Without difficulty he tumbled the whining Alek over the fence to the roadway, and followed him with sheriff-like expedition! He took him by the scruff. "Come erlong, deacon. I raikon I gwine put you wah you kin pray, deacon. Come erlong, deacon." The emphasis and reiteration of his layman's title in the church produced a deadly effect upon Alek. He felt to his marrow the heinous crime into which this treacherous night had betrayed him. As Peter marched his prisoner up the road towards the mouth of the lane, he continued his remarks: "Come erlong, deacon. Nev' see er man so anxious like erbout er mellum-paitch, deacon. Seem like you jes must see'em er-growin' an' _feel_ 'em, deacon. Mist' Bryant he'll be s'prised, deacon, findin' out you come fer ter _feel_ his mellums. Come erlong, deacon. Mist' Bryant he expectin' some ole rip like you come soon." They had almost reached the lane when Alek's cur Susie, who had followed her master, approached in the silence which attends dangerous dogs; and seeing indications of what she took to be war, she appended herself swiftly but firmly to the calf of Peter's left leg. The mêlée was short, but spirited. Alek had no wish to have his dog complicate his already serious misfortunes, and went manfully to the defence of his captor. He procured a large stone, and by beating this with both hands down upon the resounding skull of the animal, he induced her to quit her grip. Breathing heavily, Peter dropped into the long grass at the road-side. He said nothing. [Illustration: "THE NEXT MOMENT HE WAS LOOKING INTO THE AMAZED AND AGONIZED FACE OF OLD ALEK"] "Mist' Wash'ton," said Alek at last, in a quavering voice, "I raikon I gwine wait yere see what you gwine do ter me." Whereupon Peter passed into a spasmodic state, in which he rolled to and fro and shook. "Mist' Wash'ton, I hope dish yer dog 'ain't gone an' give you fitses?" Peter sat up suddenly. "No, she 'ain't," he answered; "but she gin me er big skeer; an' fer yer 'sistance with er cobblestone, Mist' Willums, I tell you what I gwine do--I tell you what I gwine do." He waited an impressive moment. "I gwine 'lease you!" Old Alek trembled like a little bush in a wind. "Mist' Wash'ton?" Quoth Peter, deliberately, "I gwine 'lease you." The old man was filled with a desire to negotiate this statement at once, but he felt the necessity of carrying off the event without an appearance of haste. "Yes, seh; thank 'e, seh; thank 'e, Mist' Wash'ton. I raikon I ramble home pressenly." He waited an interval, and then dubiously said, "Good-evenin', Mist' Wash'ton." "Good-evenin', deacon. Don' come foolin' roun' _feelin'_ no mellums, and I say troof. Good-evenin', deacon." Alek took off his hat and made three profound bows. "Thank 'e, seh. Thank 'e, seh. Thank 'e, seh." Peter underwent another severe spasm, but the old man walked off towards his home with a humble and contrite heart. IV