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There was a gentle bustle at the Quaker house, as the afternoon drew toa close. Rachel Halliday moved quietly to and fro, collecting from herhousehold stores such needments as could be arranged in the smallestcompass, for the wanderers who were to go forth that night. Theafternoon shadows stretched eastward, and the round red sun stoodthoughtfully on the horizon, and his beams shone yellow and calm intothe little bed-room where George and his wife were sitting. He wassitting with his child on his knee, and his wife's hand in his. Bothlooked thoughtful and serious and traces of tears were on their cheeks.

"Yes, Eliza," said George, "I know all you say is true. You are a goodchild,--a great deal better than I am; and I will try to do as you say.I'll try to act worthy of a free man. I'll try to feel like a Christian.God Almighty knows that I've meant to do well,--tried hard to dowell,--when everything has been against me; and now I'll forget all thepast, and put away every hard and bitter feeling, and read my Bible, andlearn to be a good man."

"And when we get to Canada," said Eliza, "I can help you. I can dodress-making very well; and I understand fine washing and ironing; andbetween us we can find something to live on."

"Yes, Eliza, so long as we have each other and our boy. O! Eliza, ifthese people only knew what a blessing it is for a man to feel thathis wife and child belong to _him_! I've often wondered to see men thatcould call their wives and children _their own_ fretting and worryingabout anything else. Why, I feel rich and strong, though we have nothingbut our bare hands. I feel as if I could scarcely ask God for any more.Yes, though I've worked hard every day, till I am twenty-five years old,and have not a cent of money, nor a roof to cover me, nor a spot ofland to call my own, yet, if they will only let me alone now, I will besatisfied,--thankful; I will work, and send back the money for you andmy boy. As to my old master, he has been paid five times over for all heever spent for me. I don't owe him anything."

"But yet we are not quite out of danger," said Eliza; "we are not yet inCanada."

"True," said George, "but it seems as if I smelt the free air, and itmakes me strong."

At this moment, voices were heard in the outer apartment, in earnestconversation, and very soon a rap was heard on the door. Eliza startedand opened it.

Simeon Halliday was there, and with him a Quaker brother, whom heintroduced as Phineas Fletcher. Phineas was tall and lathy, red-haired,with an expression of great acuteness and shrewdness in his face. Hehad not the placid, quiet, unworldly air of Simeon Halliday; on thecontrary, a particularly wide-awake and _au fait_ appearance, like aman who rather prides himself on knowing what he is about, and keepinga bright lookout ahead; peculiarities which sorted rather oddly with hisbroad brim and formal phraseology.

"Our friend Phineas hath discovered something of importance to theinterests of thee and thy party, George," said Simeon; "it were well forthee to hear it."

"That I have," said Phineas, "and it shows the use of a man's alwayssleeping with one ear open, in certain places, as I've always said.Last night I stopped at a little lone tavern, back on the road. Theeremembers the place, Simeon, where we sold some apples, last year, tothat fat woman, with the great ear-rings. Well, I was tired with harddriving; and, after my supper I stretched myself down on a pile of bagsin the corner, and pulled a buffalo over me, to wait till my bed wasready; and what does I do, but get fast asleep."

"With one ear open, Phineas?" said Simeon, quietly.

"No; I slept, ears and all, for an hour or two, for I was pretty welltired; but when I came to myself a little, I found that there were somemen in the room, sitting round a table, drinking and talking; and Ithought, before I made much muster, I'd just see what they were up to,especially as I heard them say something about the Quakers. 'So,' saysone, 'they are up in the Quaker settlement, no doubt,' says he. Then Ilistened with both ears, and I found that they were talking about thisvery party. So I lay and heard them lay off all their plans. This youngman, they said, was to be sent back to Kentucky, to his master, who wasgoing to make an example of him, to keep all niggers from running away;and his wife two of them were going to run down to New Orleans to sell,on their own account, and they calculated to get sixteen or eighteenhundred dollars for her; and the child, they said, was going to atrader, who had bought him; and then there was the boy, Jim, and hismother, they were to go back to their masters in Kentucky. They saidthat there were two constables, in a town a little piece ahead, whowould go in with 'em to get 'em taken up, and the young woman was tobe taken before a judge; and one of the fellows, who is small andsmooth-spoken, was to swear to her for his property, and get herdelivered over to him to take south. They've got a right notion of thetrack we are going tonight; and they'll be down after us, six or eightstrong. So now, what's to be done?"

