During a silence so intense that nothing was heard save the hum of two great “bumblebees” that darted in and out among the trees and flew at erratic angles above our heads, the negroes came forward and stretched their necks over each other’s shoulders, peering curiously at the little mounds of powder that lay before them, at the innocent-looking bottle that stood in their midst, and the great high priest who sat behind.  They stretched their necks over each other’s shoulders, and each endeavored to push his neighbor to the front; but those in front, with due reverence for the uncanny nature of the table, were determined not to be forced too near it, and the result was a quiet struggle, a silent wrestle, an undertone of wriggle, that was irresistibly funny.

Then arose the great high priest:  “Range ye!”

Not knowing the nature of this order, the negroes scattered instanter and then collected en masse around Mr. Smith.

“Range ye! range!” repeated the doctor with dignity, and Edward proceeded to arrange them in a long, straggling row, urging upon them that there was no cause for alarm, as, even should any of them prove ’witched, the doctor had charms with him by which to cast off the spell.

“Come, Martha,” said Edward; but Martha was dismayed, and giving her neighbor a hasty shove, exclaimed,

“You go fus’, Unk’ Lumfrey:  you’s de preacher.”

Uncle Humphrey disengaged his elbow with an angry hitch:  “I don’t keer if I is:  go ’long yose’f.”

“Well, de Lord knows I’m ’feerd to go,” said Martha; “but ef I sot up for preachin’, ‘peers to me I wouldn’ be’feerd to sass witches nor goses, nor nuffin’ else.”

“I don’t preach no time but Sundays, an’ dis ain’t Sunday,” said Uncle Humphrey.

“Hy, nigger!” exclaimed Martha in desperation, “is you gwine to go back on de Lord cos ‘tain’t Sunday?  How come you don’t trus’ on Him week-a-days?”

“I does trus’ on Him fur as enny sense in doin’ uv it; but ef I go to enny my foolishness, fus’ thing I know de Lord gwine leave me to take keer uv myse’f, preacher or no preacher—­same as ef He was ter say, ‘Dat’s all right, cap’n:  ef you gwine to boss dis job, boss it;’ an’ den whar I be?  Mas’ Ned tole you to go:  go on, an’ lemme ’lone.”

“Uncle Humphrey,” said Edward, “there is nothing whatever to be afraid of, and you must set the rest an example.  Come!”

Uncle Humphrey obeyed, but as he did so he turned his head and rolled—­or, as the negroes say, walled—­his eyes at Martha in a manner which convinced her, whatever her doubts in other matters pertaining to theology, that there is such a thing as future punishment.  The old fellow advanced, and under direction of the great high priest poured some of the contents of the bottle on the powder indicated to him, and it remained white.

“Thang Gord!” he exclaimed with a fervency which left no doubt of his sincerity, and hastened away.