they deal with us? Hark! the dogs are quiet
now. They've got their prisoners, and, if I'm not wrong, in a few
minutes we shall have taken ours."

"Heah dat, Zerk?" whispered Samson.

There was a grunt.

"You an' me's gwan to have de arm-ache to-morrow morn' wid all dat lot
to flog."

"Iss," whispered Xerxes; "and den got to go and bury dem oder one
bones."

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

A NIGHT'S MUDDLE.

On went the dogs, apparently following the track of some animal; and, as
they seemed to be leading the fugitives farther and farther away from
the plantation, nothing Nic felt, could be better.

For, in spite of the long imprisonment at the settler's place, the
knowledge of the prisoners was confined to the river and the clearings
about the house. Certainly they had had a view of the distant hills;
but all beyond the plantation, save towards the swamp, was unknown land.

"We can't do better than go on, Pete," said Nic, after following the
dogs for about an hour.

"Don't see as we can, zir. They're hunting after zomething they've got
the zmell of, and maybe, if we cross their scent, they may begin hunting
us; zo I zay let 'em go. You zee, they're mostly kep' chained up in
them gashly kennels o' theirs; and they're enjoying a run in the woods.
Any idee where we be?"

"Not the slightest, Pete; but at any rate we're free."

"Till we're ketched again, Master Nic. But I zay, you'll show fight if
they should catch up to uz?"

"Yes, Pete; I should feel so desperate that I should be ready to die
sooner than give up now."

"That's me all over, lad," said Pete. "I zay, though; couldn't get to
be more friends still wi' the dogs, and make 'em fight for uz, could
we?"

Nic laughed bitterly, and then stopped short, for the yelping had
ceased.

"Can you hear the hounds now?"

A sharp burst of barking a short distance away told of their direction,
and after wandering in and out among the trees for a few minutes, they
found the three great creatures apparently waiting for them to come up
before starting off again.

This went on for a full hour longer, the dogs leading them on and on,
evidently getting scent of one of the little animals the blacks hunted
from time to time; but from their clumsiness, and the activity of the
little quarry, each run being without result.

"Where are we now?" said Pete at last, after the yelping of the little
pack had ceased.

"It is impossible to say," replied Nic. "It is all