ome to grief, that it was with difficulty I could check a
cry of mingled relief and triumph on seeing Uncle 'Rasmus's black face
at the window.

I had never thought there was anything of beauty in the old negro's
features, and, as a matter of fact, wrinkled and black as it was, one
might truly have said that at times it was almost repulsive, yet as I
saw him then it was as if I had never looked upon anything more
beautiful.

I ran hurriedly, excitedly, into the cabin, throwing myself into the old
fellow's arms much as though welcoming him from the grave.

"Fo' de Lawd's sake, honey, wha's gettin' on to you so pow'ful bad?" the
old man cried in surprise, for probably this was the first time in all
my life when I had shown real affection for him. "Hab de Britishers bin
cuttin' up 'roun' de plantation since I done lef'?"

"No; everything was quiet there when Saul set out this morning; but, oh,
Uncle 'Rasmus! I had come to fancy you might have been taken prisoner,
and that we were all in danger of being arrested for conspiring against
the king."

"Ho, ho!" the old negro laughed. "Why, honey, you don' 'spects Uncle
'Rasmus is gwine ter git his brack head inter trubble arter all dese
yere years, does yer?"

"But we knew you were counting on slipping through the lines, and if
you'd been caught in anything of the kind--"

"Did you eber try fo' to ketch a 'possum, honey, when he kind'er had a
inklin' you was arter him? I 'lows Uncle 'Rasmus is gettin' mighty ole;
but he ain' so feeble yet but he kin hol' his own agin dese yere
red-coated sogers. Why bress yer soul, honey, I des walked right in like
I was comin' home, an' don' 'low one o' 'em knowed dat a wuffless ole
nigger was anywhar nigh him."

Little Frenchie had taken the precaution to close the door immediately
after our entrance, and while Uncle 'Rasmus and I were talking with no
little show of excitement, the lad moved here and there, pulling a
ragged curtain in front of one window, or closing the shutter of
another, so that we might not attract attention from any passers-by,
although this cabin of old Mary's was in what might well be called the
outskirts of the village, where was little danger many people would come
our way.

"Tell us how you got in here, Uncle 'Rasmus?" I asked, for after seeing
the long line of sentinels which guarded the half-formed entrenchments,
it seemed to me little less than marvelous that one could have made his
way through without