descended
into that cellar?"

"_Did_ I say `dumb?'" returned the negro, with an inquiring look at the
clouds.

"You certainly did."

"'Phatically, too?"

"Yes, most emphatically."

"Well, now, das most remarkably strange!"

"Not so strange as my finding Hester Sommers in a coal-hole making
golden slippers!"

At this Peter set down the basket, threw back his head, and took a
prolonged silent laugh.

"Now dat _is_ de strangest t'ing ob all. Didn't I t'ink you not rignise
her one bit!"

"Peter," returned the midshipman gravely, "you ought to know from
experience that true love pierces every disguise."

"Das troo, Geo'ge," said Peter, as he lifted his end of the basket and
resumed the journey. "Lub is a wonderful t'ing, an' I ain't sure what
might come ob it if I was took unawares to see my Angelica arter she'd
bin painted white. But dere's one t'ing as comforts me a leetle, an'
dat is, dat Peter de Great ain't de biggest hyperkrite in de world arter
all, for de way you purtended not to know dat gal, an' de way she
purtended not to know _you_, hab took de wind out ob my sails
altogidder!"

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

DANGERS, VICISSITUDES, ESCAPES, NEW SURROUNDINGS, HOPES, AND FEARS.

It was probably an advantage to Hester Sommers that she had been
subjected to so severe a test at that time, for, not many weeks
afterwards, she experienced a shock which put her powers of
self-restraint to a much severer trial.

It happened thus. Sally and she were on their way home from market one
day; the former with a large basket of vegetables on her head, and the
latter with a lighter basket of oranges on her arm, for the use of the
master at home. They had come to one of the wider of the narrow streets
of the town, where the small shops were numerous, and the throng of
passers-by was considerable--as also was the noise, for Jews, Moors,
Cabyles, and negroes were conversing and jostling each other in all
directions.

Presently a band of slaves approached, and, as it passed, Hester nearly
fainted, for among them she beheld her father, with irons on his legs,
and a shovel and pick on his shoulder.

"Father!" she exclaimed, in a faint voice, and, stretching out her arms,
made an effort to run towards him.

Quick as lightning Sally grasped the situation, and, rising to the
occasion with that prompt energy which betokens true genius, she seized
Hester by the nape of the neck, hurled her to the ground, and sent her
ora