He determined, however, to solve the mystery.
Giving the structure a push that brought it tumbling to the ground, he sprung back and held his rifle prepared for any foe, were he a four-footed or a two-footed one.

Instead of either, what was his amazement to see a negro, as black as midnight, emerge from the ruins, and cringe at his feet.
"Oh, Mr.Injine, please don't shoot! please don't kill me! Nice, good Mr.Injine, don't hurt me! Please don't tomahawk poor Cato! He never hurt an Injine in all his life.

Please don't! Oh, don't! don't! don't! boo-hoo! oo!-oo-oo!" "Get up, get up, Cato, and don't make a fool of yourself," said the Lieutenant, recognizing in the frightened negro the favorite servant of Captain Prescott's family.
"Oh, please don't hurt me! Please don't kill poor Cato! He never hurt good Injine in all his life! Please, good, nice Mr.Injine, let me go, and I'll do anyt'ing you wants me to, and lubs you as long as I lib.
Please, don't hurt poor nigger Cato," repeated the servant, fairly beside himself with terror.
"If you don't want to be killed, get up," said the young officer, sternly enough to bring Cato to his senses; but only after he had been assisted by what he supposed to be a ferocious Indian, ready to brain him, was he enabled to rise and to keep his feet.
[Illustration: "If you don't want to be killed, get up," said the young officer.] "Don't you know me, Cato ?" asked the Lieutenant, laughing heartily at the woe-begone appearance of the negro.
"Hebens, golly! ain't you an Injine, Massa Canfield ?" he asked, his knees still shaking with terror.
"Do I look like one ?" "Guess you isn't, arter all," added the negro, with more assurance.
"Hebens, golly! _I ain't afeard_!" he suddenly exclaimed, straightening up proudly.

"Didn't t'ink Cato was afeard, Massa Canfield ?" "I must say that the circumstantial evidence of your cowardice is hard to resist." The negro's eyes enlarged as he heard the large words of the soldier, and his looks showed that he had no idea of their meaning.
"Doesn't t'ink I's _afeard_ ?" "Why did you build such a looking concern as that ?" "Why I build dat?
To keep de rain off of me." "It hasn't rained at all for several days." "Know dat, but, den, expect maybe 'twill.

Bes' to be ready for it when _does_ come." "But, as there were no evidences of a storm coming very soon, why should you get in there just now ?" "Storms out in dese parts bust berry suddent sometimes.