I want you and everybody to understand that I'm
no kin to his niggers." "Oh, very well," said Mrs. Huston; adding,
"Now what will you take for the poor girl?" "Nothin'," he replied;
"for, as I said before, I'm not goin' to sell, so you needn't trouble
yourself no more. If the critter behaves herself, I'll do as well by
her as any man."

Slator spoke up boldly, but his manner and sheepish look clearly
indicated that

"His heart within him was at strife
With such accursed gains;
For he knew whose passions gave her life,
Whose blood ran in her veins."

"The monster led her from the door,
He led her by the hand,
To be his slave and paramour
In a strange and distant land!"

Poor Frank and his sister were handcuffed together, and confined in
prison. Their dear little twin brother and sister were sold, and taken
where they knew not. But it often happens that misfortune causes those
whom we counted dearest to shrink away; while it makes friends of those
whom we least expected to take any interest in our affairs. Among the
latter class Frank found two comparatively new but faithful friends to
watch the gloomy paths of the unhappy little twins.

In a day or two after the sale, Slator had two fast horses put to a
large light van, and placed in it a good many small but valuable things
belonging to the distressed family. He also took with him Frank and
Mary, as well as all the money for the spoil; and after treating all
his low friends and bystanders, and drinking deeply himself, he started
in high glee for his home in South Carolina. But they had not
proceeded many miles, before Frank and his sister discovered that
Slator was too drunk to drive. But he, like most tipsy men, thought he
was all right; and as he had with him some of the ruined family's best
brandy and wine, such as he had not been accustomed to, and being a
thirsty soul, he drank till the reins fell from his fingers, and in
attempting to catch them he tumbled out of the vehicle, and was unable
to get up. Frank and Mary there and then contrived a plan by which to
escape. As they were still handcuffed by one wrist each, they
alighted, took from the drunken assassin's pocket the key, undid the
iron bracelets, and placed them upon Slator, who was better fitted to
wear such ornaments. As the demon lay unconscious of what was taking
place, Frank and Mary took from him the large sum of money that was
realized at the sale, as wel