the throat, wouldn't it be useful then? or to kill a deer out
in the woods? or skin a 'possum? Might even be useful to stick into a
'gator's throat. Better take it, master."

Nic's hand closed upon the handle of the keen blade, and he transferred
it to his belt; when, as the hard sheath pressed against his side, he
felt that, after all, it was one step towards liberty.

The next morning Pete told him that he had had another good hunt by the
river-side, going as far as he dared, but without result.

"And 'twix' you and me, Master Nic, I suppose it's being a bit of a
coward, but I dursen't go no more. I aren't afraid o' things you can
see; but when you're down by the water o' nights listening to the
strange birds making queer noises, and the big bats whuzzing round you,
to say nothing of the 'gators walloping about at the edge, and other
gashly things zeeming to be lying wait for you, it's a bit too much for
me."

"It must be very nervous work, Pete."

"Last night about settled me that we must go right up-country or through
the woods, for I trod on a big snake, and felt it twissen round my leg.
Ugh! I don't mind a conger, because, even if he bites you, it's on'y a
bite, and it gets well; but a snake! Why, they tell me--leastwise one
of the blacks did--as a bite from one of the rattlesnakes'll finish you
off in 'bout an hour."

"But you were not bitten?"

"S'pose not, and I've been thinking since I must ha' trod on the gashly
thing's head. Anyhow it did scare me, and I mean to chop every one I
zee while I'm hoeing. I have killed four since we've been here."

"You must not try it again, Pete," said Nic.

"Then we shall have to take to the woods, master, for I don't zee any
chance o' getting the boat."

That day, while the two prisoners were hoeing together, the settler came
round, stood watching them for a time, and then came nearer and examined
their work, saw nothing to complain of, but still being dissatisfied, he
turned upon Pete.

"Here, you get chattering too much with this lad," he cried; "be off
across to the long corn-field behind the house and join that gang. Work
with them, and send black Jupe here to take your place."

"Yes, master," said Pete quietly; and as he shouldered his hoe and the
settler walked away, he made an offer at him with the hoe, when one of
the dogs growled savagely.

Suspicious of danger, the settler turned sharply, to see Pete slouching
away with his eyes on the ground