4»- STtTDlES OF NATURE. 



the rocks for a crooked billet, which we call round- 

 wood, and which burns even in the fap, throwing 

 out a very bright flame, he made a flambeau of 

 it, and fet it a-burning ; for it was now quite dark. 

 But he had to encounter a much greater difficulty; 

 when all was ready for proceeding forward, Paul 

 and Virginia were abfolutely incapable of walking 

 any farther ; their feet being fwelled, and raw all 

 over. Domingo was completely puzzled ; he could 

 not determine whether it would be more advifable 

 for him to ramble about in queft of affiftance, or 

 to prepare for paffing the night with them, where 

 they were. " Whither has the time fled,*' faid 

 he to them, *' when I carried you both at once in 

 *• my arms ? But now, you are increafed in fta- 

 " ture, and I am old." While he was reduced to 

 this ftate of perplexity, a company of runaway 

 negroes appeared, about twenty paces diftant. The 

 leader of the troop, approaching Paid and Firginia,. 

 thus addrefled them: '' Good little Whites, be not 

 " afraid: we faw you this morning paffing along, in 

 " company with a negrefs of the Black River; you 

 " were going to folicit her pardon of a cruel mailer; 

 ** out of gratitude we will carry you home upon our 

 ** fhoulders." Upon this he made a fign, and four 

 of the ftoutefl: black fellows immediately formed 

 a litter, with boughs of trees and lianes, placed 

 Paid and Virginia upon ir^ hoifted them upon their 

 ihoulders, and, Domingo marching before them, 



with 



