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 youth was a stranger. It was so usual for men of the first rank to take into their sleighs any one who they found toiling through the snow, that Richard was perfectly satisfied with this explanation. He heard Aggy, with great attention, and then remarked, "Well, if the lad has not been spoiled by the people in Templeton, he may be a modest young man, and as he certainly meant well, I shall take some notice of him—perhaps he is land-hunting—I say, Aggy—may be he is out hunting?"

"Eh! yes, massa Richard." said the black, a little confused; for as Richard did all the flogging, he stood in great terror of his master, in the main—"yes, sir, I b'lieve he be."

"Had he a pack and an ax?"

"No, sir, only he rifle."

"Rifle!" exclaimed Richard, observing the confusion of the negro, which now amounted to terror. "By Jove! he killed the deer. I knew that Marmaduke couldn't kill a buck on the jump—How was it, Aggy? tell me all about it, and I'll roast 'duke quicker than he can roast his saddle—How was' it, Aggy? the lad shot the buck, and the Judge bought it, ha! and is taking him down to get the pay?"

The pleasure of this discovery had put Richard in such a good humour, that the negro's fears in some measure vanished, and he remembered the stocking. After a gulp or two, he made out to reply—

"You forgit a two shot, sir?"

"Don't lie, you black rascal!" cried Richard, stepping on the snow-bank to measure the distance from his long lash to the negro's back; "speak the truth, or I'll trounce you." While speaking, the stock was slowly rising in Richard's right