"Yessum," said Blue Dave, scratching his head; "dat w'at I come fer. Mars. George gwine ter stay at de Kendrick Place ter-night. I speck he in bed by dis time," he added, reassuringly. "His horse has come home without buggy or harness. Is my son hurt? Don't be afraid to tell me the truth. What has happened to him?" How could the poor negro--how could anybody--know what a whirlwind of yearning affection, dread, and anxiety was raging behind these cool, level tones? "Mistiss, I tell you de trufe: Mars. George is sorter hurted, but he ain't hurted much. I met 'im in de road, en I tuck 'n' tole 'im dey wuz a freshet in Murder Creek; but he des laugh at me, en he driv' in des like dey wa'n't no water dar; en den w'en he make his disappearance, I tuck 'n' splunge in atter 'im, en none too soon, n'er, kaze he got strucken on de head wid a log, an w'en I fotch 'im out, he 'uz all dazzle up like. Yit he ain't hurted much, Mistiss." "What is your name?" the prim old lady asked. "Blue Dave, ma'am." "The runaway?" The negro hesitated, looked around, and then hung down his head. He knew the calm, fearless eyes of this gentlewoman were upon him; he felt the influence of her firm tones. She repeated her question-- "Are you Blue Dave, the runaway?" "Yessum." The answer seemed to satisfy the lady. She turned and called Eliza, the housemaid. "Eliza, your master's supper is in the dining-room by the fire. Here are the keys. Take it into the kitchen." Then she turned to Blue Dave. "David," she said, "go into the kitchen and eat your supper." Then Eliza was sent after Ellick, the negro foreman; and Ellick was not long in finding Blue Dave a suit of linsey-woolsey clothes, a little warmer and a little drier than those the runaway was in the habit of wearing. Then the big greys were put to the Denham carriage, shawls and blankets were thrown in, and Blue Dave was called. "Have you had your supper, David?" said Mrs. Denham, looking grimmer than ever as she stood on her veranda arrayed in bonnet and wraps. "Thanky, Mistiss! thanky, ma'am. I ain't had no meal's vittles like dat, not gence I lef Ferginny." "Can you drive a carriage, David?" the old lady asked. "Dat I kin, Mistiss." Whereupon he seized the reins and let down the carriage steps. Mrs. Denham and her maid got in; but when everything was ready, Blue Dave hesitated. "Mistiss," he said, rather sheepishly, "w'en I come 'long des now, de patter-rollers holler'd atter me." "No matter, David," the grim old lady replied; "your own master wouldn't order you off of my carriage." "Keep yo' eye on dat off boss!" exclaimed Ellick, as the carriage moved off. "Hush, honey," Blue Dave cried, as exultantly as a child; "'fo' dey gits ter de big gate, I'll know deze yer bosses better dan ef dey wuz my br'er."