Haines' words had driven it home to my mind, causing me to comprehend the viewpoint of this neighborhood, the hatred men felt for a nigger-stealer, and what my fate would be if once caught in the act.

Yet the die was already cast; I had pledged myself to action; was fully committed to the attempted rescue of Rene Beaucaire, and no thought of any retreat once occurred to me.

I opened the door cautiously, glancing out into the night, to thus assure myself we were alone, closed it again, and came back.

The negro still remained seated on the edge of the bed, digging his toes into the hard earth of the floor.
"Pete," I began earnestly.

"You trust me, don't you?
You do not suspect me of being any slave-hunter ?" "No, sah, Massa Knox, I ain't 'feared o' yer--yers one o' dem down-easterners." "Well, not exactly that.