in contact with Pete's, to be gripped fast.

In an instant the blood was dancing through his veins, and a choking
sensation as of impending suffocation troubled him; the arteries in his
temples beat painfully, and he lay breathing hard.

For it was to be after all, and this conduct was his companion's way of
showing him that it was better to lie in silence, waiting till the time
arrived for commencing their task.

Nic lay there listening to the low murmur of his fellow-prisoners'
voices and the chorus of strange sounds from the forest and river; and
in the stillness of the night, every now and then, a faint splash came
plainly to where he lay, sending a thrill through him, as he thought
that, if all went well, before very long he might be swimming across the
river, running the gauntlet of the horrible-looking reptiles, and his
left hand stole down to his belt to grasp the handle of the sharpened
knife, while he wondered whether the skin of the alligators would be
horny or tough enough to turn the point.

How long, how long it seemed before all was perfectly still in the long,
low shed, and not a sound could be heard outside but the faint humming
noise made by the black sentry!

Then all at once there were steps.

Some one had come up, and in a low whisper Nic heard the words:

"All right?"

"Yes, massa."

Then the steps passed away again, and Pete gripped Nic's hand as he lay
straining his hearing to try and ascertain whether the overseer had
entered the house; but the barking or croaking of reptiles was the only
sound.

Another hour must have passed, and then Nic's blood rushed through his
veins, for a hand touched his again lightly, and seemed to seek for the
other. Directly after he felt a hot breath upon his face, and lips to
his ear, uttering the one word:

"Come!"

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

FOR LIFE AND LIBERTY.

Before Nic Revel's mental sight the difficulties rose like a great black
rock, but he did not shrink. He rose softly from his bunk, striving
hard to keep the corn-stalks from crackling, and felt Pete as the man
took a couple of steps from his sleeping-place and stood with his face
to the back of the shed.

Then, in the midst of a very faint rustling, Nic knew that his companion
had thrust a couple of pegs into the knot-holes in the stout planks, and
raised himself by hand and foot till he could softly draw the wooden
shingles of the roof aside, and the cool, moist air of the night ca