"If you don't want to be killed, get up," said the young officer, sternly enough to bring Cato to his senses; but only after he had been assisted by what he supposed to be a ferocious Indian, ready to brain him, was he enabled to rise and to keep his feet.
[Illustration: "If you don't want to be killed, get up," said the young officer.]
"Don't you know me, Cato?" asked the Lieutenant, laughing heartily at the woe-begone appearance of the negro.
"Hebens, golly! ain't you an Injine, Massa Canfield?" he asked, his knees still shaking with terror.
"Do I look like one?"
"Guess you isn't, arter all," added the negro, with more assurance. "Hebens, golly! I ain't afeard!" he suddenly exclaimed, straightening up proudly. "Didn't t'ink Cato was afeard, Massa Canfield?"
"I must say that the circumstantial evidence of your cowardice is hard to resist."
The negro's eyes enlarged as he heard the large words of the soldier, and his looks showed that he had no idea of their meaning.