them in the stern. Then mine was passed in, and
Hannibal bent down.

"Jump on, Mass' George, no get foot wet."

I leaped on his great broad back, thinking that he was getting his feet
wet, but that it did not matter as they were bare; then wash, wash went
the water on both sides as the great black and his boy waded out. I was
dropped into the boat, the two blacks ran it out a little and stepped
in, Morgan came aft to me, and the others backed water a while, and
after turning, rowed out a little but kept pretty close, so as to be out
of the swift current running down toward the sea.

"Talk about early," said Morgan, pointing to the increasing pallor of
the sky; "why, it will soon be broad daylight, and I want to get to the
mouth of the stream by that time."

They rowed on, and the freshness of the air, the motion of the boat, and
the thorough feeling of change soon made me forget my discomfort, and as
the pale dawn spread and showed the thick mist hanging over the low
growth at the edge of the river, the memory of the last time I came by
there started to my mind, and I looked eagerly at the near shore,
thinking of hidden Indians ready to send flying their keenly-pointed
arrows.

Morgan saw the direction of my glance, and said with a laugh--

"No; not this time."

"What?" I said sharply.

"Indians. That was a nice row we had that day, though, Master George."

"Mass' George going have fishum-line?" said Pomp, suddenly, as the dark
line of forest began to look green, and higher up there was a tiny point
of orange mist.

"No," I said; "we'll get right on home."

Pomp seemed so disappointed that I added, "Perhaps we will fish later
on."

Vague as the promise was it sufficed to raise Pomp's spirits, and he
tugged well at his oar, while I watched the splashing of fish in the
river, heard the low, floundering noise made by the alligators, and
listened to the fresh, clear song of the birds which were welcoming the
coming of another day.

Then slowly the sun rose to glorify the dripping reeds and canes, and
fringe them as if with precious stones; the different kinds of ducks and
cranes disturbed by our boat fled at our approach with much flapping of
wings and many a discordant cry. And before I could fully realise it,
and think of anything else, it was bright, beautiful morning; all
glorious, free, fresh, and delicious, with the moss draping the sunlit
trees, the water sparkling, and the sensation growing up