So Ah just nat'larly went ter work cookin', an' purty soon dey all ov 'em cum stragglin' in ter de cabin fer ter eat.

Dar was four ov 'em, sah," her voice a husky whisper.

"Bill Sikes, totin' a gun in his han', a free nigger whut dey called Pete, an' two wimin.

Furst like, bein' Ah wus right busy, Ah didn't take no heed ov dere faces, fer dey wus all muffled 'round like; but dey hed fer ter unwrap dem veils fore dey cud eat--tho' de Lord knows dey didn't no one ov 'em eat much.

De bigger one was a quadroon, maybe 'bout forty years ol', an' de odder she wan't much more'n a gal; an' dar wan't nuthin' ov de nigger 'bout her, 'cept it mought be de hair, an' de eyes--dem was sure black 'nough.