"Lordee, Master, don't you blame me!" the old negro protested.
"They found him hiding in the bushes," Green explained.
"Yassah," the old man broke in. "I wuz kivered up in de leaves!"
"That's right, sir," Green agreed. "The pike was standing beside a tree.
They raked the leaves and found him in a hole."
"An' I tried ter git under de hole, too."
"The raiders took you by force?" Lee asked.
"Yassah! Dey pulls me outen bed, make me put on my close, gimme dis here han' spike, an' tells me I kin kill my ole marster an' missis when I feels like it—"
"Did you try to kill them?" Lee asked seriously.
"Who? Me?"
"Yes."