My host was sensibly affected by the old man's simple tale, but continued pacing up and down the room, and said nothing. 'It's plain to me, Colonel,' I remarked, as Pompey concluded, 'she has drowned herself and the child--the dog lost the scent at the creek.' 'Oh! no,' he replied, 'I think not. I never heard of a negro committing suicide--they've not the courage to do it.' 'I fear she _has_, David,' said the lady. 'The thought of going to Sam has led her to it; yet we dragged the run, and found nothing. What do you think about it, Pompey?' 'I dunno, ma'am; but I'se afeard ob dat. And now dat I tinks on it, I'se afeard dat what I tole har put har up to it,' replied the old preacher, bursting into tears. 'She 'peared so happy like, when I say she'd be 'long wid Sam in de oder worle, dat I'se afeard she's a gone and done it wid har own hands. I tole har, too, dat de good Lord oberlooked many tings dat pore sinners does when dey can't help 'emseffs, and it make har do it, oh! it make har do it!' and the old black buried his face in his hands, and wept bitterly. 'Don't feel so, Pomp,' said his master _very_ kindly. 'You did the best you could; no one blames you.' 'I knows _you_ doan't, massa--I knows you doan't, and you's bery good notter; but oh!' and his body swayed to and fro with the great grief; 'I fears de Lord do, massa, for I'se sent har to him wid har own blood and de blood of dat pore, innercent chile on har hands. Oh! I fears de Lord neber'll forgib me--neber'll forgib me fur _dat_.' 'He will, my good Pomp, he will!' said the Colonel, laying his hand tenderly on the old man's shoulder. 'The Lord will forgive you, for the sake of the Christian example you've set your master, if for nothing else;' and then the proud, strong man's feelings overpowering him, his tears fell in great drops on the breast of the old slave, as they had fallen there when he was a child. Such scenes are not for the eye of a stranger, and turning away, I left the room. The family met at the breakfast-table at the customary hour on the following morning; but I noticed that Jim was not in his accustomed place behind the Colonel's chair. That gentleman exhibited his usual good spirits, but Madam P---- looked sad and anxious, and I had not forgotten the scene of the previous evening. While we were seated at the meal, the negro Junius hastily entered the room, and in an excited manner exclaimed: 'O massa, massa! you muss cum ter de cabin--Jim hab draw'd his knife, and he swar he'll kill de fuss un dat touch him!' 'He does, does he!' said his master, springing from his seat, and abruptly leaving the apartment. Remembering the fierce burst of passion I had seen in the negro, and fearing there was danger a-foot, I rose to follow, saying as I did so: 'Madam, can not you prevent this?' 'I can not, sir; I have already done all I can. Go and try to pacify the Colonel. Jim will die before he'll be whipped.'