for breath; and the sound was not unlike that made by
a porpoise in swishing through the water while rolling. Jack happened
to have his gun in his hand, having just picked it up. But somehow he
hesitated to raise it against a human being. And presently he was glad
the idea had not taken possession of him.

The man in the boat waved his hand toward them, beckoning, Jack
believed.

"Cum long ober hyah, sah. I'se done wanter say sumpin tuh youse all."

He called this out, with one quick glance toward the section of woods
where the sheriff and his posse had last been seen.

Well, that did not seem very hostile, at any rate. Jack started toward
the two boats, and seeing him carrying his Marlin, the negro
immediately elevated both of his arms as high as he could.

"Dat means I ain't agwine tuh do yuh no dirt, sah." He hastened to
call out, "I cud a stole dis yeah leetle boat, if I wanted tuh. Boss,
dar's yuh gun. I might er held yuh off till I got clar; but I didn't
wanter, sah. 'Case I done heerd all dat was sed, an' I knows as how
yuh ain't gwine tuh gib a pore innercent niggah over tuh be hung foh
sumpin' he nebber did do."

They reached his side, and Jack was more than impressed with the truth
written on the fugitive's black face. Frightened Erastus certainly
was, and with good reason; but he did not look like a bad man, Jack
felt.

"Where were you all the time the sheriff and his men were here?" asked
Jack, as a sudden suspicion flashed through his mind, remembering the
frantic actions of the two dogs to get over to the big live oak tree.

The negro grinned until he showed two rows of snowy ivories.

"Right up dar in dat tree, boss," he admitted, "shiverin' all de time,
'case I 'spected dem dawgs'd break loose, and begin yelpin' at de foot
ob de same. If dat had happened it'd be de end ob pore old 'Rastus,
shore."

"Well, now, if that don't beat the Dutch," said Nick. "Say, Jack,
there's some ham left in the pan, and some more coffee in the
pot--shall I give the poor fellow the lot? Might as well be hung for a
sheep as a lamb, you know."

"Go ahead," was the reply. "Do you really mean what you tried to tell
us in that little note, Erastus, and are you innocent of house burning?"

The negro assumed a very serious look.

"Mars," he said, half raising his hand as though upon the witness
stand, and about to take the oath to tell the entire truth, "I reckons
I's done stoled some chickens in mah t