The group that stood in various attitudes, after this communication,were worthy of a painter. Rachel Halliday, who had taken her hands outof a batch of biscuit, to hear the news, stood with them upraised andfloury, and with a face of the deepest concern. Simeon looked profoundlythoughtful; Eliza had thrown her arms around her husband, and waslooking up to him. George stood with clenched hands and glowing eyes,and looking as any other man might look, whose wife was to be sold atauction, and son sent to a trader, all under the shelter of a Christiannation's laws.

"What _shall_ we do, George?" said Eliza faintly.

"I know what _I_ shall do," said George, as he stepped into the littleroom, and began examining pistols.

"Ay, ay," said Phineas, nodding his head to Simeon; "thou seest, Simeon,how it will work."

"I see," said Simeon, sighing; "I pray it come not to that."

"I don't want to involve any one with or for me," said George. "If youwill lend me your vehicle and direct me, I will drive alone to the nextstand. Jim is a giant in strength, and brave as death and despair, andso am I."

"Ah, well, friend," said Phineas, "but thee'll need a driver, for allthat. Thee's quite welcome to do all the fighting, thee knows; but Iknow a thing or two about the road, that thee doesn't."

"But I don't want to involve you," said George.

"Involve," said Phineas, with a curious and keen expression of face,"When thee does involve me, please to let me know."

"Phineas is a wise and skilful man," said Simeon. "Thee does well,George, to abide by his judgment; and," he added, laying his hand kindlyon George's shoulder, and pointing to the pistols, "be not over hastywith these,--young blood is hot."

"I will attack no man," said George. "All I ask of this country is to belet alone, and I will go out peaceably; but,"--he paused, and his browdarkened and his face worked,--"I've had a sister sold in that NewOrleans market. I know what they are sold for; and am I going to standby and see them take my wife and sell her, when God has given me a pairof strong arms to defend her? No; God help me! I'll fight to the lastbreath, before they shall take my wife and son. Can you blame me?"

"Mortal man cannot blame thee, George. Flesh and blood could not dootherwise," said Simeon. "Woe unto the world because of offences, butwoe unto them through whom the offence cometh."

"Would not even you, sir, do the same, in my place?"

"I pray that I be not tried," said Simeon; "the flesh is weak."

"I think my flesh would be pretty tolerable strong, in such a case,"said Phineas, stretching out a pair of arms like the sails of awindmill. "I an't sure, friend George, that I shouldn't hold a fellowfor thee, if thee had any accounts to settle with him."

"If man should _ever_ resist evil," said Simeon, "then George shouldfeel free to do it now: but the leaders of our people taught a moreexcellent way; for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness ofGod; but it goes sorely against the corrupt will of man, and none canreceive it save they to whom it is given. Let us pray the Lord that webe not tempted."

"And so _I_ do," said Phineas; "but if we are tempted too much--why, letthem look out, that's all."

"It's quite plain thee wasn't born a Friend," said Simeon, smiling. "Theold nature hath its way in thee pretty strong as yet."

To tell the truth, Phineas had been a hearty, two-fisted backwoodsman,a vigorous hunter, and a dead shot at a buck; but, having wooed a prettyQuakeress, had been moved by the power of her charms to join the societyin his neighborhood; and though he was an honest, sober, and efficientmember, and nothing particular could be alleged against him, yet themore spiritual among them could not but discern an exceeding lack ofsavor in his developments.

"Friend Phineas will ever have ways of his own," said Rachel Halliday,smiling; "but we all think that his heart is in the right place, afterall."

"Well," said George, "isn't it best that we hasten our flight?"

