“Oh, my Sue, my Sue, I lub you! Oh, my Sue, my Sue, be mine! An’ de possum, an’----” The negro voice came to a sudden stop as Louis cried loudly for help. A period of silence followed. “Wot’s dat?” “Help me! I am tied up in the mill!” “Golly, who is yo’?” There was a crashing through the woods and presently a tall darky, weighing all of two hundred pounds, blocked up the entrance to the mill. “Golly, yere’s a bit ob work!” “Release me, will you?” asked Louis, eagerly. “Who tied yo’ up like dat, massa?” “Some rascals who robbed me of my watch and money. Cut that rope. I am almost perished with cold.” The negro at once complied with Louis’s request, and once free the youth drew a long sigh of relief. “Who war dem fellows, massa?” questioned the negro, eagerly. “One of them is named Sam Jacks. He is the leader. Two of the others were named Hogwell and Ross. Do you know them?” “I dun heered tell of dem, massa. Dey cum from de mountains over yonder--a mighty bad crowd dem.” “I am much obliged to you for coming to my assistance. I am sorry I can’t reward you, but they took all my money, as well as my watch and my new saddle.” “Dat’s all right, massa--glad to do yo’ a good turn, sah. Yere, let me help yo’ fasten dat old saddle, sah--seein’ it’s de best yo’ got left, sah,” and the ponderous black friend went to work with a will. In two minutes more Louis was on Jess’s back, and, bidding his friend good-bye, made off up the hill in the direction of the turnpike. The negro watched him out of sight and then went on his way, singing as before, as though to forget the discomforts of the storm in melody. Once on the highway again, Louis put spurs to his mare and in less than an hour gained a good-sized town in Maryland. Here he put up at the hotel for two hours, in the meantime getting dinner and having Jess fed. He told the hotel-keeper how he had been robbed, and as the man happened to know the youth’s father, he readily trusted Louis for the accommodations furnished. It was growing well towards night when Maryland soil was left behind and Louis turned up the well known road leading to Goreville. His hard riding had tired him greatly, and he was not sorry when towards midnight the home acres were gained, and he was permitted to place faithful Jess in the stable, silence the watch-dog, and enter the house. “Louis! And in all this rain!” exclaimed his father, as he descended from his bedroom to greet his son. “I’ve been looking for you for the past two days, but I didn’t think you would start out in such weather as this.” The son’s story was soon related, and then it had to be repeated for the benefit of Mrs. Rockford, Lucy, and Martha. All listened with close attention to what was told.