"Are you the overseer ?" "I reckon I am, but what I want to know is, who you are ?" "I ?" striving to regain my wits.

"Why, I am--am Philip Henley; we--we have just got in from the North." "How did you git out yere ?" "A negro drove us from the station--old Pete who worked here once; maybe you know him ?" The man grunted.
"What become of the nigger ?" "He simply dumped us out at the gate, and drove back as though the devil was after him.

He said the place was haunted." "And he hit it about right at that, as ye'r' likely to find out afore mornin'.

Is that a woman with you ?" "Yes--may we come in ?" "Oh, I reckon I ain't got no license to turn yer away, if yer mind ter risk it.

Lord knows I 'm willin' 'nough to hav' company.