ing his course towards it. I therefore followed
more leisurely, and at length caught sight of the fire, with several
blacks near it, some apparently collecting wood, others cutting up a
deer. I looked round for Rochford, but he was nowhere to be seen. Just
then Pompey made his appearance among the people, and at once asked for
"the white massa."

"Him gone," answered one of the blacks. "Him not come back since
yesterday; bery likely Redskin got him."

"Redskin got him! oh dat bad news!" exclaimed Pompey in a truly
sorrowful voice. He then, in the peculiar jargon of the blacks,
informed his companions that a party had arrived from Fort King, who
would be bitterly disappointed at not finding Massa Rochford. They now
held a consultation as to what should be done. Pompey finally announced
his intention of returning to tell us of Rochford's absence, and to say
that, should we wish it, he would accompany us farther, and, though at
the risk of his life, try to find our white friend. From what I heard
him say, I was now convinced of his honesty, as also of his affection
for Rochford. His unwillingness to take us at once to the camp was
fully accounted for. The people before me, I saw, were evidently a
party of runaway blacks; two, indeed, I recognised as those who had
deserted from us, and I had little doubt that Rochford had persuaded
them that he would obtain their freedom. I felt very doubtful whether I
should find my way back. As I had been guided by Pompey in going
towards the negro camp, I had forgotten the difficulties I should
experience in returning to our own. My anxiety also as to what had
become of Rochford made me at first forget the risk I ran of losing my
way. I might tread on a snake or encounter a panther, or tumble into a
hole, or get smothered in the trunk of a rotten tree or some black pool
full of noxious creatures. As long, however, as I could see the light
of the blacks' fire, by occasionally looking back, I managed to make my
way in the direction leading to our camp; but after that I could only
guess whether I was going the right way by the momentary glimpse of a
star overhead. At last, however, when trying to pass through a thick
part of the forest, I was fairly bewildered. Still, as I could not
contentedly remain where I was, I pushed forward. It was with an
intense feeling of relief that I caught sight, far away before me, of a
slight ruddy tinge on the trunks of the trees, which, I