ime; an' p'haps done udder tings
along dem lines, as I reckons I ortenter; but, boss, clar tuh goodness
if ever I sot fire tuh a house, or eben a pigpen in all my life. Cross
my heart if I done it."

"You said a cousin was guilty--was that right?" asked Jack.

"He done tole me he done it, boss. Dat's all I knows. But dey got
arter me, an' w'en dat happens down heah, a pore nigger he better say
hes prayers, 'case he's as good as daid. If I cud on'y git tuh nigh
Friar's Point, mars, I'se gut frien's dat'd see me acrost tuh Arkansaw,
whar I'd be safe. But dat sheriff, he between, an' dem dawgs, dey'd
smell me right quick. If I on'y had a boat I cud do it, boss."

"All right, Erastus. Sit down, and eat what there is here. I'm going
to talk it over with my friends. Perhaps we can think up some way to
help you along. Because I'm of the opinion that a live Erastus over in
Arkansaw would be better than a dead one in Mississippi."

So the negro set to work like a starved dog, waited on by Nick, who
watched every mouthful taken, as though filled with envy and awe at the
array of shining teeth and the capacity shown for cutting off a large
wedge of bread and butter.

"Now, what sort of harum-scarum trick have you got up your sleeve,
Jack?" questioned George, uneasily, as the three gathered in a group.

"I'll tell you," replied the other, positively. "I believe this poor
fellow is innocent of any serious wrong-doing, but the fact that he's a
cousin of the guilty party will get him in trouble if he's caught.
Perhaps they'll string him up to save the expense of a trial."

"Well, that is a fact," admitted George, "because I've heard my father
telling about it. As a lawyer he doesn't believe in such things, you
know. But I can see you're thinking of assisting this coon down to the
place he wants to reach. Sure you ain't going too strong when you do
that, Jack?"

"I've thought it over," came the steady reply. "And I've made up my
mind that in doing it I'd only be acting in the interest of humanity.
The poor fellow is being hunted like a dog. If he could have a square
show when caught I'd never interfere a bit; but you and I know he would
never get it. As he says, once let a negro get the name down here, no
matter how wrongly, and the game is sure to follow."

"And you propose taking him in your boat, to put him ashore above
Friar's Point--is that it, Jack?" continued the other.

"Just what I do," came the rep