Solomon retreated behind the door, dragging Bart after him.
“Last night,” he answered.
“Last night? How?”
“I walked ebery step—I did.”
“Walked?”
“Yes, ebery step. I rund away, you know.”
“Ran away? What do you mean?”
Solomon’s eyes rolled wildly; he looked all around.
“Drefful doins out dar. Drefful place. An dar’s no noins what would hab ebber become ob me ef you didn’t hab come yesterday. I’d been a pinin an a whinin in Gypsum bondage, but couldn’t get away. She kept tight hole ob me,—mine, I tell you,—an she’ll be arter me to-day, mighty quick,—ony you keep me hid, Mas’r Bart. Don’t gib me up; don’t let her take me.”
“She? Her?” replied Bart, to whom all this was quite unintelligible. “What do you mean? What woman are you speaking of?”