hich he well knew
the answer.

"Nobody else wan't dar--bress de Lord! Missis Prescott and Helen went
off on a visit to de settlement, t'ree, four days ago."

"How was it Miss Mary remained behind?"

"Ki-yi! you doesn't know, eh?" said Cato, grinning vastly, in total
forgetfulness, for the moment, of his dreadful surroundings.

"How should I know? Of course, I do not."

"Wal, den, Oonymoo, dat red Injine, told her as how maybe you'd be
'long dese parts 'bout dis time, and _she_ 'cluded she'd be't home when
_you_ called. _Dat's_ how she was heah!"

A thrill went through the gallant Lieutenant at this evidence of the
affection of the fair maiden he had journeyed so far to see. Despite
the heart-sickness which had come over him at sight of the revolting
scenes around, he experienced a sort of pleasure from the words of the
negro, and felt anxious for him to say more.

"How do you know, Cato, that this was the reason she remained behind?"

"Hebens, golly! didn't I hear her tell Missis so?"

"Her mother? And what did she say?"

"Oh! she and Missis Helen kinder laughed, and showed all dar white
teef, and dey didn't try to persuade her to go, 'cause dey _knowed_ dar
wan't no use ob tryin' to do nuffin' like _dat_. She lubs the
Leftenant altogeder too much. Yah! yah!" and Cato kicked up his heels,
hugely delighted.

"Have you told me when you built this house of yours?"

"T'ought I hahd. Done dat ar workmanship dis mornin', arter all de
Injines had gone. T'ought dar'd be somebody 'long dis way afore long."

"There has been nothing saved," said the Lieutenant, looking around and
speaking apparently to himself.

"Noffin' but dis poor nigger, and I don't know what will become of him
now dat he's all alone," said Cato, with a woe-begone demeanor.

"Have no anxiety upon that account. You shall be attended to. Captain
Prescott and all his family are living, and, depend upon it, you will
not suffer if he can prevent it."

"But de house am gone--de horses--de corns--eberyt'ing but me."

The young soldier continued musing for a moment and then asked:

"How far from here is the settlement to which Mrs. Prescott has gone?"

"Ten, fifteen or forty miles."

"Can't you tell me more precisely than that?"

"Somewhere atween ten and forty or fifty--dat's all I can tell."

"Have you ever been there yourself?"

"Offin--horseback."

"You know the way?"

"Jes' as well as did from de house to de barn."

"Ho