answered Nap, glancing in astonishment from
side to side. "To't he heyah, sah; 'deed I did. Took he coat an' boots to
clean 'em; to't he safe till I fotch 'em back; wouldn't go off without
dem."

The doctor stepped to the closet. "Yes, my coat and boots gone, bottle of
wine emptied, no fee for professional aid--a fine day's work for me."

"Massa Doctah! you don't say de rascal done stole yer coat an' boots? Oh,
ef I cotch him, I----" and Napoleon Bonaparte George Washington Marquis de
Lafayette looked unutterable things.

"Better take care I don't get hold of you!" cried the irate master. "Go
and tell Cato to saddle and bridle Selim and bring him to the door as
quickly as possible; and do you find out if anybody saw which way the
rascal went. He must be caught, for he's a burglar and murderer!"

Nap lifted his hands and opened mouth and eyes wide in surprise and
horror.

"Begone!" cried the doctor, stamping his foot, "and don't stand gaping
there while the scoundrel escapes."

Nap shuffled out, leaving his master pacing the office to and fro with
angry, impatient strides.

"What is it, my dear? what has gone wrong?" asked his wife, looking in
upon him.

"Come, sit down on the sofa here and I'll tell you," he said, his excited
manner quieting somewhat at sight of her pleasant face.

She accepted the invitation, and s