So intent was Andy\'s watch on the lawn, so rapt his wonder and terror at the sudden assault, he failed to hear Cleo\'s step as she entered the room, walked to his side and laid her hand on his shoulder:

"Andy——"

With a loud groan he dropped to his knees:

"De Lawd save me!"

Cleo drew back with amazement at the prostrate figure:

"What on earth\'s the matter?"

"Oh—oh, Lawd," he shivered, scrambling to his feet and mopping his brow. "Lordy, I thought de major got me dat time sho!"

"You thought the major had you?" Cleo cried incredulously.

Andy ran back to the window and looked out again:

"Yassam—yassam! De major try ter kill me—he\'s er regular maniacker—gone wild——"

"What about?"

The black hands went to his throat:

"Bout my windpipes, \'pears like!"

"What did he do?"

"Got me in de gills!"

"Why?"[Pg 421]

"Dunno," was the whispered answer as he peered out the window. "He asked me if Mr. Tom been back here in de past fo\' weeks——"

"Asked if Tom had been back here?"

"Yassam!"

"What a fool question, when he\'s had the boy with him every day! He must have gone crazy."

"Yassam!" Andy agreed with unction as he turned back into the room and threw both hands high above his head in wild gestures. "He say we wuz all in it! Dat what he say—we wuz all in it! All in it!"

"In what?"

"Gawd knows!" he cried, as his hands again went to his neck to feel if anything were broken, "Gawd knows, but he sho wuz gittin\' inside er me!"

Cleo spoke with stern appeal:

"Well, you\'re a man; you\'ll know how to defend yourself next time, won\'t you?"

"Yassam!—yas, m\'am!" Andy answered boldly. "Oh, I fit \'im! Don\'t you think I didn\'t figh............