Indeed, he had barely time to check an exclamation from the negro, before the dull gallop of horse-hoofs in the open ahead of them was plain to them both.

It was a second party of their pursuers, mounted, who had evidently been sent to prevent their final egress from the woods, while those they had just evaded were no doubt slowly and silently following them on foot.

They were to be caught between two fires! "What is there to the left of us ?" whispered Courtland quickly.
"De swamp." Courtland set his teeth together.

His dull-witted companion had evidently walked them both into the trap! Nevertheless, his resolve was quickly made.

He could already see through the thinning fringe of timber the figures of the mounted men in the moonlight.
"This should be the boundary line of the plantation?
This field beside us is ours ?" he said interrogatively.
"Yes," returned the negro, "but de quarters is a mile furder." "Good! Stay here until I come back or call you; I'm going to talk to these fellows.