'Nuttin', missus; only de wheel cum off.'
It was, to be sure, nothing else; but that of itself was sufficient to prevent any farther progress for the time being. Cæsar and his master were soon down; the horses detached from the carriage, and the wheel picked up and brought to its place.
''Tis all right, Massa George, only de linch-pin is gone; may be me find um.'
And very diligent was the search for the lost pin, but to no purpose; the prospect, indeed, was not the most agreeable; for a long road must be retraced ere home could be reached.
A young man from an adjoining field, seeing their dilemma, hastened to offer his aid. Very soon rails were procured, and by means of them the heavy coach was raised, and the recusant wheel replaced; and then the young man who showed much readiness to assist, as well as ingenuity, procuring a bit of hard wood, began whittling it into the shape of a pin.
'Mister, what a' yo goin' to do wid dat 'tick?'
'I'm making a pin for you, daddy.'
'My golly! you no t'ink dat hold dem big wheel on. No blacksmith nowhere here?'
'Yes; there is one not far off; but you want something to keep your wheel on until you can get the carriage there.'
'Why me no bring him here when he makes de pin?'