"'Twa'n't nothing but a bug," said Randall.
"It de fust bug what ever raised a knot on my head," Turin declared.
"What was the trouble, Randall?" inquired Mr. Abercrombie from the fence. His cool, decisive voice restored the courage of the negroes at once.
"We des tryin' fer ter fin' out, suh. Whatsomever de racket wuz, it stop, suh, time we got here—an' it seem like we kin hear sump'n er somebody runnin' to'rds de branch over yander," replied Randall heartily.
"Some of the mules were in the pasture to-day. See if they are safe."
"Yasser!" responded Randall, but his tone was not so hearty. Nevertheless, he and Turin cautiously followed the line of the fence until they found the mules in the corner in which they had taken refuge. And the mules showed they were very glad to see the negroes, following them back to the point where the path crossed the fence.
"De mules all safe an' soun', suh," explained Randall when they came to where the master was. "Dey er safe an' soun', but dey er swyeatin' mightily, suh."
"What do you suppose the trouble was?" inquired Mr. Abercrombie.
Turin and Randall had not the least idea, but Susy's Sam declared that he heard "dat ar hoss a-squealin'!"
"What horse?" inquired Mr. Abercrombie.