ed, with a suppressed chuckle. "Had a
great notion of chawin' de tree off, so dat it mought fall on dem and
broke dar necks."

"'Sh! you are making too much noise," admonished Leland, in a guarded
whisper.

"Shall I eat up your cords?"

"Loosen them around my wrists and arms, and then I will help myself."

"Yere's de instruments dat will do dat same t'ing," said Zeb, applying
himself to the task at once. He progressed with such celerity and
success that in a few moments, to Leland's unspeakable delight, he found
his arms at liberty. It need scarcely be said that these were
immediately used to assist the negro in his further efforts.

The excitement and nervousness of the young man were so great, that when
his limbs were freed of the fetters he was scarcely able to stand, and,
for a few moments, was on the very verge of fainting. The sudden renewal
of hope overcame him for the time. By a powerful effort he regained his
self-possession, and strove, in the few hurried seconds that were his,
to decide upon some means of action.

It may be said that the two prisoners were literally surrounded by
savages. They were stretched on every side of them, and before either
dare hope to escape, it was necessary (if the expression be allowable)
to scale the dreaded prisonwall. Leland had good cause to fear success
for himself and his sable companion in this attempt. He found, to his
chagrin and dismay, that scarcely any reliance at all could be placed
upon his own limbs. His legs especially, from their long confinement in
one position, were so cramped and spasmodic, that, when he stepped out
from the tree to join the negro, one of them doubled like a reed beneath
him and let him fall to the ground. He believed it was all over with
him; but his fall was so gentle as not to disturb the sleepers, and he
once more raised himself to his feet.

"Shan't I carry dat sick leg while you walk wid de oder one?" inquired
Zeb, in a sympathetic tone.

"It is almost useless to me at present," replied Leland. "Let me lean
upon you while we walk, and for the love of heaven, Zeb, be cautious. A
single mismove, and it will be all up with us."

"Strikes dis chile dat it was ober wid you jes' now, de way you
cawalloped onto de ground jes' now."

"My leg is asleep and numb."

"Let's wake it up, den."

Leland paused a few moments until the circulation was somewhat restored;
but, as every moment seemed so fraught with peril to him, he whispered