"Yes, but he told me to. I'll tell you something if you'll cross your heart that you'll never tell anybody." He crossed his heart and I told him, and he lay back and laughed. "But you were whipped in earnest," I said. "Yes, but it didn't hurt. Ho, think that old shoe could hurt me! Let's go in swimming?" We snatched off our clothes and into the water we plunged, but a damper was put upon my enjoyment, for looking up I saw the doctor standing near the bank. A bandage was over one eye, and with the other one he gave me a hard and evil look. "You boys get out of there," he commanded. Bob rebelled against his order, but I obeyed, and as I was putting on my clothes he came up, cut at my bare legs with a switch, doing so, I suppose, to leave no doubt as to his presence. "Hurry up," he said. "Go and catch my horse; I want to go to town." Bob came out. "He don't have to catch your horse, Brother George. Make Sam catch your horse. Dan belongs to me." "I have heard enough of that and I don't want to hear any more," the doctor replied. "Go catch my horse," he added, turning to me. "I will if Mars. Bob says so," I replied. "You'll do it if I say so." "No, I won't." He rushed at me with his switch, but I dodged, leaped into the water and swam to the opposite shore. Bob clapped his hands in glee, and the doctor shook his switch at me. "I've had my eye on you for some time, you impudent scoundrel," he shouted, "and the first thing you know, I'll skin you alive. You can keep out of my way for a while, but not always. See this?" he cried, tapping his bandaged head. "I know--and I'll make you pay for it." CHAPTER VI. I hid about the place during the day, sometimes peeping at the doctor from the hay-loft, sometimes dodging behind a cabin to keep out of his way, constantly wishing that Old Master might come; and late in the afternoon I saw him walking in the garden with his hands behind him. The doctor was not far away, and I knew that he would discover me if I should dart out from my hiding place, but I did finally and he yelled at me, but I ran to Old Master, looking back in fright as I approached him. "Tut, tut, there!" he cried. "What are you running about this way for, tramping down everything? First thing you know I'll give you another whipping within an inch of your life!" "Marster!" I cried, clinging to him, "the doctor is after me!" "Well, he won't get you. Turn me loose. Hang about near me, but don't let your mistress see you. The doctor's going away to-morrow to be gone some time. Here he comes now. Go on to the house."