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Rh man, and his face fell for a moment. "It's been dat awful lonesome lik I thinks I was a gwine to, die sometimes."

"Never mind, Aleck, we'll cheer you up some day," came from Tom.

"I guess I ought to be at a boahdin' school, or a collidge," went on Aleck. "Perhaps I'll go back to Putnam Hall—if de cap'n will take me."

"Oh, he'll take you back fast enough," answered Sam. "But why not try for a place at Brill?"

"Yo' collidge? Would da hab me dar, yo' t'ink?"

"Perhaps. They have some colored help."

"Den say, won't you put in a good word fo' me, all ob you'?" asked Aleck, earnestly. "I'd gib most anyt'ing fo' to be wid yo', 'deed I would!" and his eyes rolled from one lad to an other.

"We'll keep that in mind, Aleck," answered Dick. "But you can be with us this summer—at least part of the time."

"I'se glad ob dat, Massa Dick. I'se jes' been a-pinin' an' a pinin' f o' you boys!"

The boys slept soundly, and did not get up until late. They spent the best part of the day in iroaming around the farm, and in writing letters to the girls, telling of their safe arrival home.

"I'll tell you what I'd like to do," said Tom,