The next morning Vincent went down early to the stables. As he
approached them Dan came out to meet him.

"Well, Dan, what's your news?"

"Berry great bobbery ober at Jackson's last night, Massa Vincent.
Fust of all I crept round to de huts ob de field hands. Dey all know
nuffin bout it; but one of dem he goes off and gets to hab a talk
with a gal employed in de house who was in de habit of slipping
out to see him. She say when de young un war carried in de old
man go on furious; he bring suit against you, he hab you punished
berry much--no saying what he not going to do. After a time de
young un come round, he listen to what the old man say for some
time; den he answer: 'No use going on like dat. Set all de county
families against us if we have suit. As to dat infernal young
villain, me pay him out some other way.' Den de old man say he
cut de flesh off de bones ob dat nigger; but de young one say:
'Mustn't do dat. You sure to hear about it, and make great bobbery.
Find some oder way to punish him.' Den dey talk together for
some time, but girl not hear any more."

"Well, then, there will be no suit anyhow," Vincent said. "As to
paying me out some other way, I will look after myself, Dan. I
believe that fellow Jackson is capable of anything, and I will be on
the lookout for him."

"Be sure you do, Massa Vincent. You ride about a great deal, dat
fellow bery like take a shot at you from behind tree. Don't you go
near dat plantation, or sure enuff trouble come."