angerous
district; it unfortunately happening that, just as they emerged from the
bush, and were about to cross a high-road, which they had been watching
for nearly half an hour, a vehicle appeared in sight, suddenly wheeling
into the road close to them from a bush-path which they had failed to
observe. This vehicle was occupied by two persons, a white man and a
negro driver; and as it was utterly impossible to avoid the observation
of these two persons, George told Tom, in a few low hasty words, to
continue moving, to carefully conceal all appearance of chagrin, and to
leave him to answer any questions which might be put to them. As the
vehicle approached the fugitives, its owner signed to his driver to pull
up, but he immediately changed his mind and passed on, contenting
himself with a careful and prolonged scrutiny of the travellers. This
disagreeable incident caused George and his companion to push on with
renewed vigour, and it was with sincerely thankful hearts that they at
last plunged into a shallow ravine, which promised to lead them directly
down to the sea, then not more, in Leicester's opinion, than some four
or five miles distant.

The sun was by this time sinking low in the heavens and the travellers,
unutterably weary as they were, pressed eagerly forward, hoping to reach
the coast before nightfall, and to discover a craft of some kind which
they could appropriate, and in which, later on, when the night was well
advanced, and they could hope to do so unobserved, they might venture to
put to sea. This was the only effectual method of escape which George
could devise--to put to sea upon the chance of being picked up by some
passing vessel. He knew that, when once the fact of their escape became
established, the news would travel faster than they possibly could; the
whole country for many miles round, would be apprised of their number
and appearance, and recapture would be certain. To get afloat,
therefore, as speedily as possible was their first object; after that
they must trust to chance--or Providence, rather--for their ultimate
rescue.

As they advanced along the ravine, it grew deeper, whilst its sides
became steeper and more rugged, until at last the place assumed quite
the appearance of a mountain-gorge or defile, with rocky, precipitous
sides, to which a few scattered shrubs clung here and there. At length,
in the deep silence of the breathless evening, the thrice welcome sound
of the sea