iously inclined as to
make their way through the underbrush, which was thick at this point,
and I understood, as little Frenchie had intimated, that it was better
for us to hold our peace, because the sound of our voices would carry
far on the night air, and no one could say when such as Horry Sims might
come sneaking around.

Excited and anxious though I was, slumber came to my eyelids within a
very few moments after I had stretched myself out to rest, and I was all
unconscious of what might be happening around me until a light pressure
on my shoulder caused me to spring to a sitting posture very suddenly.

Then it was I could distinguish, even in the gloom of the night, Uncle
'Rasmus's form, and I cried out to know how long he had been there,
whereupon the old negro put his hand upon my lips in token that I should
speak with more of caution, whispering at the same time he aroused
Pierre:

"I des come up, honey, an' can't 'ford to lose any mo' time. Yere po'
ole uncle des hobbles 'roun' like er toad, an' it takes him a mighty
long while to get ober much ob de groun'. I'se pow'ful sorry to 'sturb
you chillun; but allow it's time for me to be toddlin' erlong, ef I
counts on gettin' whar de Britishers are before sunrise. I'll be needin'
dese yere blankets, and it sure am a pity to turn two likely babies out
in de cold."

"Don't fret yourself about us, Uncle 'Rasmus," I said quickly, leaping
to my feet, followed by Pierre.

Then we two lads rolled the blankets into as small a compass as
possible, putting inside them the package of food, and fastening the
whole upon the old man's shoulders according to his directions, in such
a manner that it would not impede him in his movements.

"I'se surely gwine to 'spect you chillun 'fore anudder night-fall," the
old man said after we had explained to him why Saul was not with us. "I
clean forgot to tell ole Missey dat I was 'bleeged to go erway, an' am
countin' on your doin' it, honey," he added, turning to me.

Before I could make reply the old man was striding off in the direction
of the village, walking as spritely, so it seemed to me, as I myself
might have done.

"Be careful, uncle! Don't run your woolly pate into danger when there's
no necessity for it!" I cried after him, and back to me on the night air
came the quavering voice:

"De ole fox allers looks arter hisself when de houn's are 'roun'; but
it's de cubs what are mos' likely fo' to get inter trubble."

Then