There had been no rain for a month, but just where the stumps were stuck a bucket or two of water had been dashed hastily on to the arid soil; while, to crown all, a chain or rib rollera ghastly instrument used by agriculturists for scrunching up the lumps and bumps on the ploughed fields, and pulverising the soilhad been used with such effect that the surface of the pitch to the depth of about an inch had been reduced to dust.

" Colonelgetting evidently excited"No, sir'ree, I aint, and,"holding out a brawny hand capable of scrunching a nine-pound shot into infant pap"darned if I wont lay you, or any other gentleman, six Kentucky niggers to a julep I'm right.