THE FUGITIVE. 101 



Audubon — never unnecessarily suspicious — tliat 

 he assented, with a slight emphasis, however, on 

 the phrase that he would follow him. 



The negro, observing it, in order to put his 

 companion at ease, then threw away the flint and 

 priming of his gun. His knife he presented to 

 Audubon, who, desirous of showing equal gen- 

 erosity, refused it. On they went through the 

 woods together, Audubon not failing to observe 

 that the course tliey pursued was directly con- 

 trary to his homeward road. After travelling 

 some distance, the negro leading the way, with 

 the accuracy of a redskin, over tangled swamps, 

 and stagnant streams, Audubon was startled 

 by a loud shriek from his companion. In- 

 voluntarily he again levelled his gun. "No 

 harm, master," said the negro in answer, " I 

 only give notice to my wife and children of 

 my approach." The signal was answered in 

 gentler tones from female lips, when an expres- 

 sion of delight, which disclosed his ivory teeth, 

 lightened across the negro's countenance. " Mas- 

 ter," he said, with a winning simplicity, "my wife, 

 though black, is as beautiful to me as the Presi- 

 dent's wife is to him. She is my queen, and our 

 young ones are our princes. But you shall see 

 them, for here they all are, thank God." They 

 soon reached the very heart of a cane brake, and 

 here the poor fugitives had formed their camp, 

 9* 



