irds and the hum
of the insect-world fell soothingly upon my ears; and there, as before,
sat the pretty doves, still repeating their soft "co-co-a"--the
endearing expression of their loves.

I could have lingered long in the midst of this fair scene--long have
enjoyed its sylvan beauty; but the intellectual must over yield to the
physical. I felt sensations of hunger, and soon the appetite began to
distress me. Where was I to obtain relief from this pain--where obtain
food? I could not ask my companion to guide me to the plantations, now
that I knew the risk he would run in so doing. I knew that it really
was as he had stated--_the loss of an arm, perhaps of life, should he be
caught_. There was but little hope of mercy for him--the less so as he
had no master with power to protect him, and who might be _interested_
in his not being thus crippled!

By approaching the open country on the edge of the clearings, he would
not only run the hazard of being seen, but, what he feared still more,
being _tracked by hounds_! This mode of searching for "runaways" was
not uncommon, and there were even white men base enough to follow it as
a calling! So learnt I from my companion. His information was
afterwards confirmed _by my own experience_!

I was hungry--what was to be done? I could not find my way alone. I
might again get lost, and have to spend the night in the swamp. What
had I best do?

I appealed to my companion. He had been silent for some time--busy with
his thoughts. They were running on the same subject as my own. The
brave fellow had not forgotten me.

"Jes what dis nigga am thinkin' 'bout," replied he. "Well, mass'," he
continued, "when sun go down, den I guide you safe--no fear den. Gabr'l
take you close to de Lebee road. Mass' must wait till sun go down."

"But--"

"Mass' hungry?" inquired he, interrupting me.

I assented.

"Jes thot so. Dar's nuffin' yeer to eat 'cept dis ole snake. Mass' no
care to eat snake: dis nigga eat 'im. Cook 'im at night, when smoke ob
de fire not seen ober de woods. Got place to cook 'im, mass' see.
Gabr'l truss mass' Edwad. He take him to caboose ob de runaway."

He had already cut off the head of the reptile while he was talking; and
having pinned neck and tail together with a sharp stick, he lifted the
glittering body, and flinging it over his shoulders, stood ready to
depart.

"Come, now, mass'," continued he, "come 'long wi' Ole Gabe; he find you