CHAPTER XVIII.
THE ARRIVAL.
When Kate and her father reached Aunt Judy's cabin, the boys had not yet arrived, but they were anxiously expected by about a dozen colored people of various ages and sizes, and by two or three white men, who were sitting under the trees waiting to see the "telegraph come." Telegraph apparatus and wires were not at all novel in that part of the country, but this was to be the first time that anything of the kind had been set up in that neighborhood, in those familiar old woods about Crooked Creek.
And then it must be remembered, too, that most of these interested people were "stockholders." That was something entirely novel, and it is no wonder that they were anxious to see their property.
"I hopes, Mah'sr John," said Aunt Judy to Mr.Loudon, "dat dem dar merchines ain't a-goin' to bust up when dey're lef' h'yar all alone by theyselves." "Oh, there's no danger, Aunt Judy," said Mr.Loudon, "if you don't meddle with them.

But I suppose you can't do that, if the boys are going to case them up, as they told me they intended doing." "Why, bress your soul, Mah'sr John, ye needn't be 'fraid o' my techin' 'em off.

I wouldn't no more put a finger on 'em dan I'd pull de trigger ov a hoss pistol." "There isn't really any danger in having these instruments in the house, is there, father ?" asked Kate, when she and Mr.Loudon had stepped out of the cabin where Aunt Judy was busy sweeping and "putting things to rights" in honor of the expected arrival.
"That depends upon circumstances," said Mr.Loudon.

"If the boys are careful to disconnect the instruments and the wires when they leave the cabins, there is no more danger than there would be in a brass clock.
But if they leave the wires attached to the instruments, lightning might be attracted into the cabins during a thunder-storm, and Aunt Judy might find the 'merchines' quite as dangerous as a horse-pistol." "But they mustn't leave the wires that way," said Kate.

"I sha'n't let Harry forget it.