er little money, an' bought 'im er few niggers; an', I tells yer, he
makes 'em wuck, too; we'se got ter be in de fiel' long fo' day; an' I
oberslep' mysef tudder mornin' an' he wuz cussin' an' er gwine on, an'
'lowed he wuz er gwine ter whup me, an' so I des up an' runned erway fum
'im, an' now I'se skyeert ter go back; an', let erlone dat, I'se skyeert
ter stay; caze, efn he gits Mr. Upson's dogs, dey'll trace me plum
hyear; an' wat I is ter do I dunno; I jes prays constunt ter de Lord.
He'll he'p me, I reckon, caze I prays tree times eby day, an' den in
'tween times."

"Is your name Brer Dan'l?" asked Dumps, who remembered Uncle Bob's story
of Daniel's praying three times a day.

"No, honey, my name's Pomp; but den I'm er prayin' man, des same ez
Dan'l wuz."

"Well, Uncle Pomp," said Diddie, "you stay here just as long as you can,
an' I'll ask papa to see Mr. Tight-fis' Smith, an' he'll get--"

"Lor', chile," interrupted Uncle Pomp, "don't tell yer pa nuf'n 'boutn
it; he'll sho' ter sen' me back, an' dat man'll beat me half ter def:
caze I'se mos' loss er week's time now, an' hit's er mighty 'tickler
time in de crap."

"But, s'posin' the dogs might come?" said Dumps.

"Well, honey, dey ain't come yit; an' wen dey duz come, den hit'll be
time fur ter tell yer pa."

"Anyhow, we'll bring you something to eat," said Diddie, "and try and