ly.

"All right," remarked George at once. "If my boat was larger I'd say
put him in the _Wireless_. I don't altogether approve of this
compounding a felony business; but I'm dead sure my dad would tell me
it was better to take the chances that way that have the nasty feeling
that by your actions you've helped hang an innocent person."

"Shake, George!" exclaimed Jack, pleased at this sudden change of mind
on the part of his careful chum, son of a lawyer as he was.

It was so arranged; and when the fugitive was through eating he heard
the decision of the boys with tears streaming down his ebony cheeks.

"Clar tuh goodness I never done no house burnin' in all my life, boss.
An' if I'se kin on'y git clar ob dis kentry I nebber kim back no moah,
nebber. I'se gut a brudder out nigh Little Rock, an' he owns a farm.
I'll stay dar, an' wuk foh him till I kin send foh my fambly," he said,
brokenly, as he kissed the hands of each one of the boys.

So Jack had him lie down in the bottom of the boat, where he could be
hidden under some loose stuff. After that the start was made at
exactly eight; and when they sped down the river at a rapid pace the
negro from time to time poked his head out from his coverings to look
in amazement at the buzzing little motor; and once even ventured to
raise it until he could see how swiftly they were spinning along.

A short time after starting they had heard shouts and had seen their
friends of the sheriff's posse waving from the bank. Jack had spoken
to the concealed black; and for fully fifteen minutes the alarmed
Erastus never so much as moved a finger, lest he in some way betray his
hiding place to keen eyes on the bank.

Before noon came George, who had been in the van, fell back to say that
from the indications he believed they were now not more than five miles
above Friar's Point and that Erastus ought to be put ashore at the
first available chance.

About a mile further on Jack discovered what seemed to be a secluded
cove, and thinking that this might afford a fine chance for the hidden
fugitive to go ashore unseen, the two boats steered for it.

Before having the black man leave, Jack thrust some money in his hand.

"There's an address on a slip of paper--no name, but just the number of
the house in a certain town up north," he said. "And Erastus, if after
you get settled, you care to write and let us know how you're coming
on, we'd be glad to have you. We have taken big