He watched it till it disappeared from view, then plunging into the woods, presently found a narrow foot-path, pursuing which for an hour or so he came out into a small clearing. At the farther side, built just on the edge of the forest, was a rude log cabin. A slatternly woman stood in the open doorway. "So ye did get back at last?" she remarked, as he drew near. "I'd most give ye up. What ails your arm now?" He briefly repeated his story to the doctor and skipper; then asked hurriedly, "Is my horse all right?" The woman nodded. "I've tuck good care on her. Now where's the gold ye promised me?" "Here," he said, taking out, and holding up before her delighted eyes, several shining half-eagles; "have my horse saddled and bridled and brought round to the door here as quickly as possible, and these are yours." "I'll do it. Bill," to a half-grown youth who sat on a rude bench within lazily smoking a pipe--"run and fetch the gentleman's hoss. But what's yer hurry, mister?" "This," he answered, pointing to the disabled limb; "it's growing worse, and I'm in haste to get home, where I can be nursed by mother and sisters, before I quite give out." "She's a awful sperited cratur, and you'll have a hard job o' it to manage her, with one hand." "I must try it, nevertheless; I believe I can do it too; for she knows her master." "She'll go like lightnin'," said the boy, as he brought the animal to the door; "she's been so long in the stable, she's as wild and scary as a bird." Jackson threw the gold into the woman's lap, turned about and taking the bridle from the boy, stroked, patted, and talked soothingly to the excited steed, who was snorting and pawing the ground in a way that boded danger to any one attempting to mount. His caresses and kindly tones seemed, however, to have a calming effect; she grew comparatively quiet, he sprang into the saddle and was off like an arrow from the bow. It was about that time the doctor returned to his office to find it deserted. Nap was summoned. "What's become of the man I left here in your charge, sirrah?" asked the doctor sternly. "Dunno, sah, Massa Doctah," answered Nap, glancing in astonishment from side to side. "To't he heyah, sah; 'deed I did. Took he coat an' boots to clean 'em; to't he safe till I fotch 'em back; wouldn't go off without dem." The doctor stepped to the closet. "Yes, my coat and boots gone, bottle of wine emptied, no fee for professional aid--a fine day's work for me." "Massa Doctah! you don't say de rascal done stole yer coat an' boots? Oh, ef I cotch him, I----" and Napoleon Bonaparte George Washington Marquis de Lafayette looked unutterable things. "Better take care I don't get hold of you!" cried the irate master. "Go and tell Cato to saddle and bridle Selim and bring him to the door as quickly as possible; and do you find out if anybody saw which way the rascal went. He must be caught, for he's a burglar and murderer!"