driver drew up his animals for water, and Henley took the opportunity
to question him.

"Do you know these Guirs where I am going?" he inquired.

The man paused in the act of dipping a pail of water, and seemed
puzzled. Thinking he had not understood, Paul repeated the question,
when the man dropped the bucket, and staring at him with a look of
horror, said:

"Boss, is you uns in airnest?"

Henley laughed, and told him that he thought he was, adding that Miss
Guir was a friend of his.

"Now I knows you uns is jokin', 'case dey ain't got no friends in dis
'ere country."

"But I am a stranger!" argued Paul.

"Well, sah, it ain't for de likes o' me to argify wid you uns, but ef
you wants to know whar de house is, I kin show it to you; leastways I
kin show you de road to git dar."

"That's it; but tell me, don't the people about here like the Guirs?"

"Boss, ef dey's frens o' yourn, I reckon you knows all about 'em;
maybe more'n I kin tell you, and I reckon it's saiftest for me to
keep my mouf shet tight!"