iff?"

"Yas, sah--yas, sah. Whar is Massa Donaldson? Yer ain't done bin sent
yere by him, I reckon. 'Pears like I never see yer afore."

"No, but he is quite safe. What is your name?"

"Sam, sah--just plain Sam."

"Well, Sam, I understand you are an engineer. Now it happens that I
want to use this boat, and you are going to run it for me. Do you
understand I am going to sit down here on the edge of this cockpit, and
hold this loaded pistol just back of your ear. It might go off at any
minute, and surely will if you make a false move or attempt to foul the
engine. Any trick, and there is going to be a dead nigger overboard.
I know enough about engines to tell if you play fair--so don't take any
chances, boy."

"Ah--Ah--reckon as how I was goin' fer ter run her all right, sah;
she's sum consid'ble contrary et times, sah, but Ah'll surely run her,
if thar's eny run in her, sah. Ah ain't carryin' 'bout bein' no
corpse."

"I thought not; you'd rather be a free nigger, perhaps? Well, Sam, if
you will do this job all right for me tonight, I'll put you where the
sheriff will never see hide nor hair of you again--no, not yet; wait a
moment, there is another passenger."

She came instantly in answer to my low call, and, through the gloom,
the startled negro watched her descend the bank, a mere moving shadow,
yet with the outlines of a woman. I half believe he thought her a
ghost, for I could hear him muttering inarticulately to himself. I
dared not remove my eyes from the fellow, afraid that his very excess
of fear might impel him to some reckless act, but I extended one hand
across the side of the boat to her assistance.

"Take my hand, Rene," I said pleasantly to reassure her, "and come
aboard. Yes, everything is all right. I've just promised Sam here a
ticket for Canada."

I helped her across into the cockpit and seated her on the bench, but
never venturing to remove my eyes from the negro. His actions, and
whatever I was able to observe of the expression of his face, only
served to convince me of his trustworthiness, yet I could take no
chances.

"She's just a real, live woman, sah?" he managed to ejaculate, half in
doubt. "She sure ain't no ghost, sah?"

"By no means, Sam; she is just as real as either you or I. Now listen,
boy--you know what will happen to you after this, if Donaldson ever
gets hold of you?"

"I 'spects Ah does, sah. He'd just nat'larly skin dis nigger alive, Ah
reckon."