Our intercourse became more amiable and the fellow dragged in his advice that I spend the rest of the night at the house of Mr. Oliver. His acquaintance with that gentleman seemed to grow while we talked, and broke into bloom like a magician's rosebush. He described him as a kind old bird who made hospitality to strangers his meat and drink. A conjecture darted into my mind. "Why, yes! that is his married son, is he not, yonder in the cabin; the one with the fair hair?" "Who?--eh,--ole man Ol-i-veh? You sa--ay 'Is that his ma'-ied son, in yondeh; the one 'ith the fah hah? '--Eh,--no--o, suh,--eh,--yass, suh,--yass! Oh, yass, suh, thass his--tha'--thass his ma'ied son, in thah; yass, suh, the one 'ith the fah hah; yass, suh. I thought you meant the yetheh one." "I don't believe," said I, "I'd better put myself on the old gentleman when the mistress of the house is away." "_She_ ain't awa-ay." "Is she not! Isn't she the Mrs. Oliver--Charlotte Oliver--who is such friends--she and her husband, I mean, of course,--" "_Uv_ co'se!" The reptile giggled, squirted and nodded. "--With General Austin," I continued, "--and with Lieutenant Ferry?" "She air!" He was pleased. "Yass, we all good frien's togetheh." "But if she--oh, yes!--Yes, to be sure; she could easily have got here yesterday afternoon." "Thass thess when she arrove!" It was fascinating to watch the animal's cunning play across his face. The fiddle's tune changed and the dance quickened. "I naturally thought," resumed I, with a smile meant to refer to the blond dancer, "that the madam _must_ be away somewhere." My hearer grinned. "Oh, that ain't no sign. Boys will be boys. You know that, yo'se'f. An' o' co'se she know it. Oh, yass, she at home." "Well, I reckon I'll stop all night." I began to move on. His eyes followed greedily. "Sa-ay! I'll wrastle you fo' them-ah clo'es." I waved a pleasant refusal and rode toward the house. XIX ASLEEP IN THE DEATH-TRAP The dwelling was entirely dark. I came close in the bright moonlight and hallooed. At my second hail the door came a small way open, and after a brief parley a man's voice bade me put up my horse and come in. The stable was a few steps to the right and rear. Returning, I took care to notice the form of the house: a hall from front to rear; one front and one rear room on each side of it; above the whole a low attic, probably occupied by the slave housemaids.