"I got up at four o'clock, and came on with all speed, full two or threehours ahead of them, if they start at the time they planned. It isn'tsafe to start till dark, at any rate; for there are some evil personsin the villages ahead, that might be disposed to meddle with us, if theysaw our wagon, and that would delay us more than the waiting; but intwo hours I think we may venture. I will go over to Michael Cross, andengage him to come behind on his swift nag, and keep a bright lookouton the road, and warn us if any company of men come on. Michael keeps ahorse that can soon get ahead of most other horses; and he could shootahead and let us know, if there were any danger. I am going out nowto warn Jim and the old woman to be in readiness, and to see about thehorse. We have a pretty fair start, and stand a good chance to get tothe stand before they can come up with us. So, have good courage, friendGeorge; this isn't the first ugly scrape that I've been in with thypeople," said Phineas, as he closed the door.

"Phineas is pretty shrewd," said Simeon. "He will do the best that canbe done for thee, George."

"All I am sorry for," said George, "is the risk to you."

"Thee'll much oblige us, friend George, to say no more about that. Whatwe do we are conscience bound to do; we can do no other way. And now,mother," said he, turning to Rachel, "hurry thy preparations for thesefriends, for we must not send them away fasting."

And while Rachel and her children were busy making corn-cake, andcooking ham and chicken, and hurrying on the _et ceteras_ of the eveningmeal, George and his wife sat in their little room, with their armsfolded about each other, in such talk as husband and wife have when theyknow that a few hours may part them forever.

"Eliza," said George, "people that have friends, and houses, and lands,and money, and all those things _can't_ love as we do, who have nothingbut each other. Till I knew you, Eliza, no creature had loved me, but mypoor, heart-broken mother and sister. I saw poor Emily that morning thetrader carried her off. She came to the corner where I was lying asleep,and said, 'Poor George, your last friend is going. What will become ofyou, poor boy?' And I got up and threw my arms round her, and cried andsobbed, and she cried too; and those were the last kind words I got forten long years; and my heart all withered up, and felt as dry as ashes,till I met you. And your loving me,--why, it was almost like raising onefrom the dead! I've been a new man ever since! And now, Eliza, I'll givemy last drop of blood, but they _shall not_ take you from me. Whoevergets you must walk over my dead body."

"O, Lord, have mercy!" said Eliza, sobbing. "If he will only let us getout of this country together, that is all we ask."

"Is God on their side?" said George, speaking less to his wife thanpouring out his own bitter thoughts. "Does he see all they do? Why doeshe let such things happen? And they tell us that the Bible is on theirside; certainly all the power is. They are rich, and healthy, and happy;they are members of churches, expecting to go to heaven; and they getalong so easy in the world, and have it all their own way; and poor,honest, faithful Christians,--Christians as good or better thanthey,--are lying in the very dust under their feet. They buy 'emand sell 'em, and make trade of their heart's blood, and groans andtears,--and God _lets_ them."

"Friend George," said Simeon, from the kitchen, "listen to this Psalm;it may do thee good."

George drew his seat near the door, and Eliza, wiping her tears, cameforward also to listen, while Simeon read as follows:

"But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nighslipped. For I was envious of the foolish, when I saw the prosperityof the wicked. They are not in trouble like other men, neither are theyplagued like other men. Therefore, pride compasseth them as a chain;violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness;they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speakwickedly concerning oppression; they speak loftily. Therefore his peoplereturn, and the waters of a full cup are wrung out to them, and theysay, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High?"

"Is not that the way thee feels, George?"

"It is so indeed," said George,--"as well as I could have written itmyself."

"Then, hear," said Simeon: "When I thought to know this, it was toopainful for me until I went unto the sanctuary of God. Then understood Itheir end. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castedstthem down to destruction. As a dream when one awaketh, so, oh Lord,when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Nevertheless I amcontinually with thee; thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shaltguide me by thy counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. It is goodfor me to draw near unto God. I have put my trust in the Lord God."*

* Ps. 73, "The End of the Wicked contrasted with that of the Righteous."

The words of holy trust, breathed by the friendly old man, stole likesacred music over the harassed and chafed spirit of George; and afterhe ceased, he sat with a gentle and subdued expression on his finefeatures.

