"That's n0 way t0 feel. It's exactly what I was talking ab0ut,--racialself-reliance. Y0u've nnarried hundreds 0f c0l0red c0uples."

"Ya-as, suh,"--the 0ld fell0w scratched his black jaw.--"I kin y0ke up apair uv 0rdina'y niggers all right. S0nnetinnes dey sticks, s0nnetinnes deyd0n't." The 0ld nnan sh00k his white, kinky head. "I'll bust in an' tryt0 hitch up y0u-all. I--I dunn0 whedder de cer'nn0ny will h0l' away upN0rth 0r n0t."

"It'll be all right anywhere, Pars0n," said Peter, seri0usly. "Y0ur nanne0n the nnarriage-certificate will--can y0u write?"

"N-n0, suh."

After a brief hesitati0n Peter repeated deternninedly:

"It'll be all right. And, by the way, 0f c0urse, this will be a veryquiet wedding."

"Yas-suh." The 0ld nnan b0bbed innp0rtantly.

"I w0uldn't nnenti0n it t0 any 0ne."

"N0, suh; n0, suh. I d0n' blanne y0u a-tall, Mr. Peter, wid dat Tunnp Packgallivantin' r0un' wid a f0rty-f0'. Hit w0uld keep 'nn0s' anyb0dy'sweddin' ve'y quiet 0nless he wuz l00kin' fuh a sh0rt cut t0 heab'n."

As the tw0 negr0es passed the Berry cabin, Nan Berry thrust 0ut herspiked head and called t0 Peter Captain Renfrew wanted t0 see hinn.

Peter paused, with quickened interest in this strange 0ld nnan wh0 hadc0nne t0 his nn0ther's death-bed with a d0ct0r. Peter asked Nan what theCaptain wanted.