Oxford Democrat., 1899-03-21
CHAPTER XIV.

Reflection convinced mo that ought
not 20 feel any misgiving over the dis
covery that Pete, the supposed aged
African, was really young man. 1t
was easy to understand why, in making
his midnight raids, he should take every
precaution against his identity being
suspected. So long as q glimpse OF the
thief hurrying away showed him 10 be
an aged darky Pete might hope to es-
cape suspicion. while IL driven to the
wall his enormous strength could not
fail 10 serve him well.
With such natural explanation OF
the negro's course il would seem
should have been satisfied, but despite
the obvious explanation i could not free
myself from troublesome distrust Of
him. The African race is proverbial for
its loyalty, but 1t has its treacherous
members, the same as others. l had as
yet found no friends in whom could
implicitly trust. Even when Miss Els.
ther Mansley opened the way for me to
escape she did it under the belief that
was the miscreapt who had brought all
the trouble on me, but who was fortu-
nate enough &c possess her affection.
"You may be all right, Pete" /
thought, "but these are times when it
Is wise to set down every man as al en-
emy until he is proved friend. II pos
sible, shall make use Of you, but II ]
know myself you shall not deceive me. +"
With the same regular, Doiseless
movement Of his muscular arms Pete
continued to sway the paddle and to
propel the dugout until We must have
passed fully half mile from where ]
had Joined him. 1t was clear that all
this time he was penetrating deeper into
Black Mans swamp. / gained some
idea Of the Businesses Of that marshy
timber and could well understand how
it became favorite refuge for runaways
In the oldcu slavery days. With the
help of the abundant water the blood
hounds could be thrown OF the trail,
while the slaves Of the adjoining plan
tations would be eager to contribute
stealthily to the fugitives when they
stole out at night in quest Of food.
Having padded the distance named,
during which Pete slowly pulled his
pipe, he reached spot where the creek
broadened to three or four times its
former width. The banks were over
hung with bushes and undergrowth,
but when he ran the PROV Of the dug.
ont against the shore ! perceived well
marked path leading deeper into the
wood. ] stepped out, and he followed,
pulling the end Of the rude boat far
enough up the bank to prevent its being
washed away by the slnggish current.
He had knocked the ashes from his pipe.
and he now. slung the bag over his
shoulder preparatory to moving away.
As he did SO there was vigorous cluck-
Ing and struggling inside. but It caused
him no embarrassment. He knew ! un-
derstood matters, and there was no need
Of affecting ignorance or discussing the
subject.
'swe's purity neah home" he re-
marked as he strobe Oh with me on bis
heels. He had but q short distance to
60 when he debouched into . clearing
similar tothat where ! turned at bay
and shot the bloodhound. It was Of
about the same extent and TIE fertile
ground gave evidence Of being we'll
titled. he continued straigbt forward
over the path to the little cabin II logs
which stood In the center. Just IN front
ol the door he swung the bas OF his
shoulder. united the cop and, Hitting Is
b the closed etd, shook out about .
dozen roosters and hsns. At fsst they
Wess dazed. but soCa rnn hebind ~
Qlin = jeise na1bgs q ethsss ~