had fallen into it.

"Well you have returned all obligations, and more than ever you owed
me," said he: "you have saved my life this time, and that when all
chance was over."

"Then," replied I, "although I shall be very sorry to part with you,
give me that liberty which I had gained, and which I lost in defending
you from the dogs."

"I would have let you go then, Cato," replied he, "but your life would
have been sacrificed. My pursuers would have hurried you to prison
before you could have explained who you were. You forget your colour is
changed; they were not seeking me, but a runaway slave, and the
bloodhounds came upon my track. Those white men show no mercy; they
have more pleasure in seeing a runaway slave torn to pieces by those
dogs than in recovering possession of him. It is a sort of fox-chase to
them," continued he, grating his teeth after he had said so. "Cato, I
will give you your liberty, if you wish it, and I know you do wish it,
as soon as I can with any prudence; that I promise you, and you know
that I will keep my word."

"I am quite satisfied," replied I.

"And do you promise me that you will not attempt to escape a second
time?"

"I promise you that I will not," replied I.

"Enough," said Vincent. "Now let us go down the hill, for I am very
much torn by those infernal brutes, and must have the wounds washed and
attended to."

We descended the hill, in silence, and in a quarter of an hour had
gained the tent. Vincent was severely bitten and torn: as soon as his
wounds had been dressed he lay down on his mat, and I did the same.

It was some days before Vincent recovered from the severe injuries which
he had received from the bloodhounds; and he did not appear to be
inclined to run any more risks of that sort. Although he said little, I
could perceive that he was brooding over future vengeance and he was now
nearly the whole of the day with his glass on the look-out hill.

One morning a schooner hove in sight, steering from the Havannah to the
southward and eastward, either for the islands of the Spanish Main. The
Stella had for many days been ready for instant sailing, and having
watched her till near sunset, Vincent sent down orders for every soul to
be on board, and the anchor hove up. Just as it was dark we towed out
of the bay, and made all sail.

At daylight the schooner was but a few miles ahead of us and not being a
fast sailer, in little more than an flour we were al