Chapter 20

           Faithfultohisword,thedaybeforeChristmas,justatnight-fall,Basscameridingintotheyard. 

           "Howareyou,"saidEpps,shakinghimbythehand,"gladtoseeyou." 

           Hewouldnothavebeenverygladhadheknowntheobjectofhiserrand. 

           "Quitewell,quitewell,"answeredBass. "Hadsomebusinessoutonthebayou,andconcludedtocallandseeyou,andstayovernight." 

           Eppsorderedoneoftheslavestotakechargeofhishorse,andwithmuchtalkandlaughtertheypassedintothehousetogether;not,however,untilBasshadlookedatmesignificantly,asmuchastosay, "Keepdark,weunderstandeachother." Itwasteno’clockatnightbeforethelaborsofthedaywereperformed,whenIenteredthecabin. AtthattimeUncleAbramandBoboccupieditwithme. IlaiddownuponmyboardandfeignedIwasasleep. Whenmycompanionshadfallenintoaprofoundslumber,Imovedstealthilyoutofthedoor,andwatched,andlistenedattentivelyforsomesignorsoundfromBass. ThereIstooduntillongaftermidnight,butnothingcouldbeseenorheard. AsIsuspected,hedarednotleavethehouse,throughfearofexcitingthesuspicionofsomeofthefamily. Ijudged,correctly,hewouldriseearlierthanwashiscustom,andtaketheopportunityofseeingmebeforeEppswasup. AccordinglyIarousedUncleAbramanhoursoonerthanusual,andsenthimintothehousetobuildafire,which,atthatseasonoftheyear,isapartofUncleAbram’sduties.