op, and
shout, and savage yell, of man and beast, proceeded down to the
swamp, followed, at some distance, by every servant in the house. The
establishment was, of a consequence, wholly deserted, when Cassy and
Emmeline glided into it the back way. The whooping and shouts of their
pursuers were still filling the air; and, looking from the sitting-room
windows, Cassy and Emmeline could see the troop, with their flambeaux,
just dispersing themselves along the edge of the swamp.

"See there!" said Emmeline, pointing to Cassy; "the hunt is begun! Look
how those lights dance about! Hark! the dogs! Don't you hear? If we were
only _there_, our chances wouldn't be worth a picayune. O, for pity's
sake, do let's hide ourselves. Quick!"

"There's no occasion for hurry," said Cassy, coolly; "they are all
out after the hunt,--that's the amusement of the evening! We'll go up
stairs, by and by. Meanwhile," said she, deliberately taking a key
from the pocket of a coat that Legree had thrown down in his hurry,
"meanwhile I shall take something to pay our passage."

She unlocked the desk, took from it a roll of bills, which she counted
over rapidly.

"O, don't let's do that!" said Emmeline.

"Don't!" said Cassy; "why not? Would you have us starve in the swamps,
or have that that will pay our way to the free states. Money will do
anything, girl." And, as she spoke, she put the money in her bosom.

"It would be stealing," said Emmeline, in a distressed whisper.

"Stealing!" said Cassy, with a scornful laugh. "They who steal body and
soul needn't talk to us. Every one of these bills is stolen,--stolen
from poor, starving, sweating creatures, who must go to the devil at
last, for his profit. Let _him_ talk about stealing! But come, we may as
well go up garret; I've got a stock of candles there, and some books to
pass away the time. You may be pretty sure they won't come _there_ to
inquire after us. If they do, I'll play ghost for them."

When Emmeline reached the garret, she found an immense box, in which
some heavy pieces of furniture had once been brought, turned on its
side, so that the opening faced the wall, or rather the eaves. Cassy
lit a small lamp, and creeping round under the eaves, they established
themselves in it. It was spread with a couple of small mattresses
and some pillows; a box near by was plentifully stored with candles,
provisions, and all the clothing necessary to their journey, which Cassy
had arranged into b