the field-gang.
With him as a tutor their progress was rapid, and in little over six
months they were able to converse in Spanish with tolerable fluency.

When at length George found that he was fairly master of the language,
he began cautiously to touch on the subject of escape, a topic upon
which Pedro, his tutor, was luckily always ready to enlarge. This
gentleman, regarding himself as an injured individual, was always
threatening--among his fellow-slaves, of course--to run away; and George
was once on the point of declaring to the fellow his own intention of
doing the same thing, but luckily his discretion stepped in and
prevented his committing so great an imprudence, the reflection
occurring to him just in time, that a man who _talked_ so much about the
matter was, after all, very unlikely to _act_ to any purpose.

One night, however, Pedro entered George's cabin, looking very gloomy
and sulky; and, flinging himself down on a stool, he announced that he
had called to say farewell, as he was fully determined not to submit any
longer to such base treatment.

"Why, what has happened now, Pedro?" exclaimed George, when he heard
this announcement.

"I will tell you, friend George," answered Pedro. "You may possibly
have observed that miserable piece of insolence called Juan, who has
been promoted to the post from which I was so unjustly expelled? Well,
this wretched ape must needs send--_send_, mind you, not come down and
himself ask, but _send_--for a man to move some furniture up at the
house there. I have no doubt he specially named _me_, as I was ordered
to go; and I--I refused; I declined to be subjected to such an
indignity, and for this I was at once flogged. I have been humiliated,
disgraced, dishonoured, and I am resolved not to bear it any longer; I
shall fly to-night."

"Well," said George, "I hope you will get off clear; I see no reason why
you should not."

"You do not?" exclaimed Pedro. "Ah! my good friend, that is because you
are new to this wretched country. Are you not aware, then, that the
master keeps quite a pack of bloodhounds for the purpose of hunting
runaway slaves, and that these bloodhounds are turned loose every night
to scour the estate? They have been trained to watch over us and
prevent our escape. If I should happen to encounter one to-night, I
shall be compelled to abandon the attempt; for he will follow me about,
and, should I attempt to pass the fencing, spring upon an