His words nearly dumbfounded the negroes, who had supposed Mr. Rockleigh in the house alone, save for an old woman who was more than half deaf, and who had not up to this time heard the commotion. Both stared hard and fell back a few steps. “Who--who is yo’?” finally demanded Pomp, with an ugly scowl. “Never mind who I am,” replied Andy. “Drop your clubs at once.” “But see yere, sah--” “I won’t argue with you. Drop your clubs.” Instead of doing this, however, both negroes made for the doorway leading into the kitchen. By this time Mr. Rockleigh had partly recovered and was trying to stagger to his feet. “Don’t let them get away,” he cried. “They are my slaves and have robbed me of several hundred dollars in gold.” “Stand where you are or I will fire at you!” said Andy. And now he exhibited a pistol he had also brought along. [Illustration: “STAND WHERE YOU ARE OR I WILL FIRE AT YOU!” SAID ANDY.--_Page 95._] “Don’t--don’t shoot me!” yelled Cuffy, in abject terror. “Please, massa sodger, don’t shoot!” and he dropped upon his knees. He could stand almost anything but a display of firearms. “Cuffy, yo’ is a fool!” howled Pomp. “Come on, if yo’ is gwine wid me. Remember, if we is cotched now we’ll be more dan half-killed wid de lash. Take dat.” As the last words were uttered Pomp launched forth the heavy club he carried. His aim was for Andy’s head and had the young cavalryman not dodged in a hurry, he might have suffered from a cracked skull. As it was, the club grazed his ear and then went crashing through a closed window, carrying away part of the frame and several lights of glass. “Fire at him!” ordered Mr. Rockleigh, and the words were yet on his lips when Andy pulled the trigger of his pistol. Pomp was hit in the shoulder, but not seriously injured, and the next moment both slaves fled forth from the kitchen of the house into the darkness of the night. CHAPTER VIII ANDY ON THE BREASTWORKS At home Andy had never experienced any difficulty with his father’s slaves, for the colored people were well cared for and were too happy to create any disturbances. To be sure, minor difficulties arose from time to time, but these had been readily adjusted, and there was not a man or woman on the Arlington plantation who would not have been willing to lay down his or her life for any member of the family. These slaves were true to the Arlingtons all through the war, and when liberated by President Lincoln’s proclamation, made no effort to take advantage of their liberty. As attachés of that plantation and dairy, they felt they were being better taken care of than they would be if they tried to do for themselves. To come in contact, then, with such rascals as Pomp and Cuffy was to the youth much of a surprise, and having seen the slaves dash away, he stood still, not knowing what to do, until Mr. Rockleigh caught him by the arm.