Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/102

 "Nuthin'! Massa."

"Then I will!"

"De good Lawd won't let yo', Massa. He allers take ca'e o' His chillen."

"He does, does He?" Hernando sneered.

"O Thou, who man of baser earth did'st make, "And ev'n with Paradise devise the snake, "For all the sins with which the face of man is black'ned "Man's forgiveness give—and take."

"Can't say 'bout dat, Massa; but when de good Lawd sends me a message I's boun' ter do His bidden." And as he arose and faced his questioner like a great watch-dog at bay, Hernando did not doubt his ability to do so. He made no reply to Reuben's last remark; had unconsciously quailed before such bull-*dog ferocity in "gentle, patient Reuben." He looked up the mountain side until his gaze rested on the rocks about "Old Ninety-Nine." It was one of those magical nights in late winter when grim Time seems making a final