"You'd better take one of the horses," Jessie had told him. "W'at fur I want ob a hoss? Rudder hab my own two footses to trabbel on--if dey is kine o' onsartain some times--dan airy four-legged hoss dat eber libed," Joe returned, disrespectfully. Sure that our good neighbor would return with him, Jessie proceeded to make ready for the trip. We were not disappointed. After a wait of about an hour we heard the rattle of approaching wheels, and presently Mr. Wilson, with Joe in the cart beside him, stopped the fast colt before the gate. "All ready, Miss Jessie?" he sang out in response to our eager greeting. "Yes," said Jessie, "I'm quite ready." "Climb right in, then, and we'll get well started before midnight. Whatever Horton does, he can't beat that, for we'll have our forces--part of 'em, any way--drawn up in battle array before the Land Office doors when they open at seven o'clock. We won't need to hurry to do it, either. We'll have time to brush up and eat our breakfasts like a couple of Christians after we get there." "Had I better take the money with me?" Jessie asked. "Certainly, all you can rake and scrape." Jessie laughed gleefully; it was evident that Joe had not told Mr. Wilson of his recent financial transaction. When Jessie told him, he got up--the colt had been tied at the gate and we were all within doors again, in spite of Mr. Wilson's first entreaty to Jessie to "get right in"--crossed the room and held out his hand to the old negro. "Shake, friend!" As Joe, rather reluctantly, I thought, for he was a shy old man, laid his black hand in Mr. Wilson's clasp, the latter continued: "I reckon I know a man when I see one, be he white or black, and I tell you I'm proud to have the chance of shaking hands with you!" Joe, furtively rubbing the hand that he had released--for, in his earnestness, Mr. Wilson had evidently given it a telling pressure--hung his head, and responded, sheepishly: "I reckons I'se be a whole Noah's A'k full of animals ef dish yer sort ob t'ing gwine keep on. Miss Leslie, she done call me a angel, and now yo' done says I'se a man. Kine o' ha'd on a ole feller like me, hit is!" Mr. Wilson laughed good-humoredly. "You're all right, Joe; we won't talk about it. And now, how is Miss Jessie to get the money?"