dequate
explanation of their flight would require preparation, since the judge
was at all times singularly alive to the slightest discrepancy of
statement. They had issued from the cornfield now and were going along
the road toward Raleigh. Suddenly Betty paused.

"Hark!" she whispered.

"It were nothing, Miss Betty," said Hannibal reassuringly, and they
hurried forward again. In the utter stillness through which they moved
Betty heard the beating of her own heart, and the soft, and all but
inaudible patter of the boy's bare feet on the warm dust of the road.
Vague forms that resolved themselves into trees and bushes seemed to
creep toward them out of the night's black uncertainty. Once more Betty
paused.

"It were nothing, Miss Betty," said Hannibal as before, and he
returned to his consideration of the judge. He sensed something of that
intellectual nimbleness which his patron's physical make-up in nowise
suggested, since his face was a mask that usually left one in doubt as
to just how much of what he heard succeeded in making its impression on
him; but the boy knew that Slocum Price's blind side was a shelterless
exposure.

"You don't think the carriage could have passed us while we were
crossing the corn-field?" said Betty.

"No, I reckon we couldn't a-missed hearing it," answered Hannibal. He
had scarcely spoken when they caught the rattle of wheels and the beat
of hoofs. These sounds swept nearer and nearer, and then the darkness
disgorged the Belle Plain team and carriage.

"George!" cried Betty, a world of relief in her tones.

"Whoa, you!" and George reined in his horses with a jerk. "Who's dar?"
he asked, bending forward on the box as he sought to pierce the darkness
with his glance.

"George--"

"Oh, it you, Missy?"

"Yes, I wish you to drive me into Raleigh," said Betty, and she and
Hannibal entered the carriage.

"All right, Missy. Yo'-all ready fo' me to go along out o' here?"

"Yes--drive fast, George!" urged Betty.

"It's right dark fo' fas' drivin' Missy, with the road jes' aimin' fo'
to bus' yo' springs with chuckholes!" He had turned his horses' heads in
the direction of Raleigh while he was speaking. "It's scandalous black
in these heah woods, Missy I 'clar' I never seen it no blacker!"

The carriage swung forward for perhaps a hundred yards, then suddenly
the horses came to a dead stop.

"Go along on, dar!" cried George, and struck them with his whip, but the
horses only reared