n.

My mother, as may be supposed, had all the time been watching me with
unspeakable anxiety, forgetting the danger in which she herself was
placed. As the banks sloped very gradually, the horses, by a slight
effort, contrived to drag the waggon up to the level ground.

"Blessings rest on your head, my brave man!" exclaimed my mother,
addressing the black who had saved me, as she got out of the waggon and
rushed to where I lay; then kneeling down, she gazed anxiously into my
face.

I had suffered less I believe from immersion than from fear, for I had
not for a moment lost my consciousness, nor had I swallowed much water.

"Berry glad to save de little boy, him all right now," answered the
black.

"Yes, I believe I'm all right now. Thank you, thank you," I said,
getting up.

My mother threw her arms round my neck and burst into tears.

My father wrung the hand of the black, who had hurried back to help him
rearrange the harness of the horses. "You have saved the lives of us
all, my gallant friend; I thank you from my heart, and should wish to
show you my gratitude by any means in my power."

"Oh, massa, him one poor black slave," answered the negro, astonished at
being so spoken to by a white man; "him berry glad to save de little
boy. Now, massa, you all berry wet, want get dry clo' or catch cold an'
die ob de fever."

"Indeed I am most anxious to get my wife and child under the shelter of
some roof;" answered my father. "Can you guide us to the nearest house
where we can obtain what we require?"

The black thought a moment, and then answered--

"De plantation where I slave not far off; Massa Bracher not at home--
better 'way perhaps, he not always in berry good temper, but de
housekeeper, Mammy Coe, she take care ob de lady and de little boy.
Yes, we will go dare dough de oberseer make me back feel de lash 'cos I
go back without carry de message I was sent on. It can wait, no great
ting."

I do not believe that my father heard the last remark of the black, as
he was engaged in replacing some of the articles in the waggon which had
escaped being washed out, for he answered--

"Yes, by all means, we will drive on to Mr Bracher's plantation. It's
not very far off, I hope, for the sooner we can get on dry clothing the
better."

My father, as he helped in my mother, and placed me in her arms, threw
his own coat, wet as it was, over me, as it served to keep off the wind
and was better than nothing