trust the Lord will always put it into my
heart to befriend the unfortunate," said Uncle Nathan, in answer to
Hatchie's remark.

"It is not on my own account that I need a friend," said Hatchie, in a
melancholy tone, for the responsibility which rested upon him had
solemnized his mind, and banished all reflections of self. "It matters
little what becomes of _me_. But, sir, you are a stranger to me, and I
know not that I may trust you."

"Nor I nuther, till I know what you want of me. If it is an honest
sarvice, one that I can do without goin' agin my conscience, why, I am
ready to do anything to help a feller-cretur."

"The service I am about to request," replied Hatchie, his doubts in a
great measure removed by the apparent sincerity of his auditor, "can be
done honestly; and, if your conscience approves any act, it will approve
this one."

"Very well, I will act for you to the best of my judgment, and use all
the discretion that natur gave me, and a little I larned by the
way-side. Partrick tells me you want to talk with the lady whose life
you saved last night."

"Not exactly to talk _with_ her, but about her. I feel that I can trust
you, even with her destiny. That lady is my mistress. She is an angel of
goodness. I am perfectly willing to be _her_ slave, so that it was not
to gain my freedom I escaped in this box. It was to save her from a
cruel wrong which her uncle would inflict upon her."

"That old gentleman who is with her?" interrupted Uncle Nathan.

"The same. He is the most hardened villain in the world,--so different
from my poor master, who was a good man, and loved even his slaves! This
man would make it appear that my mistress is not the legitimate child of
her father, but the daughter of a quadroon girl, whom he formerly owned.
He has forged a will to obtain his own purposes, and deprived poor
mistress of her natural rights. But, on the night when the villany was
perpetrated, I managed to obtain the true will, and to make my
escape,--and a very narrow escape it was, for I was shot at and obliged
to jump into the river to save my life. They think the shot killed me;
but I shall yet expose their villany--"

"Good gracious, I hope so!" exclaimed Uncle Nathan, whose sympathies
wore awakened by the brief narrative of the mulatto.

"Now, it is scarcely prudent for me to retain possession of this will. I
may be discovered, or drowned, or shot; and then my poor mistress would
never be restored."