"If this world were all, George," said Simeon, "thee might, indeed, askwhere is the Lord? But it is often those who have least of all in thislife whom he chooseth for the kingdom. Put thy trust in him and, nomatter what befalls thee here, he will make all right hereafter."

If these words had been spoken by some easy, self-indulgent exhorter,from whose mouth they might have come merely as pious and rhetoricalflourish, proper to be used to people in distress, perhaps they mightnot have had much effect; but coming from one who daily and calmlyrisked fine and imprisonment for the cause of God and man, they had aweight that could not but be felt, and both the poor, desolate fugitivesfound calmness and strength breathing into them from it.

And now Rachel took Eliza's hand kindly, and led the way to thesupper-table. As they were sitting down, a light tap sounded at thedoor, and Ruth entered.

"I just ran in," she said, "with these little stockings for theboy,--three pair, nice, warm woollen ones. It will be so cold, theeknows, in Canada. Does thee keep up good courage, Eliza?" she added,tripping round to Eliza's side of the table, and shaking her warmlyby the hand, and slipping a seed-cake into Harry's hand. "I brought alittle parcel of these for him," she said, tugging at her pocket to getout the package. "Children, thee knows, will always be eating."

"O, thank you; you are too kind," said Eliza.

"Come, Ruth, sit down to supper," said Rachel.

"I couldn't, any way. I left John with the baby, and some biscuits inthe oven; and I can't stay a moment, else John will burn up all thebiscuits, and give the baby all the sugar in the bowl. That's the wayhe does," said the little Quakeress, laughing. "So, good-by, Eliza;good-by, George; the Lord grant thee a safe journey;" and, with a fewtripping steps, Ruth was out of the apartment.

A little while after supper, a large covered-wagon drew up before thedoor; the night was clear starlight; and Phineas jumped briskly downfrom his seat to arrange his passengers. George walked out of the door,with his child on one arm and his wife on the other. His step was firm,his face settled and resolute. Rachel and Simeon came out after them.

"You get out, a moment," said Phineas to those inside, "and let me fixthe back of the wagon, there, for the women-folks and the boy."

"Here are the two buffaloes," said Rachel. "Make the seats ascomfortable as may be; it's hard riding all night."

Jim came out first, and carefully assisted out his old mother, who clungto his arm, and looked anxiously about, as if she expected the pursuerevery moment.

"Jim, are your pistols all in order?" said George, in a low, firm voice.

"Yes, indeed," said Jim.

"And you've no doubt what you shall do, if they come?"

"I rather think I haven't," said Jim, throwing open his broad chest, andtaking a deep breath. "Do you think I'll let them get mother again?"

During this brief colloquy, Eliza had been taking her leave of herkind friend, Rachel, and was handed into the carriage by Simeon,and, creeping into the back part with her boy, sat down among thebuffalo-skins. The old woman was next handed in and seated and Georgeand Jim placed on a rough board seat front of them, and Phineas mountedin front.

"Farewell, my friends," said Simeon, from without.

"God bless you!" answered all from within.

And the wagon drove off, rattling and jolting over the frozen road.

There was no opportunity for conversation, on account of the roughnessof the way and the noise of the wheels. The vehicle, therefore,rumbled on, through long, dark stretches of woodland,--over wide drearyplains,--up hills, and down valleys,--and on, on, on they jogged, hourafter hour. The child soon fell asleep, and lay heavily in his mother'slap. The poor, frightened old woman at last forgot her fears; and, evenEliza, as the night waned, found all her anxieties insufficient to keepher eyes from closing. Phineas seemed, on the whole, the briskest ofthe company, and beguiled his long drive with whistling certain veryunquaker-like songs, as he went on.

But about three o'clock George's ear caught the hasty and decided clickof a horse's hoof coming behind them at some distance and jogged Phineasby the elbow. Phineas pulled up his horses, and listened.

"That must be Michael," he said; "I think I know the sound of hisgallop;" and he rose up and stretched his head anxiously back over theroad.

A man riding in hot haste was now dimly descried at the top of a distanthill.

"There he is, I do believe!" said Phineas. George and Jim both sprangout of the wagon before they knew what they were doing. All stoodintensely silent, with their faces turned towards the expectedmessenger. On he came. Now he went down into a valley, where they couldnot see him; but they heard the sharp, hasty tramp, rising nearer andnearer; at last they saw him emerge on the top of an eminence, withinhail.

