followed by Uncle Braddock and his reduced cavalcade.

The old negro was profuse in his thanks; but in the middle of his
protestations of satisfaction, Harry suddenly interrupted him.

"Why, look here, Uncle Braddock! Where did you get these horses? These
are the horses George Mason stole."

"To be sure they is," said Uncle Braddock. "What would I be a-doin' wid
'em ef they wasn't?"

"But how did you get them? Tell me about it," said Harry, checking the
impatient Selim, who, now that his head was turned homeward, was anxious
to go on with as much expedition as possible under the circumstances.

"Why, ye see, Mah'sr Harry," said the old man, "I was up at Miss
Maria's; she said she'd gi' me some pieces of caliker to mend me
wrapper. I put 'em in me pocket, but I 'spects they's blowed out; and
when I was a-comin' away fru de woods, right dar whar ole Elick Potts
used to hab his cabin--reckon you nebber seed dat cabin; it was all
tumbled down 'fore you was born--right dar in de clarin' I seed five
horses, all tied to de trees. 'Lor's a massy!' I said to mesef, 'is de
war come agin?' Fur I nebber seed so many hosses in de woods sence de
war. An' den while I was a-lookin' roun' fur a tree big enough to git
behind, wrapper an' all, out comes Mah'sr George Mason from a bush, an'
he hollers, 'Hello, Uncle Braddock, you come a-here.' An' then he says,
'You ain't much, Uncle Braddock, but I guess you'll do!' An' I says,
'Don't believe I'll do, Mah'sr George, fur you know I can't march, an' I
nebber could shoot none, an' I got de rheumertiz in both me legs and me
back, and no jint-water in me knees--you can't make no soldier out er