Moving away toward the wood,
his foot struck and scattered a pile of black cinders lying near the
ruins of the house. Looking down, he saw something glitter. What was
his surprise to discover in the ashes a gold watch and chain which he
had often seen upon the neck of Mary Prescott. A portion of the chain
had been melted by the intense heat, but by some singular means, the
watch had been so well preserved that there was scarcely a blemish upon
it. As he picked it up, Cato exclaimed, with rolling eyes:
"Dat is Miss Mary's! dat is Miss Mary's!"
"It couldn't have been around her neck, certainly, when it was lost."
"No, she allers laid it on de stand aside her bed, and dat's de way it
got dar. See, dar's de legs ob de stand."
It was as the negro said, and in the hope of finding some more of the
valuables of the family, the soldier kicked the ashes and cinders
hither and thither and searched among them for a considerable time.
Nothing further rewarded him, however. Placing the watch upon his own
person, he went on, across the edge of the clearing, into the woods
beyond. He led his horse further into their protection, and then
beckoned the negro to his side.
"Do you feel sleepy, Cato?"
"No! what'd you ax that fur?"
"Well I do, and I am going to try to get a little sleep. I wish you to
keep watch of the clearing while I do."
"Don't 'spect none of dem Injines will be back here?"
"No, but Oonomoo will probably soon be.
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