Old Aunt Mag stood in the door. "But whut da want ter sen' fur dis po', muderless chile fur?" she spoke up. "Da's questioned all de rest o' de niggers, an' now da gwine put him on de hot griddle. Dat ain't no way ter act, snatchin' up er little boy an' cuzin' him o' knockin' er big man down. But run er long, Dan, an stan' square up. Ricolleck dat you ain't no common nigger--ricolleck dat you doan b'long ter de Smifs ur de Bucks nur de Brizzentines. You'ze er Gradley an' b'longs ter folks, I tell you." In the library were assembled Old Master, Old Miss, young Miss May, Bob and 'Squire Boyle, who happened in about breakfast time. I looked about as I entered the room, and I saw the doctor, lying on a sofa, with his head tied up. Old Master's' head began to shake with anger as soon as he saw me coming in. "Dan," he said, "last night your Mars. George and I were standing in the yard under the window of your Mars. Bob's room, and this tumbler, sir--" here he reached back and took a tumbler from a desk--"this tumbler, sir, struck him on the head and cut him badly. Your Mars. Bob doesn't know anything about it. Do you? Come, no lying, or I'll whip you within an inch of your life." "He ought to be skinned alive," Old Miss declared, giving her head an emphatic nod. "Just wait and I'll take care of him," said Old Master. "What do you know about it?" he repeated, looking at me savagely. "I went to put down the window, sir, and knocked it off," I stammered. "Do you hear that?" Old Miss exclaimed. "Yes, I hear it," said Old Master, quivering with rage. "You went to put down the window? And why did you want to put down the window, sir?" "I thought it was going to rain." "Hump!" Old Miss grunted, "the yellow imp has turned out to be a weather prophet." "Madam," said Old Master, "let me manage him, if you please. You thought it was going to rain?" he went on, turning to me. "And what made you think so?" "I thought I heard it thunder." "Oh, you did? Well, you shall hear it thunder. Madam, give me your cow-hide." I don't know that I ever saw my old mistress spring up with such agility. She snatched the cow-hide out of some mysterious hiding place, handed it to him and said: "And, for pity's sake, see that you give him enough of it." "You shan't whip him!" Bob cried. "If you whip him you've got to whip me, too." "Robert!" Old Miss shouted, "I'll give it to you in good earnest if you don't keep quiet. Your father knows what he's about. Sit down there." Bob was forced back into his seat and Miss May, beautiful and tender creature, began to beg for me. "Hush, everybody!" Old Master thundered. "Has it come to a pass when I am not permitted to manage my own affairs? Come with me, Dan."