ame shape and hue; then he held them to his nostrils and
inhaled their odour until he thought he had become fully acquainted with
it. And finally he put one in his mouth, and masticated it. The juice
had a very peculiar flavour indeed, so peculiar that he felt sure he
should never forget it.

"And how do you use these leaves?" asked George.

"If," answered Pedro, "you have an opportunity to gather them only a few
hours before you wish to use them, so that they are perfectly fresh, all
that you have to do is to bruise and crush them, so that their juice
shall be free to escape, and then rub them well all over your feet.
This imparts the odour of the plant to the skin, and so `hides the
scent' that the dogs are quite unable to follow it. But if the leaves
have been gathered so long that they have become dry, you must put them
in water to soak until they become soft once more; then first wash your
feet in the water, and afterwards rub them thoroughly with the leaves.
Only, in the latter case, you will require a much larger quantity of
leaves."

"Thanks, Pedro, I shall remember that," answered George. "One more
question, and I have done. Where is this plant to be found?"

"Ah! now you have given me a puzzle," exclaimed the black. "The plant
is very scarce, and is growing daily more so, for the reason that the
slave-owners carefully root it up and destroy it wherever they find it.
They are fully acquainted with its peculiar properties, they know that
it has freed many a persecuted slave from the bondage of a cruel and
tyrannical master, and that, if allowed to flourish, it would free many
more; so it is carefully sought out, and ruthlessly dug up when found.
Notwithstanding which, a plant is to be found here and there by
diligently searching after it. It grows generally in wet or marshy
ground, and in such spots you will have to seek for it, if ever you need
it. Now, I must go; it is close upon the time for the head overseer to
go his rounds, and I want him to see me in my own cabin. As soon as he
is once more fairly out of the way I shall be off. Good-night--and
good-bye."

"Good-bye," answered George, grasping the negro's proffered hand;
"good-bye, and thank you for your valuable secret. I heartily wish you
good luck; and if they get up a hunt, and take me to help, I'll do what
I can to throw them off the scent. Which way do you go?"

"You had better know nothing about that," answered Pedro cautiously.
"