ill."

"Hab, my lad; you zeem to ha' put life into a man. There's zummat to
live for now. I've thought and thought till I've felt zick; but that's
the on'y way. I could risk running for it; but there's the dogs--the
dogs--Pst! look out!"

The warning was needed, for there were steps coming in their direction,
and directly after the overseer strode up.

"I thought so," he said; "I've had my eye on you--you scoundrel! Every
now and then your hoe has stopped, and I could tell from your manner
that you were talking, and wasting your time. Here are you a good six
feet behind this weak young fellow. Get on, and catch up to him."

Nic felt stunned, and he turned to speak and exculpate his fellow-slave;
but there was such an agonised, imploring look in Pete's eyes that he
was silent, and felt compelled to join in the little deception.

"Yes," said the overseer, "a good six feet behind you, my lad, when it
ought to be the other way on. Get on, you, sir, get on."

"Yes, zur; zoon pull up, zur."

"Zur and zoon!" cried the overseer. "Bah! what a savage burr you have."

He went on, followed by one of the two dogs which accompanied him, the
other hanging back to look up at Nic with its tail wagging slowly, till
its absence was noticed and a shrill whistle rang out, which fetched it
along with a rush, doubtless caused by recollections of the whip.

"Oh, Pete!" whispered Nic reproachfully.

"It's all right, lad," said the man, laughing merrily. "What a game it
was. I didn't mind a bit."

"I did."

"Then don't, Master Nic, zur. I can't have you wear yourself out.
We've got to 'scape, my lad, and the boat's the thing; but if you could
get t'other two dogs as friendly as that one, we'd make for the woods.
But anyhow, you've got to grow as strong as me; we can't do nothing
without. Master Nic--"

"Yes."

"If it was the last words I'd got to zay, I did fight for you that
night, and it waren't my fault you was took."

"I begin to believe it now, Pete," was the reply.

"Do, zur: do try hard. I aren't a bragger, Master Nic, but it's just
truth what I zay. I want to get you back again to the old country; and
I can't think o' nought else night or day. If I can get you off, and
come with you, o' course I should like; but if I can't, and I can get
you off--there, I'll lie down and die to do it, lad. But look here, we
must only trust ourselves. If the other lot, who are making some plan
of their own, knew it, th