Then a light broke in on him.

"You mean the cemetery." "Persackly--de place da puts de dead folks." "Well, they are in the cemetery right enough--but they are a long way from being dead." "Wot yo' mean, Tom ?" "We saw her send five of them away this evening--she told 'em to go to the cemetery and stay there awhile." "Wot! Yo' is fooling dis chile!" "It is absolutely true," said Sam.

"I am quite sure she has seven children." "Huh! If dat's de case dat Thomas nigger can hab her," grumbled Aleck, and walked on.

"But I ain't takin' yo' word fo' dis," he added cautiously.

"I'se gwine to make a few investigations to morrow." "Do so--and you'll thank us from the bottom of your heart," answered Tom; and there the subject was dropped.