; so, after an angry word or two at the
dog, the master went on again, leaving Nic hoeing away, thinking how
dreary the days would pass if he were to have no better companionship
than that of the black.

Half-an-hour passed before the slave came slowly along the row Nic was
hoeing--for the waving growth completely shut them from sight--and upon
reaching his fellow-prisoner's side he made a few scrapes with his hoe
and then stopped, with his black face shining as he showed his teeth.

"You had better go on with your work," said Nic quietly; "the master
will be back."

"Not a day, sah," said the black. "Him going get boat and go up ribber
'long o' Massa Saunder."

Nic looked at the man sharply as he uttered the word _boat_. Wouldn't
it be possible to hear from him where the boat was kept?

"Berry hot. Take four boy row de boat, and tell Sam and Zerks load de
gun and shoot ebbery white body who done work."

"Ah!" said Nic.

"Dat so, sah," said the man, laughing. "No shoot black fellow."

He said no more, but went on chopping away in the hot sunshine far
faster than Nic could manage, and the intense heat did not seem to
affect him. For it was so hot that the prisoner felt exhausted, early
as it was in the day, the tall growth around keeping off the breeze.

But he worked away, with the perspiration streaming down his face,
thinking what an opportunity this would be for taking to the woods or
the open country, but with his heart sinking as he dwelt upon the
possibility of Humpy Dee and the others fighting against such a plan
from pure malice. And besides, Pete was not there to discuss the
matter. There were the armed blacks, too, and the dogs.

Nic went to the end of his row, turned, and worked away back, forgetful
of his black companion, till he was half-way along the return row, when
a peculiar sound startled him, and stepping aside among the canes, his
heart gave a big throb, for the black seemed to have fallen from
exhaustion. The next minute he smiled, for he realised that the man was
fast asleep.

And how hot it was! Nic's throat was dry, his tongue parched, while
only some three hundred yards from where he toiled there was the green
band of cane and reed jungle, and just beyond that the bright, cool
waters of the river.

Oh, if he could only be where he could lie down and take one long, deep
draught!

The thought of it increased his thirst.

Well, why not? The black had shown him that there