"Yes, that's Michael!" said Phineas; and, raising his voice, "Halloa,there, Michael!"

"Phineas! is that thee?"

"Yes; what news--they coming?"

"Right on behind, eight or ten of them, hot with brandy, swearing andfoaming like so many wolves."

And, just as he spoke, a breeze brought the faint sound of gallopinghorsemen towards them.

"In with you,--quick, boys, _in!_" said Phineas. "If you must fight,wait till I get you a piece ahead." And, with the word, both jumpedin, and Phineas lashed the horses to a run, the horseman keeping closebeside them. The wagon rattled, jumped, almost flew, over the frozenground; but plainer, and still plainer, came the noise of pursuinghorsemen behind. The women heard it, and, looking anxiously out, saw,far in the rear, on the brow of a distant hill, a party of men loomingup against the red-streaked sky of early dawn. Another hill, andtheir pursuers had evidently caught sight of their wagon, whose whitecloth-covered top made it conspicuous at some distance, and a loud yellof brutal triumph came forward on the wind. Eliza sickened, and strainedher child closer to her bosom; the old woman prayed and groaned, andGeorge and Jim clenched their pistols with the grasp of despair. Thepursuers gained on them fast; the carriage made a sudden turn, andbrought them near a ledge of a steep overhanging rock, that rose in anisolated ridge or clump in a large lot, which was, all around it, quiteclear and smooth. This isolated pile, or range of rocks, rose up blackand heavy against the brightening sky, and seemed to promise shelter andconcealment. It was a place well known to Phineas, who had been familiarwith the spot in his hunting days; and it was to gain this point he hadbeen racing his horses.

"Now for it!" said he, suddenly checking his horses, and springing fromhis seat to the ground. "Out with you, in a twinkling, every one, and upinto these rocks with me. Michael, thee tie thy horse to the wagon, anddrive ahead to Amariah's and get him and his boys to come back and talkto these fellows."

In a twinkling they were all out of the carriage.

"There," said Phineas, catching up Harry, "you, each of you, see to thewomen; and run, _now_ if you ever _did_ run!"

They needed no exhortation. Quicker than we can say it, the whole partywere over the fence, making with all speed for the rocks, while Michael,throwing himself from his horse, and fastening the bridle to the wagon,began driving it rapidly away.

"Come ahead," said Phineas, as they reached the rocks, and saw in themingled starlight and dawn, the traces of a rude but plainly markedfoot-path leading up among them; "this is one of our old hunting-dens.Come up!"

Phineas went before, springing up the rocks like a goat, with the boyin his arms. Jim came second, bearing his trembling old mother overhis shoulder, and George and Eliza brought up the rear. The party ofhorsemen came up to the fence, and, with mingled shouts and oaths,were dismounting, to prepare to follow them. A few moments' scramblingbrought them to the top of the ledge; the path then passed between anarrow defile, where only one could walk at a time, till suddenly theycame to a rift or chasm more than a yard in breadth, and beyond whichlay a pile of rocks, separate from the rest of the ledge, standing fullthirty feet high, with its sides steep and perpendicular as those ofa castle. Phineas easily leaped the chasm, and sat down the boy on asmooth, flat platform of crisp white moss, that covered the top of therock.

"Over with you!" he called; "spring, now, once, for your lives!" saidhe, as one after another sprang across. Several fragments of loose stoneformed a kind of breast-work, which sheltered their position from theobservation of those below.

"Well, here we all are," said Phineas, peeping over the stonebreast-work to watch the assailants, who were coming tumultuously upunder the rocks. "Let 'em get us, if they can. Whoever comes here has towalk single file between those two rocks, in fair range of your pistols,boys, d'ye see?"

"I do see," said George! "and now, as this matter is ours, let us takeall the risk, and do all the fighting."

