"Done it jist for fun, Massa. Hebens, golly! wanted to see if you was afeard, too."
"But," said the soldier, assuming a more serious air, "let the jesting cease. When did you put those logs together, Cato?"
"Dis morning, arter dey went away," he replied, with a shudder, casting a look of terror around him.
"And when did they—the Shawnees—go away?"
"Didn't stay long, Massa; come in de night, berry late—bust on de house all at once."
Lieutenant Canfield felt a painful interest in all that related to Mary Prescott. Although the Huron had given him the principal incidents of the attack and massacre, he could not restrain himself from questioning the negro still further.
"Had you no warning of their approach?"
"Nothing; didn't know dey war about till dey war among us."
"What was the first thing you heard, Cato? Give me the particulars so far as you can remember."
"Hebens, golly! I'll neber forgit dat night if I lib a fousand years. Wal, you see I and Big Mose had just gwane to bed and blowed de candle out——"