Oh, my lan'! don' you heah 'um comin' ?" Dead leaves fell upon her in a shower, and her accomplice gathered more with frantic haste.

"Oh, it's the ghost in the tobacco-house! it's a rock rolling down the mountain! it's--it's something splashing in the swamp!" "Is I a-hidin' in de swamp?
Den don' th'ow no oak leaves on dis niggah, for dey don' grow dyar.

Gawd A'moughty, lis'en to de river roarin'! I's hidin' by de river--I's hidin' by de river! I's hidin' by de river Jordan!" Deb swayed to and fro, beating her hands in her excitement.

"I see a boat--a great big boat! It's as big as the Ark! The finders are in it, and the dogs and the guns! Let us pray! O Jesus, save Miranda, even though it is a scarlet sin to run away! O Jesus, don't let them take her to the Court House! O Jesus, let them take me--" Miranda reared herself from her leafy bed.

"Humph! what you gwine do at de Co'te House?
Answer me dat! I knows what de Lawd gwine say.