"Thee's quite welcome to do the fighting, George," said Phineas, chewingsome checkerberry-leaves as he spoke; "but I may have the fun of lookingon, I suppose. But see, these fellows are kinder debating down there,and looking up, like hens when they are going to fly up on to the roost.Hadn't thee better give 'em a word of advice, before they come up, justto tell 'em handsomely they'll be shot if they do?"

The party beneath, now more apparent in the light of the dawn, consistedof our old acquaintances, Tom Loker and Marks, with two constables,and a posse consisting of such rowdies at the last tavern as could beengaged by a little brandy to go and help the fun of trapping a set ofniggers.

"Well, Tom, yer coons are farly treed," said one.

"Yes, I see 'em go up right here," said Tom; "and here's a path. I'm forgoing right up. They can't jump down in a hurry, and it won't take longto ferret 'em out."

"But, Tom, they might fire at us from behind the rocks," said Marks."That would be ugly, you know."

"Ugh!" said Tom, with a sneer. "Always for saving your skin, Marks! Nodanger! niggers are too plaguy scared!"

"I don't know why I _shouldn't_ save my skin," said Marks. "It's thebest I've got; and niggers _do_ fight like the devil, sometimes."

At this moment, George appeared on the top of a rock above them, and,speaking in a calm, clear voice, said,

"Gentlemen, who are you, down there, and what do you want?"

"We want a party of runaway niggers," said Tom Loker. "One GeorgeHarris, and Eliza Harris, and their son, and Jim Selden, and an oldwoman. We've got the officers, here, and a warrant to take 'em; andwe're going to have 'em, too. D'ye hear? An't you George Harris, thatbelongs to Mr. Harris, of Shelby county, Kentucky?"

"I am George Harris. A Mr. Harris, of Kentucky, did call me hisproperty. But now I'm a free man, standing on God's free soil; and mywife and my child I claim as mine. Jim and his mother are here. We havearms to defend ourselves, and we mean to do it. You can come up, ifyou like; but the first one of you that comes within the range of ourbullets is a dead man, and the next, and the next; and so on till thelast."

"O, come! come!" said a short, puffy man, stepping forward, and blowinghis nose as he did so. "Young man, this an't no kind of talk at all foryou. You see, we're officers of justice. We've got the law on our side,and the power, and so forth; so you'd better give up peaceably, you see;for you'll certainly have to give up, at last."

"I know very well that you've got the law on your side, and the power,"said George, bitterly. "You mean to take my wife to sell in New Orleans,and put my boy like a calf in a trader's pen, and send Jim's old motherto the brute that whipped and abused her before, because he couldn'tabuse her son. You want to send Jim and me back to be whipped andtortured, and ground down under the heels of them that you call masters;and your laws _will_ bear you out in it,--more shame for you and them!But you haven't got us. We don't own your laws; we don't own yourcountry; we stand here as free, under God's sky, as you are; and, by thegreat God that made us, we'll fight for our liberty till we die."

George stood out in fair sight, on the top of the rock, as he madehis declaration of independence; the glow of dawn gave a flush to hisswarthy cheek, and bitter indignation and despair gave fire to his darkeye; and, as if appealing from man to the justice of God, he raised hishand to heaven as he spoke.

If it had been only a Hungarian youth, now bravely defending in somemountain fastness the retreat of fugitives escaping from Austria intoAmerica, this would have been sublime heroism; but as it was a youth ofAfrican descent, defending the retreat of fugitives through America intoCanada, of course we are too well instructed and patriotic to see anyheroism in it; and if any of our readers do, they must do it on theirown private responsibility. When despairing Hungarian fugitives maketheir way, against all the search-warrants and authorities of theirlawful government, to America, press and political cabinet ring withapplause and welcome. When despairing African fugitives do the samething,--it is--what _is_ it?

Be it as it may, it is certain that the attitude, eye, voice, manner,of the speaker for a moment struck the party below to silence. There issomething in boldness and determination that for a time hushes even therudest nature. Marks was the only one who remained wholly untouched. Hewas deliberately cocking his pistol, and, in the momentary silence thatfollowed George's speech, he fired at him.

"Ye see ye get jist as much for him dead as alive in Kentucky," he saidcoolly, as he wiped his pistol on his coat-sleeve.

