hundred yards distant, and close in to the rocks where the stream came
down.

"As we drew nearer to the trees, I saw that they were not pine-trees,
but very different indeed. Both trunks and branches had long thorny
spikes upon them like porcupine's quills, and the leaves were of a
bright shining green, pinnate with small oval leaflets. But what was
most singular was the long bean-shaped pods that hung down thickly from
the branches. These were about an inch and a half in breadth, and some
of them not less than twelve inches in length. They were of a
reddish-brown, nearly a claret colour. Except in the colour, they
looked exactly like large bean-pods filled with beans.

"I was not ignorant of what species of tree was before us. I had seen
it before. I knew it was the honey-locust, or thorny acacia,--the
carob-tree of the East, and the famed `algarobo' of the Spaniards.

"I was not ignorant of its uses neither,--for I knew this to be the tree
upon which (as many suppose) Saint John the Baptist sustained himself in
the Desert, where it is said, `his meat was locusts and wild honey.'
Hence it is sometimes called, `Saint John's bread.' Neither was Cudjo
ignorant of its value. The moment his eyes rested upon the long brown
legumes, he cried out, with gestures of delight:--

"`Massa--Massa Roff, lookee yonder!--beans and honey for supper!'

"We were soon under the branches: and while I proceeded to knock down
and collect a quantity of the ripe fruit. Cudjo went farther up among
the rocks, to procure his firewood from the pines that grew there.

"I soon filled my handkerchief, and was waiting for Cudjo, when I heard
him shout,--

"`Massa Roff! come dis away, and see de varmint--what him be.'

"I immediately ran up among the rocks. On reaching the spot where Cudjo
was, I found him bending over a crevice or hole in the ground, from
which protruded an object very much like the tail of a pig.

"`What is it, Cudjo?' I asked.

"`Don't know, Massa. Varmint I never see in Vaginny--looks someting
like de ole 'possum.'

"`Catch hold of the tail, and pull him out,' said I.

"`Lor! Massa Roff, I've tried ma best, but can't fetch 'im no how.
Look yar!' And so saying, my companion seized the tail, and pulled--
seemingly with all his might--but to no purpose.

"`Did you see the animal when it was outside?' I inquired.

"`Yes, Massa; see 'im and chase 'im 'till I tree him yar in dis cave.'

"`What was it like?