"Granny," said Chunk, sauntering in, "you des watch at de do'," and
without waiting for a word he went up the ladder, lifted the door
and closed it.

"Ah, Chunk, I wanted you badly," said Scoville. "Do you think it
possible for me to get away at once?"

"Dat des w'at I come ter see 'bout, mars'r, en I'se gwine wid you.
Marse Whately and he men all done gone till eb'nin'."

"Well, there's no need of further words. See what you can do about
getting horses and a good start. I will explain on the way. Hoot
like an owl when the coast is clear and you are ready."

A few moments later Chunk emerged from the cabin, with careless
mien, eating a pone of hoecake.

"Go back to yer work," shouted Perkins, who was passing in the
distance.

This Chunk did, his eyes following the overseer until the hated form
was lost to sight in a distant field where a squad of hands were at
work. Perkins was simply trying to be ubiquitous that day. Chunk's
next step was to steal to the rear of the stables. To his delight he
found that Whately had left his horse in order that it might rest
for further hard service, and had borrowed one of his uncle's
animals for the afternoon ride. As Chunk was stealthily putting on a
bridle, a gruff voice asked, "What yer doin' thar?"

The negro's heart stood still. Turning quickly, he saw, to his