nsanity of
pain,--

"Yes, sar! I'll tell, I'll tell, sar!"

"Very good," said Lysander. "Let him breathe a minute, boys."

But in that minute Toby gathered up his soul again, dismissed the
traitor, Cowardice, and took counsel of his fidelity. Betray his good
old master to these ruffians? Break his promise to Virginia, his oath to
Cudjo and Pomp? No, he couldn't do that. He thought of Penn, who would
certainly be hung if captured; and hung through his treachery!

"Now, out with it," said Lysander. "All about the cave. And don't ye
lie, for you'll have to go and show it to us when we're ready."'

"I can't tell!" said Toby. "Dar ain't no cave! none't I knows
about--dat's shore!" This was of course a downright lie; but it was told
to save from ruin those he loved; and I do not think it stands charged
against his soul on the books of the recording angel.

"Ten more, boys," said Lysander.

"O, wait, wait, sar!" shrieked Toby. "Des guv me time to tink!"

He thought of ten lashes; ten more afterwards; and still another ten;
for he knew that the whipping would not cease until either he betrayed
the fugitives or died; and every lash was to him an agony.

"Think quick," said Captain Sprowl.

Just then the door, of the kitchen opened. Toby grasped wildly at that
straw of hope. It broke instantly. The comer was Salina. She had had the
power to betray him, but not the power to save. She stood with folded
arms, and smiled.

"I can't help you, Toby, but I can be revenged."

"Hello!" cried Lysander, with a start. "What smoke is that?"

She had left the door open, and a draught of air wafted a strange smell
of burning cloth and pine wood to his nostrils.

"Nothing," replied Salina, "only the house is afire."

XXXIII.

_CARL MAKES AN ENGAGEMENT._

Lysander looked in through the doors and saw flames. She had touched the
lamp to the sitting-room curtains, and they had ignited the wood-work.

"Your own house," he said, furiously. "What a fiend!"

"It was my father's house until you took possession of it," she
answered. "Now it shall burn."

If he had not already considered that he had an interest at stake, that
gentle remark reminded him.

"Boys! come quick! By----! we must put out the fire!"

He rushed into the kitchen. The German brothers had come to execute his
commands: whether to flay a negro or extinguish a fire, was to them a
matter of indifference; and they followed him, seizing pails.

Salina was