28 THE RUNAWAY. 



minated ; but observing that the gun, which he aimed at my breast, was 

 a wretched rusty piece, from which fire could not readily be produced, I 

 felt little fear, and therefore did not judge it necessary to proceed at once 

 to extremities. I laid my gun at my side, tapped my dog quietly, and 

 asked the man what he wanted. 



My forbearance, and the stranger's long habit of submission, produced 

 the most powerful effect on his mind. " Master," said he, " I am a run- 

 away. I might perhaps shoot you down ; but God forbids it, for I feel 

 just now, as if I saw him ready to pass his judgment against mc for such 

 a foul deed, and I ask mercy at your hands. For God's sake, do not kill 

 me, master !" And why, answered I, have you left your quarters, where 

 certainly you must have fared better than in these unwholesome swamps ? 

 " Master, my story is a short, but a sorrowful one. My camp is close by, 

 and as I know you cannot reach home this night, if you will follow me 

 there, depend upon my honour you shall be safe until the morning, when 

 I will carry your birds, if you choose, to the great road." 



The large intelligent eyes of the Negro, the complacency of his man- 

 ner, and the tones of his voice, I thought, invited me to venture ; and as 

 I felt that I was at least his equal, while, moreover, I had my dog to se- 

 cond me, I answered that I wanlAJbllow him. He observed the emphasis 

 laid on the words, the meaning of which he seemed to understand so tho- 

 roughly, that, turning to me, he said, " There, master, take my butcher's 

 knife, while I throw away the flint and priming from my gun !" Reader, I 

 felt confounded : this was too much for me ; I refused the knife, and told 

 him to keep his piece ready, in case we might accidentally meet a cougar 

 or a bear. 



Generosity exists everywhere. The greatest monarch acknowledges its 

 impulse, and all around him, from his lowliest menial to the proud nobles 

 that encircle his throne, at times experience that overpowering sentiment. 

 I offered to shake hands with the runaway. " ^Master," said he, " I beg 

 you thanks," and with this he gave me a squeeze, that alike impressed me 

 with the goodness of his heart, and his great physical strength. From 

 that moment we proceeded through the woods together. My dog smelt 

 at him several times, but as he heard me speak in my usual tone of voice, 

 he soon left us, and rambled around as long as my whistle was unused. 

 As we proceeded, I observed that he was guiding me towards the setting 

 of the sun, and quite contrary to my homeward course. I remarked this 



i 



