"Her mother? And what did she say?"
"Oh! she and Missis Helen kinder laughed, and showed all dar white teef, and dey didn't try to persuade her to go, 'cause dey knowed dar wan't no use ob tryin' to do nuffin' like dat. She lubs the Leftenant altogeder too much. Yah! yah!" and Cato kicked up his heels, hugely delighted.
"Have you told me when you built this house of yours?"
"T'ought I hahd. Done dat ar workmanship dis mornin', arter all de Injines had gone. T'ought dar'd be somebody 'long dis way afore long."
"There has been nothing saved," said the Lieutenant, looking around and speaking apparently to himself.
"Noffin' but dis poor nigger, and I don't know what will become of him now dat he's all alone," said Cato, with a woe-begone demeanor.
"Have no anxiety upon that account. You shall be attended to. Captain Prescott and all his family are living, and, depend upon it, you will not suffer if he can prevent it."
"But de house am gone—de horses—de corns—eberyt'ing but me."
The young soldier continued musing for a moment and then asked:
"How far from here is the settlement to which Mrs. Prescott has gone?"