ennent de volle kui ämuru is horse's nate. Til de mimai serted it is abin de vie fum. var ir is musta. Ed engde die Testing mi mensaus body in in a wife tm de sudle. The dei dem ind suceded the hood, and sopied emeIT TESTILTE is made knowledge wrült ferie: bo i was ling ere the eyes te wo loved mened on the reeclection of Last events and present injury.

-That was a fin de dbs. Sam,” muned his exhausted master: "but ef I don't trall up the saint and pull his sting out, it ́ll be because I and that ar old rifle of mine has to part company!"

The natural strength of the patient, together with Sam's careful nursing, soon restored him to his legs, and a few days' gentle exercise imparted strength enough to his frame to

support the weight of his rifle. A fixed resolve to trace the assassin added a severe cast to Dick's pale features-Sam, as he observed him, quietly shook his head, with the remark, "Ah, ah! Massa Dick's soon goin' Ingin huntin'-sure!"

One morning early, Kelsy ordered Sam to saddle his horse, and proceeded himself to clean his rifle; with more than usual care he adjusted each particular of his accoutrements, and started off to the settlement, taking the road leading by his neighbour's cabin. On his arrival, he gathered a few of his cronies together, who all knew of the dastardly attempt on his life, and imparted to them a scheme he had been maturing, for discovering if the stranger was the "stabber in the dark,”—which few seemed to doubt, but of which he wished to be certain.

As the sun inclined to the west, Kelsy made preparation for return, and, changing his dress for a suit belonging to one of his friends, he stuffed his own with straw, surmounted the figure with his fur cap, and mounted it upon his horse before him, where it was secured to the saddle; four of his friends accompanied him, and, thus prepared, they bent their course towards Dick's cabin. Night set in while they were on their march,

the strip of woods, within view of his cabin, and there beheld the stranger with his arm. raised to strike; fronting him stood Sam, poising a large hunting knife in defence; while upon the other arm of the muscular negro, hung the trembling form of the stranger's sickly wife. A few moments and Dick was beside the combatants, inquiring the cause of their hostile attitude. When Sam informed him that the stranger had twice, with his fist, felled the woman to the earth, his rifle raised instinctively to his shoulder, as if justice demanded instant and dreadful punishment for such a dastard act. Dick slowly remarked, as he directed his arm—

"I'll sarve you out, you infernal savage!" The stricken wife observing the action, threw herself before the weapon, imploring the enraged host to spare her husband's life.

"Well, woman is woman," soliloquised Dick; "for they'll stick to the devil, ef they ever take a notion to him. If you have the least hankerin' arter the mean varmint, in course I'll let him slide; but he must clar out of my diggins-I can't be near whar anythin' of this breed grows so arter breakfast we'll separate."

When the morning meal was ended, the stranger drew up his wagon, thrust his

companion into it, and sullenly departed, muttering a threatening farewell.

"God help that poor creatur," said Dick, as his late guests disappeared from view, "she's got a hard row to hoe; and as for that sarpent with her, he'd better keep out of my tracks. I should be mightily tempted to sarch his carcass to see ef he had a heart in it. Sam," continued he, "you're a nigger, but thar's more real white man under your black skin than could be found in an acre of such varmints as that sucker. Give me your fist, old fellar; while Dick Kelsy's got anythin' in this world, you shall share it!”

While this bond of closer friendship was being formed between master and slave, malice was holding her revel in the heart of their late guest. He had observed Dick's love for the spot where he had squatted, and judging rightly that he had neglected to file his claim to it in the Land Office, he stopped a short distance below him, intending to remain, and if possible to gain possession of it. Kelsy had his dislike for the stranger increased by finding him remain on his section, and he ordered him to leave forthwith. The stranger gave as an excuse, that his wife was so sick that she couldn't travel, and ended with a request that he would let him

erect a hut to shelter her, while he went in search of a permanent location. In pity for her, Dick consented, and the stranger proceeded to prepare timber for a small cabin. The following Saturday the neighbours gathered, and by nightfall placed a roof over their heads, kindly supplied them with some necessaries, and left, each more confirmed in his dislike for the stranger. The next morning he started off, as many supposed, never to return; the natural kindness of the settlers was immediately manifested towards his wife, and nothing that would conduce to her comfort was lacking in the cabin of this heartbroken woman.

After the lapse of several days, contrary to all expectation, the stranger returned, and a visible change was manifested in his manner-his surliness assumed a more impudent and offensive character; and on receiving a further intimation that it was time he was moving, he insolently told Dick to "clear out," himself, for that he (the stranger) was the rightful owner of the claim. Dick laughed at him, and told him to be off quietly, that his carcass was safe while that woman clung to him.

*

Kelsy was laughing next day, down at the settlement, as he related the stranger's words,