Don had wasted a good deal of time in these experiments, and now the ringing of the dinner-bell admonished him that he must pull off his disguise, and hurry back to the house. Another thing that warned him to make haste, was the knowledge that he had thrown the negroes into a state of great excitement and alarm. He was afraid they might tell his parents what they had seen, and that would bring about an investigation. “It would never do to be caught in the act,” thought Don, as he hastily pulled off old Jordan’s clothes and bundled them into the chest. “I don’t know what father would say to me. But didn’t Godfrey run, though? I declare it seems selfish for me to enjoy all this fun by myself. I wish I had some good fellow to help me laugh!” Don stopped for a few minutes to indulge in a very hearty but silent fit of merriment, and then having put on his clothes, and wiped the black off his hands and face with a damp cloth which he had taken the precaution to bring with him, he glanced about the room to make sure that he had left everything just as he had found it, and went out, locking the door behind him. He reached the house and made his way to his room without being seen, and having performed a hasty toilet, went down to the dining-room in time to learn that the measures he had taken to frighten Godfrey Evans, had succeeded almost too well. One of the servant girls was standing at the door showing a good deal of the whites of her eyes, and looking altogether as if she were highly excited about something. “It’s all nonsense, Jane,” Don heard his mother say. “No odds, missus,” replied the girl. “Sam say he can’t hitch up dem hosses no mo’. He wouldn’t go nigh dat barn, he say, fur no money in dis broad world. He done seed it, suah.” Don, well knowing what it was that the girl referred to, and hardly able to control himself, so great was his desire to laugh, glanced about the table to see what the family thought about it. They were all there, and their faces expressed the greatest astonishment. Even the general elevated his eye-brows, and turned about in his chair to look at the girl. Don sat down in his place and tried to look as surprised as the rest did; and then recollecting that he had yet seen or heard nothing to be surprised at, he asked: “What’s the matter?” “Why, mother just sent out word to Sam to hitch up the horses,” said Bert, “and he sent back word that he couldn’t think of it.” “Why not?” inquired Don. “O, because he’s got it into his head that there’s something out there--something that looks like old Jordan.” “Never mind, Jane. I will look into the matter after dinner,” said the general.