The contract to carry these letters and messages to and from the mines had been given to Miles's employer, and the steady negro man had been taken off the mail-route to attend to this new business.
"Well, Miles," said Harry, as he overtook him.

"How do you like riding on this road ?" "How d' y', Mah'sr Harry?
How d' y', Miss Kate ?" said the colored man, touching his hat and riding up on the side of the road to let them pass.
"I do' know how I likes it yit, Mah'sr Harry.

Don't seem 'xactly nat'ral after ridin' de oder road so long!" "You have a pretty big letter-bag there," said Harry.
"Dat's so," said Miles; "but 'taint dis big ebery day.

Sence de creek's been up I haint been able to git across, and dere's piles o' letters to go ober to-day." "It must make it rather bad for the company when the creek rises in this way," said Harry.
"Dat's so," answered Miles.

"Dey gits in a heap o' trubble when dey can't send dere letters and git 'em.