kase
thar's no show fer 'em in the other place. Come on! No time ter be los',
train don't stay up thar more 'an twenty minutes." With that he led the
passenger from the train. "Git up in thar," he said, pointing to a small
wagon. "Got er trunk?" "No, just this bag," returned the other. "Well,
let's go. Git up, Nell," and the horse started off in a brisk trot.
"Looker here, mister, I ain't got no more resterant then er dog. Ain't
your name Silkirk?" "That's may name," returned the passenger in
astonishment. "I knowed it," said the driver. "I got on that train ter
save yer life ter night. Slower dar, Nell! This road's full er mud holes
sence the big rain we had tother day. I jes' happen ter that depot ter
day jes' in time ter see thet telegraph when hit cum an' was put inter
Captain Bull's han'. Sence dem riots in Wilmin'ton he's bin er getin'
telegraphs an' sarchin' trains, an' insultin' women an' killin' col'd
mens. An' I jes' slied erroun' tell I hear what that telegraph say. Hit
say, look out fer Silkirk. Thar's er gang of crackers waitin' ter kill
you as sho es yo' er bo'n; but Bob Jones is goin' ter cheat um dis time.
Go on thar!" "God moves in a mysterious way," murmured the minister,
slowly. "You'll bet he does. Come, gal, pick um up an' put um down;
thar's no time ter be los'. Gwine ter take yer cross de country here,
an' put yer on er frate train, an' dat train gwine take yer to Norfolk,
for yo' sholy ain't safe on dat coas' line road. Dis is what we call
throwin' de houn's off de scent. Pure Nigger cunnin', here me? Git up,
Nell."

It was near the midnight hour when the horse, panting for breath, paused
at a lonely rickety old station. The men alighted. "Hit's jes' twenty
minutes pas' eleven," said Bob Jones glancing at his watch. "Now that
train's comin' long here in er few minutes. Jes' git er board an' treat
de Cap'n right, an' he'll put yer through." "God bless you and all of
yours," said the minister, gratefully. "My people in Wilmington and
Boston must know of you and what you have done for me to-night." "Dat's
all right, parson, keep de change. Ise jes' doin' my duty, that's all.
We should feel each other's keer, an' bear each other's cross, says de
good word. Dar's de train now!" The old freight train panted slowly up
and stopped to look for freight. The Rev. Hiland Silkirk, with tears of
gratitude in his eyes, got aboard, and the triumphant Jehu turned his
horse and started homeward.

"Well done, goo