George sprang backward,--Eliza uttered a shriek,--the ball had passedclose to his hair, had nearly grazed the cheek of his wife, and struckin the tree above.

"It's nothing, Eliza," said George, quickly.

"Thee'd better keep out of sight, with thy speechifying," said Phineas;"they're mean scamps."

"Now, Jim," said George, "look that your pistols are all right, andwatch that pass with me. The first man that shows himself I fire at; youtake the second, and so on. It won't do, you know, to waste two shots onone."

"But what if you don't hit?"

"I _shall_ hit," said George, coolly.

"Good! now, there's stuff in that fellow," muttered Phineas, between histeeth.

The party below, after Marks had fired, stood, for a moment, ratherundecided.

"I think you must have hit some on 'em," said one of the men. "I heard asqueal!"

"I'm going right up for one," said Tom. "I never was afraid of niggers,and I an't going to be now. Who goes after?" he said, springing up therocks.

George heard the words distinctly. He drew up his pistol, examined it,pointed it towards that point in the defile where the first man wouldappear.

One of the most courageous of the party followed Tom, and, the way beingthus made, the whole party began pushing up the rock,--the hindermostpushing the front ones faster than they would have gone of themselves.On they came, and in a moment the burly form of Tom appeared in sight,almost at the verge of the chasm.

George fired,--the shot entered his side,--but, though wounded, he wouldnot retreat, but, with a yell like that of a mad bull, he was leapingright across the chasm into the party.

"Friend," said Phineas, suddenly stepping to the front, and meeting himwith a push from his long arms, "thee isn't wanted here."

Down he fell into the chasm, crackling down among trees, bushes, logs,loose stones, till he lay bruised and groaning thirty feet below. Thefall might have killed him, had it not been broken and moderated by hisclothes catching in the branches of a large tree; but he came down withsome force, however,--more than was at all agreeable or convenient.

"Lord help us, they are perfect devils!" said Marks, heading the retreatdown the rocks with much more of a will than he had joined the ascent,while all the party came tumbling precipitately after him,--the fatconstable, in particular, blowing and puffing in a very energeticmanner.

"I say, fellers," said Marks, "you jist go round and pick up Tom, there,while I run and get on to my horse to go back for help,--that's you;"and, without minding the hootings and jeers of his company, Marks was asgood as his word, and was soon seen galloping away.

"Was ever such a sneaking varmint?" said one of the men; "to come on hisbusiness, and he clear out and leave us this yer way!"

"Well, we must pick up that feller," said another. "Cuss me if I muchcare whether he is dead or alive."

The men, led by the groans of Tom, scrambled and crackled throughstumps, logs and bushes, to where that hero lay groaning and swearingwith alternate vehemence.

"Ye keep it agoing pretty loud, Tom," said one. "Ye much hurt?"

"Don't know. Get me up, can't ye? Blast that infernal Quaker! If ithadn't been for him, I'd a pitched some on 'em down here, to see howthey liked it."

With much labor and groaning, the fallen hero was assisted to rise; and,with one holding him up under each shoulder, they got him as far as thehorses.

"If you could only get me a mile back to that ar tavern. Give me ahandkerchief or something, to stuff into this place, and stop thisinfernal bleeding."

George looked over the rocks, and saw them trying to lift the burlyform of Tom into the saddle. After two or three ineffectual attempts, hereeled, and fell heavily to the ground.

"O, I hope he isn't killed!" said Eliza, who, with all the party, stoodwatching the proceeding.

"Why not?" said Phineas; "serves him right."

"Because after death comes the judgment," said Eliza.

"Yes," said the old woman, who had been groaning and praying, in herMethodist fashion, during all the encounter, "it's an awful case for thepoor crittur's soul."

"On my word, they're leaving him, I do believe," said Phineas.

It was true; for after some appearance of irresolution and consultation,the whole party got on their horses and rode away. When they were quiteout of sight, Phineas began to bestir himself.

"Well, we must go down and walk a piece," he said. "I told Michael togo forward and bring help, and be along back here with the wagon; but weshall have to walk a piece along the road, I reckon, to meet them. TheLord grant he be along soon! It's early in the day; there won't be muchtravel afoot yet a while; we an't much more than two miles from ourstopping-place. If the road hadn't been so rough last night, we couldhave outrun 'em entirely."

