THE RUNAWAY. 29 



to him, when he with the greatest simplicity replied, " merely for our se- 

 curity." 



After trudging along for some distance, and crossing several bayous, 

 at all of which he threw his gun and knife to the opposite bank, and 

 stood still until I had got over, we came to the borders of an immense 

 cane brake, from which I had, on former occasions, driven and killed 

 several deer. We entered, as I had frequently done before, now erect, 

 then on " all fours." He regularly led the way, divided here and there 

 the tangled stalks, and, whenever we reached a fallen tree, assisted me in 

 getting over it with all possible care. I saw that he was a perfect Indian 

 in the knowledge of the woods, for he kept a direct course as precisely as 

 any " Red- skin" I ever travelled with. All of a sudden he emitted a 

 loud shriek, not unlike that of an owl, which so surprised me, that I once 

 more instantly levelled my gun. " No harm, master, I only give notice 

 to my wife and children that I am coming." A tremulous answer of the 

 same nature gently echoed through the tree-tops. The runaway's lips 

 separated with an expression of gentleness and delight, when his beauti- 

 ful set of ivory teeth seemed to smile through the dusk of evening that 

 was thickening around us. " Master," said he, " my wife, though black, 

 is as beautiful to me as the President's wife is to him ; she is my queen, 

 and I look on our young ones as so many princes : — but you shall see 

 them all, for here they are, thank God !" 



There, in the heart of the cane-brake, I found a regular camp. A 

 small fire was lighted, and on its embers lay gridling some large slices of 

 venison. A lad nine or ten years old was blowing the ashes from some 

 fine sweet potatoes. Various articles of household furniture were care- 

 fully disposed around, and a large pallet of bear and deer skins seemed 

 to be the resting-place of the whole family. The wife raised not her eyes 

 towards mine, and the little ones, three in number, retired into a corner, 

 like so many discomfited racoons ; but the Runaway, bold and apparently 

 happy, spoke to them in such cheering words, that at once one and all 

 seemed to regard me as one sent by Providence to relieve them from all 

 their troubles. My clothes were hung up by them to dry, and the Negro 

 asked if he might clean and grease my gun, which I permitted him to do, 

 while the wife threw a large piece of deer's flesh to my dog, which the 

 children were already caressing. 



Only think of my situation, reader ! Here I was, ten miles at least 



