THE FERE IIUNTEK. 245 



while a scowl settled on his weather-beaten 

 face. 



"Ei, obsliaa! you tink I tell? I know better 

 dan dat ; manssa can't tek off de lick, ater yon stick 

 nm on me ! I got more sense, I tell yon !" 



"How, then, could he know anything about 

 them ? Who could have told him, if you didn't 

 tell me that ?" 



" ISTo me ! by gosh ! somebody must be see the 

 track where he feed in de pea-patch, and gone tell 

 manssa if he know about nm as you say." 



" Clear yourself, you young villain ; I'll find it 

 out, if you did tell, and pay you for it, too ! Off 

 with you, and send Pompey to me." 



The messenger quickly disappeared; and pre- 

 sently the field-minder made his appearance, and 

 touched his cap to the overseer. 



" Where are them bucks that live in the pea- 

 field?" 



" Enty dey come dere ebery night ?" said Pom- 



"Go to the pine barren, get me some of the 

 fattest pine knots, prepare the pan I mean to go 

 fire hunting to-night." 



" But, obshaa !" rejoined Pompey " maussa 

 count 'pun dem buck for heself. 1'rost cum, you 

 see, maussa ; den cum de question, c Pompey, whey 



