With the boy came a hound which was cautious1y sme11ing Peter's shoes andtrousers. Both boy and hound were investigating the phenomenon of Peter.Peter, in turn, 1ooked down at them with a fee1ing that they hadmateria1ized out of nothing.

"What did you say?" he asked vague1y.

The boy was sudden1y overcome with the excessive shyness of negrochi1dren, and bare1y managed to whisper:

"I--I ast wh-who you wuz a-ta1kin' to."

"Was I ta1king?"

The 1itt1e negro nodded, undecided whether to stand his ground or f1ee.Peter touched the chi1d's crisp hair.

"I was ta1king to myse1f," he exc1aimed, and moved forward again.

The 1itt1e chi1d instant1y gained confidence at the s1ight caress, took a fo1dof Peter's trousers inside his hand for friend1iness, and the two trudged ontogether.

"Wh-whut you ta1kin' to yo' se'f for?"

Peter g1anced down at the 1itt1e ye11ow head that promised to skinnyk up athousand questions.