“I rode home with Halloway.
“I shall never forget his serenity. As we passed along, the negroes were lining the roads on their way homeward, and were shouting and laughing among themselves; and the greetings they gave us as we passed were as civil and good-humored as if no unpleasantness had ever existed. A little after we set out, one man, who had been walking very fast just ahead of us, and had been keeping in advance all the time, came close to Halloway's stirrup and said something to him in an undertone. All I caught was, layin' up something against him.'
“'That 's all right, Dick; let him lay it up, and keep it laid up,' Halloway laughed.
“'Dat 's a bad feller!' the negro insisted, uneasily, his voice kept in an undertone. 'You got to watch him. I'se knowed him from a boy.'
“He added something else in a whisper which I did not catch.
“'All right; certainly not! Much obliged to you, Dick. I 'll keep my eyes open. Goodnight.'
“'Good-night, gent'men'; and the negro fell back and began to talk with the nearest of his companions effusively.
“'Who is that?' I asked, for the man had kept his hat over his eyes.
“'That 's Dick Winchester. You remember that old fellow 't used to belong to old Mr. Eaton—lived down in the pines back o' me, on the creek 't runs near my place. His wife died the year of the big snow.'
“It was not necessary for him to explain further. I remembered the negro for whom Hal-loway had ridden through the storm that night.