go on
walking all day."

"That's right; on'y we don't want to run upon no more plantations."

"No; we must trust to the wild country, Pete, till we can reach the
sea."

"And not feel zafe when we get there, zir. Zay, Master Nic, I don't
think much of a country where they has zlaves, whether they're white or
whether they're black."

"Never mind that now, Pete; we have escaped."

"And without my having a chance to thrash Humpy Dee, and giving Master
Zaunders one for his nob."

"Hist! what's that?" whispered Nic, as a peculiar sound came through the
trees.

"Water!" said Pete excitedly. "The dogs lapping. Come on, zir. My
mouth's as if it was full of dust. The very thing we want."

The next minute the darkness seemed to be less intense, and in another
they were close to a little stream, where the dogs were drinking deeply;
but they left the edge as the fugitives came up, shook themselves, and
stood by while Pete sought for a place a little higher up.

"Here you are, Master Nic," he said. "They might ha' let uz have first
go; but I forgive 'em for finding it. Lie down on your face and drink."

Nic needed no incitement, and Pete followed his example, both enjoying
the sweetest, most refreshing draught that had ever passed their lips.

"Hall!" ejaculated Pete as he raised himself into a sitting posture.
"Can't drink any more. Hope we aren't zwallowed no young 'gators or a
snake; but if we have, zir, it'll be vittles as well as drink, and do uz
good."

"Ugh! don't talk about it," said Nic. "But where are the dogs?"

"Eh? Gone on, I s'pose; and we must trot on too. I'm ready for
anything now."

"Look, Pete. Yonder's the east."

"That's our way then, zir."

"And the sun will not be long before it's up. It is getting light fast.
Come along and find the dogs. We came up from the left; they will go
right on to the right. We should have heard them if they had crossed
the stream."

"That's right, lad. What a good--" Pete was going to say poacher, but
he checked himself--"wood-man you'd have made. Forward, then. It's all
open yonder."

A minute later they had stopped short, to see the three dogs walking
across a clearing, plainly seen in the grey dawn, while to the left the
stream had widened out.

It was only a momentary pause, and then the fugitives shrank back into
cover, chilled to the heart by the dreadful truth.

The dogs, quite at home in the neighbouring forest, had taken them a
l