He saw none, and, feeling secure in the
present victory, he admonished his disciple "to stick to it as long as
he lived."

"'Pon me word, I will, thin," replied Pat. "I see yous are a gintleman,
if yous don't look jist like one. Now, do you see, Mr. Binson, you are
jist the man I am looking for, this last six hours."

"Why so, Partrick--what do you mean?" said Uncle Nathan, mystified by
the sudden change of manner in the new convert.

"Hould aisy a bit, for I'd like to hould a private correspondence wid
yous. Will ye jist come to the hurricane deck, till I tells yous all
about it?"

"Sartain," replied Uncle Nathan, his curiosity fully excited.

As soon as they reached a deserted portion of the promenade deck, Pat,
after satisfying himself there were no listeners near, commenced, with
an air of grave importance, his story.

"Whisht now, and draw near," said he. "Can yous keep a sacret?"

"Well, I think I could, if it was an honest one."

"Faix, thin, it _is_ an honest one. Sure yous come from the North, and
don't belave in keeping the naigers in bondage?"

"To be sure not."

"Well, then, would yous help a naiger out of throuble, if yous could as
well as not?"

"I sartainly wish 'em well; but the Scripture says 'Honor the king,'
which means nothin' more nor less than 'obey the laws.' Arter all,
though, perhaps we ought not to mind wicked laws."

"Musha bad luck to your raysoning! Sure I'm no docthor, to blarney over
the matther. Will yous kape the sacret?" asked Pat, a little excited,
and somewhat disappointed to find his auditor lukewarm in "the cause."

"Sartain; tell your story, and, if I can't do you any good, I won't do
you any harm."

"That's the mon for me!" replied Pat, slapping Uncle Nathan familiarly
on the back. "Now, do you see, there's a naiger on this boat, that wants
a frind."

"A friend!" said Uncle Nathan, with some doubt, as he reflected on the
conflict between the claims of humanity and the stringent laws of the
slave states.

"To be sure, a _frind_!" replied Pat, with emphasis.

"I _will_ befriend him," replied Uncle Nathan, his natural inclination
triumphing over his fear of the law.

"Spoken like a Christian! Sure, that's jist what St. Patrick would say,
if the saint--long life to him!--were here," replied Pat, rejoicing
that the difficulty was overcome.

"Now, dhraw near till I tells yous all about it; and, if iver you
mintion a word of it, may your sowl never lave purgator