her, back to one of the
out-buildings, while her mother remained gazing compassionately at the
visitors.

"Thank you," said Nic, putting back his knife. "Your dogs took us for
thieves. We are only beggars, madam, asking for a little bread."

"Have you--have you escaped from up yonder?" said the woman, sinking her
voice.

"Yes," said Nic frankly. "I was forced away from home for no cause
whatever. I am trying to get back."

"It is very shocking," said the woman sadly, as her daughter came
running up breathlessly. "Some of the men they have there are bad and
wicked, and I suppose they deserve it; but Ann and I felt so sorry for
you when you came that night months ago. You seemed so different."

"You remember us, then?" said Nic, smiling sadly.

"Oh yes," cried the younger woman eagerly. "But they are hungry,
mother. Bring them up to the house; I've shut-in the dogs."

"I don't know what your father would say if he knew what we did," said
the woman sadly. "It's against the law to help slaves to escape."

"It isn't against the law to give starving people something to eat,
mother."

"It can't be; can it, dear?" said the woman. "And we needn't help them
to escape."

"No," said Pete; "we can manage that if you'll give us a bit o' bread.
I won't ask for meat, missus; but if you give us a bit, too, I'd thank
you kindly."

"Bring them up, mother," said the girl; "and if father ever knows I'll
say it was all my fault."

"Yes; come up to the house," said the elder woman. "I can't bear to see
you poor white men taken for slaves."

"God bless you for that!" cried Nic, catching at the woman's hand; but
his action was so sudden that she started away in alarm.

"Oh mother!" cried the girl; "can't you see what he meant?"

The woman held out her hand directly, and Nic caught it. The next
moment he had clasped the girl's hands, which were extended to him; but
she snatched them away directly with a sob, and ran into the house,
while the mother bade the pair sit down on a rough bench to rest.

The girl was not long absent; but when she returned with a big loaf and
a piece of bacon her eyes looked very red.

"There," she said, setting the provisions before them; "you'd better
take this and go, in case father should come back and see you. Don't,
please, tell us which way you're going, and we won't look; for we
shouldn't like to know and be obliged to tell. Oh!"

The girl finished her speech with a cry of ho