it carefully in one corner of his handkerchief. But this did not
quite suit him, for he untied the knot and looked at the bill
again, turning it over and over in his hand. Then he folded it
carefully into the smallest possible compass and once more tied a
corner of his handkerchief about it, this time with two knots
instead of one; these he afterward tested with his teeth.

"I 'low she won't come undone now!" he said, with satisfaction.
He stowed the handkerchief away in his trousers pocket, ramming
it very tight with his fist. He was much relieved when this was
done, for wearing a care-free air he sauntered across the yard
and established himself on the top rail of the corn-field fence.

The colored boy, armed with an ax, appeared at the woodpile and
began to chop in the desultory fashion of his race, pausing every
few seconds to stare in the direction of his white compatriot,
who met his glance with reserve. Whereupon Mr. Slosson's male
domestic indulged in certain strange antics that were not rightly
any part of woodchopping. This yet further repelled Hannibal.

"The disgustin' chattel!" he muttered under his breath, quoting
his Uncle Bob, with whom, in theory at least, race feeling was
strong. Yancy appeared at the door of the bar and called to him,
and as the boy slid from the fence and ran toward him across the
yard, the Scratch Hiller sauntered forth to meet him.

"I reckon it's all right, Nevvy," he said, "but we don't know
nothing about this here Captain Murrell--as he calls himself
--though he seems a right clever sort of gentleman; but we won't
mention Belle Plain." With this caution he led the way into the