porch sent a thrill
through his breast, and raised a hope that if ever he came that way he
might find help.

But his heart sank again as his eyes wandered to the black labourers,
and then to a couple of huge dogs similar to those which followed behind
with the overseer; for he knew that he was among slave-owners, and in
his despondency he could not help asking himself what chance he would
have, an escaped prisoner, if he tried to get away.

He had little time for thought, but he took in the surroundings of the
place quickly, noting that the house and out-buildings stood well raised
upon a mound, round one side of which the creek they had turned into
ran; while through the trees some little distance away there was the
river, and across it the forest, rising from the farther bank, not black
and forbidding now, but beautiful in the early morning sunshine.

The overseer shouted a hearty good-bye to the people by the porch, and
there was a friendly reply, as they marched on to where the boat lay
fastened to a stump; the dogs sprang in to retake their places, barking
their farewell to the others which trotted down to look on; a big basket
of provisions was next put on board by the smith and his assistant, and
then the prisoners were sent forward to their old places, Pete glancing
once at Nic, whose eyes were wandering here and there; but Nic avoided
the glance.

"Now you, sir," cried the overseer; "don't stand staring about. In with
you."

Nic obeyed as soon as there was room, and the overseer took his place
astern.

A minute later they were being poled along the creek, which was here and
there overarched by the spreading boughs of the trees, and soon after
they were out in the main stream, with the blacks rowing steadily in
water which seemed to be very slack; the little settlement was seen as a
bright spot for a few minutes, and then disappeared behind the trees,
which began upon the left bank, and became once more a great green wall
to shut out everything else.

And then hour after hour the boat was rowed onward, the river winding
far less than on the previous evening, and seeming to form a highroad
into the interior, upon which they were the only travellers. It varied
little in its width at first, but towards afternoon Nic noted that it
was beginning to narrow considerably; but it ran always through forest.
As thoughts of escape would intrude, and the poor fellow scanned the
banks, he quickly grasped the fact t