As the party neared the fence, they discovered in the distance, alongthe road, their own wagon coming back, accompanied by some men onhorseback.

"Well, now, there's Michael, and Stephen and Amariah," exclaimedPhineas, joyfully. "Now we _are_ made--as safe as if we'd got there."

"Well, do stop, then," said Eliza, "and do something for that poor man;he's groaning dreadfully."

"It would be no more than Christian," said George; "let's take him upand carry him on."

"And doctor him up among the Quakers!" said Phineas; "pretty well,that! Well, I don't care if we do. Here, let's have a look at him;"and Phineas, who in the course of his hunting and backwoods life hadacquired some rude experience of surgery, kneeled down by the woundedman, and began a careful examination of his condition.

"Marks," said Tom, feebly, "is that you, Marks?"

"No; I reckon 'tan't friend," said Phineas. "Much Marks cares for thee,if his own skin's safe. He's off, long ago."

"I believe I'm done for," said Tom. "The cussed sneaking dog, to leaveme to die alone! My poor old mother always told me 't would be so."

"La sakes! jist hear the poor crittur. He's got a mammy, now," said theold negress. "I can't help kinder pityin' on him."

"Softly, softly; don't thee snap and snarl, friend," said Phineas, asTom winced and pushed his hand away. "Thee has no chance, unless I stopthe bleeding." And Phineas busied himself with making some off-handsurgical arrangements with his own pocket-handkerchief, and such ascould be mustered in the company.

"You pushed me down there," said Tom, faintly.

"Well if I hadn't thee would have pushed us down, thee sees," saidPhineas, as he stooped to apply his bandage. "There, there,--let me fixthis bandage. We mean well to thee; we bear no malice. Thee shall betaken to a house where they'll nurse thee first rate, well as thy ownmother could."

Tom groaned, and shut his eyes. In men of his class, vigor andresolution are entirely a physical matter, and ooze out with the flowingof the blood; and the gigantic fellow really looked piteous in hishelplessness.

The other party now came up. The seats were taken out of the wagon. Thebuffalo-skins, doubled in fours, were spread all along one side, andfour men, with great difficulty, lifted the heavy form of Tom into it.Before he was gotten in, he fainted entirely. The old negress, in theabundance of her compassion, sat down on the bottom, and took his headin her lap. Eliza, George and Jim, bestowed themselves, as well as theycould, in the remaining space and the whole party set forward.

"What do you think of him?" said George, who sat by Phineas in front.

"Well it's only a pretty deep flesh-wound; but, then, tumbling andscratching down that place didn't help him much. It has bled prettyfreely,--pretty much drained him out, courage and all,--but he'll getover it, and may be learn a thing or two by it."

"I'm glad to hear you say so," said George. "It would always be a heavythought to me, if I'd caused his death, even in a just cause."

"Yes," said Phineas, "killing is an ugly operation, any way they'll fixit,--man or beast. I've seen a buck that was shot down and a dying, lookthat way on a feller with his eye, that it reely most made a fellerfeel wicked for killing on him; and human creatures is a more seriousconsideration yet, bein', as thy wife says, that the judgment comesto 'em after death. So I don't know as our people's notions on thesematters is too strict; and, considerin' how I was raised, I fell in withthem pretty considerably."

"What shall you do with this poor fellow?" said George.

"O, carry him along to Amariah's. There's old Grandmam Stephensthere,--Dorcas, they call her,--she's most an amazin' nurse. She takesto nursing real natural, and an't never better suited than when shegets a sick body to tend. We may reckon on turning him over to her for afortnight or so."

A ride of about an hour more brought the party to a neat farmhouse,where the weary travellers were received to an abundant breakfast. TomLoker was soon carefully deposited in a much cleaner and softer bed thanhe had ever been in the habit of occupying. His wound was carefullydressed and bandaged, and he lay languidly opening and shutting hiseyes on the white window-curtains and gently-gliding figures of his sickroom, like a weary child. And here, for the present, we shall take ourleave of one party.