“They am up at de house, sah, at dis moment. And they am carrying on scand’lus with de fambly.” “But what were you sent into the tree for?” “To watch for you, sah. Mars Foster sort of thought you’d be along dis way to-day, Mars Tom; and I was told to climb up in de tree and watch for you, and not let you go up to de house, and get cotched by de Tories.” “Thank you, Mr. Foster.” Tom waved one hand in the direction of the planter’s mansion. “I’ll remember that of you, and will return the favor some day.” Cole began to make rapid passes and signs to Dogberry; the latter, at the best, was much in dread of the giant dumb-slave, but just now Cole’s earnestness made him very terrible in the other’s eyes, indeed. Cole was asking how Dogberry, if he was watching in the tree, failed to note their approach and neglected to make his presence known to them. Very much frightened at Cole’s gestures, Dogberry clung to Tom. “Don’t let dat nigger harm me, Mars Tom. Look at dar! He’s making a sign dat he’ll frow me over de fence!” At this Cole burst into a gale of laughter; and then Tom explained. “He wants to know why I was in de tree and didn’t make no sound?” Dogberry looked exceedingly foolish, and then continued: “De plain truth, Mars Tom, is dat dis nigger done gone went to sleep, and didn’t wake till a great big yaller-tailed hornet come along and stung him on de nose.” “That accounts for your sudden arrival, then,” smiled the young partisan. “But, tell me, Dogberry, how many Tories are at your master’s place?” Dogberry’s knowledge of numbers was exceedingly limited; so he slowly and laboriously counted nine upon his fingers and held them up. “Just dis many, sah, and dey am having dreadful carryings on. De ladies of de fambly is most frightened out of dey wits.” “Nine, eh!” Tom looked reflectively at Cole and the giant held out his great arms and smiled. There were none too many in his estimation. But his master was doubtful. Tom had partaken of Marion’s caution; he had seen so much of the Swamp-Fox’s success based upon mere carefulness, that he began to give caution a place beside courage in the list of qualities necessary to a soldier. “How are they armed?” he asked the negro. “Dey have swords, sah, like yours; and dey have guns--one apiece, for I counted dem. I see dem standing on de lawn under de apple tree.” “On the lawn under the apple tree!” repeated Tom, his eyes lighting. “Are you sure of that, Dogberry?” “Yes, sah. Dat’s where I saw ’em put dere guns. And I s’pose dey’s there still.” “The lawn has no windows overlooking it from the ground floor, Cole,” said Tom slowly. “If we could get those guns we might make an important capture.” Instantly Cole began to signal to be allowed to try to secure them. “No, no,” said Tom, “we must be sure that things are as stated. Dogberry may be mistaken, or he may have forgotten something.”