His appearance was the cause of considerable surprise; for although Mr. Malony had talked very freely about the _nigger_, as he was pleased to style Mr. Caesar Rutherford, and although both he and Mr. Richard expected to see him in the course of their proceedings, yet they could have had no very correct idea what shape a mere mortal, especially a black one, could assume; for no sooner did their own light throw its beams upon this sudden apparition, than they both made rapid retrograde movements, Jerry, in his haste, bringing up against the opposite wall, and Mr. Richard stepping back towards the door, as though it would be safe at least to be out of reach of the pitchfork. Whether Caesar was alarmed, it would be difficult to say; for he made no motion other than to throw the light of his lamp, first on one and then on the other of his visitors. Jerry, he thought, he had seen before; in fact, he was quite sure that he could not be mistaken in the little chunky Irishman, who had been so long under his master's pay; but Mr. Richard, Caesar could not make out; he had never been in these parts, that he remembered. As Caesar's appearance did not improve upon inspection, and as the two gentlemen were too far separated to consult as to further proceedings, a long silence would have been maintained had not Caesar opened a parley-- 'What a you want here?' The tones were not very mild, nor was the address made in very good humor; for Caesar threw in a few emphatic words which he sometimes used when excited, just by way of seasoning, and which for brevity's sake are omitted; but then it was a human voice, and it gave some assurance to Mr. Richard at least. He therefore advanced one or two paces: 'Ah, that's you, is it, Boss?' 'Git out wid your Boss, and tell me what a you want here dis time a night!' 'Oh, we don't want any thing with you, my good fellow, but we have got a little business here that must be attended to. You know Malony here?'--turning at the same time towards his discomfited companion:--'You know he's been at work here all summer for your master. Here, Malony, step up here; you have nothing against this good man, you know.' But Malony preferred remaining where he was. Caesar's eyes, he thought, showed a little too much of the white to be very safe, especially under the circumstances. 'I am sorry to have disturbed you, my good fellow, but as somebody must be notified before we proceed, I will just read the warrant, as I suppose you will hardly be able to make it out yourself;' and Mr. Richard pulled out a bit of paper and began to read rapidly--'Know all men by these presents,' etc. Caesar, in the mean time, was getting his wrath up. He never liked the Irishman, and had often cautioned his master against him; and Mr. Richard's countenance not being, as my readers will remember, very pre-possessing, together with the fawning manner in which he attempted to get round him, woke up Caesar's sensibilities: