dded, proceeding to unbind him, "where do you come from?--or are you in
reality the evil one, whom these infidel red-skins worship?"

"Oh, no, Massa, I a'ant no evil sperrit. A sperrit hab not flesh and
bones as you see me hab."

"Nay," returned the coarse-hearted soldier, "that reasoning won't serve
your purpose, for there is precious little flesh and blood about you,
old man. The most you can lay claim to is skin and bones."

Hansford, who had been standing a little distance off, was attracted by
this conversation, and turning in the direction of the old negro, was
much surprised to recognize, under such horrible circumstances, the
quondam steward, butler and factotum of Windsor Hall. Nor was Giles'
surprise less in meeting with Miss Virginia's "buck" in so secluded a
spot. It was with difficulty that Hansford could prevent him from
throwing his arms around his neck; but giving the old man a hearty shake
of the hand, he asked him the story of his captivity, which Giles, with
much importance, proceeded to relate. But he had scarcely begun his
narrative, when the attention of the insurgents was attracted by the
approach of two horsemen, who advanced towards them at a rapid rate, as
though they had some important intelligence to communicate.

FOOTNOTES:

[37] The evil spirit, sometimes called Opitchi Manitou, and worshipped
by the Indians.

CHAPTER XXV.

"Who builds his hope in air of your fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast."
_Richard III._

The new comers were Lawrence and Drummond, who, as will be recollected
by the reader, were left in Jamestown to watch the proceedings of the
Governor, and to convey to Bacon any needful intelligence concerning
them. Although he had, in the first impulse of triumph after receiving
his commission, confided fully in the promises of the vacillating
Berkeley, yet, on reflection, Bacon did not rely very implicitly upon
them. The Governor had once before broken his word in the affair of the
parole, promising to grant the commission which he craved, upon
condition of his confession of his former disloyal conduct and his
promise to amend. Bacon was not the man to be twice deceived, and it did
not therefore much surprise him to see the two patriots so soon after
his departure from Jamestown, nor to hear the strange tidings which they
had come to detail.

"Why, how is this, General?" said Lawrence. "You have had b