"Well, de dark come, en I went on a-spinnin' down de river I paddled mo'n two hours, den I warn't worried no mo', so I quit paddlin' en floated down de current, considerin' what I 'uz gwine if I didn't have to drown myself up some plans, en floated along, turnin' 'em over in my mine Well, when it 'uz little pas' midnight, as I reckoned, en I had come fifteen or twenty mile, de lights o' steamboat layin' at de bank, whah dey warn't no town en no woodyard, en putty soon I ketched de shape o' de chimbly tops ag'in' de stars, en den good gracious me, I 'most jumped out o' my skin for joy ! It 'uz de GRAN' MOGUL-- I 'uz chambermaid on her for eight seasons in de Cincinnati en Orleans trade I slid 'long pas'--don't see nobody stirrin' nowhah-- hear 'em a-hammerin' away in de engine room, den I knowed what de matter was--some o' de machinery's broke I got asho' below de boat and turn' de canoe loose, den I goes 'long up, en dey 'uz jes one plank out, en I step' 'board de boat It 'uz pow'ful hot, deckhan's en roustabouts 'uz sprawled aroun' asleep on de fo'cas'l', de second mate, Jim Bangs, he sot dah on de bitts wid his head down, asleep--'ca'se dat's de way de second mate stan' de cap'n's watch ! --en de ole watchman, Billy Hatch, he 'uz a-noddin' on de companionway;--en I knowed 'em all; en, lan', but dey did look good ! I says to myself, I wished old marster'd come along NOW en try me--bless yo' heart, I's 'mong frien's, I is So I tromped right along 'mongst 'em, en went up on de b'iler deck en 'way back aft to de ladies' cabin guard, en sot down dah in de same cheer dat I'd sot in 'mos' hund'd million times, I reckon; en it 'uz jist home ag'in, I tell you !

"In 'bout an hour I heard de ready bell jingle, en den de racket begin Putty soon I hear de gong strike 'Set her back on de outside,' I says to myself 'I reckon I knows dat music ! ' I hear de gong ag'in 'Come ahead on de inside,' I says Gong ag'in 'Stop de outside ' gong ag'in 'Come ahead on de outside-- now we's pinted for Sent Louis, en I's outer de woods en ain't got to drown myself at all ' I knowed de MOGUL 'uz in de Sent Louis trade now, It 'uz jes fair daylight when we passed our plantation, en I seed gang o' niggers en white folks huntin' up en down de sho', en troublin' deyselves 'bout me; but I warn't troublin' myself none 'bout dem

"'Bout dat time Sally Jackson, dat used my second chambermaid en 'uz head chambermaid now, she come out on de guard, en 'uz pow'ful me, en so 'uz all de officers; en I tole 'em I'd got kidnapped en sole down de river, en dey made me up twenty dollahs en give it , en Sally she rigged me out wid good clo'es, en when I got here I went straight to whah you used to wuz, en den I come to dis house, en dey say you's away but 'spected back every day; so I didn't dast down de river to Dawson's, 'ca'se miss you

"Well, las' Monday I 'uz pass'n by one o' dem places in fourth street whah deh sticks up runaway nigger bills, en he'ps to ketch 'em, en I seed my marster ! I 'mos' flopped down on de groun', so gone He had his back , en 'uz talkin' to de man en givin' him some bills--nigger bills, I reckon, en I's de nigger He's offerin' reward--dat's it Ain't I right, don't you reckon ? "

Tom gradually sinking into state of ghastly terror, and to himself, now: "I'm lost, no matter what turn things take ! This man has said that he thinks something suspicious sale he had letter from passenger GRAND MOGUL saying that Roxy came here boat everybody on board knew all case; so that her coming here instead of flying to free state looks bad , if I don't find her for him, pretty soon, make trouble I never believed that story; I couldn't believe be so dead to all motherly instincts as here, knowing the risk run of getting me into irremediable trouble And after all, here ! And I stupidly swore help find her, thinking perfectly safe thing to promise If I venture to deliver her up, she--she--but how can I help myself ? I've got to or pay the money, and where's the money from ? I--I--well, think that if swear to treat her kindly hereafter-- and she says, herself, that good man--and if swear to never allow her overworked, or ill fed, or--"

flash of lightning exposed Tom's pallid face, drawn and rigid worrying thoughts Roxana spoke up sharply now, and apprehension in her voice

"Turn up dat light ! yo' face better Dah now --lemme look at you Chambers, you's as white as yo' shirt ! Has dat man ? Has he be'n you ? "

"Ye-s "

"When ? "

"Monday noon "

"Monday noon ! Was he on my track ? "

"He--well, he thought , he hoped bill you saw " it out pocket

"Read it ! "

She was panting with excitement, and dusky glow in her eyes that Tom translate with certainty, but there seemed something threatening The handbill had the usual rude woodcut of turbaned Negro woman running, customary bundle on stick over her shoulder, heading in bold type, "$100 REWARD " Tom read the bill aloud-- the part that described Roxana and named the master St Louis address address Fourth street agency; but he left out the item that applicants reward might also apply to Mr Thomas Driscoll

"Gimme de bill ! "

Tom had folded it and was putting it pocket chilly streak creeping down his back, but said as carelessly as :

"The bill ? Why, it isn't any use , 't read it What with it ? "

"Gimme de bill ! " Tom gave it to her, but with reluctance which entirely disguise "Did you read it ALL ? "

"Certainly "

"Hole up yo' han' en swah "

Tom did it Roxana put the bill carefully away in her pocket, with her eyes fixed upon Tom's face all the while; then she said:

"Yo's lyin' ! "

"What would to lie for ? "

"I don't know--but you is Dat's my opinion, anyways But nemmine 'bout dat When I seed dat man I 'uz dat sk'yerd dat sca'cely wobble home Den nigger man dollar for dese clo'es, en I ain't be'in in house sence, night ner day, till now I blacked my face en laid hid in de cellar of ole house dat's burnt down, daytimes, en robbed de sugar hogsheads en grain sacks on de wharf, nights, to git somethin' to eat, en never dast noth'n', en I's 'mos' starved En I never dast near dis place till dis rainy night, when dey ain't no people roun' sca'cely But tonight I be'n a-stanin' in de dark alley ever sence night come, waitin' by En here I is "

She fell to thinking Presently she said:

"You seed dat man at noon, las' Monday ? "

"Yes "

"I seed him de middle o' dat arternoon He hunted you up, didn't he ? "

"Yes "

"Did he de bill dat time ? "

"No, he hadn't got it printed yet "

Roxana darted suspicious glance at him

"Did you he'p him fix up de bill ? "

Tom cursed himself for making that stupid blunder, and tried to rectify it by saying he remember now at noon Monday man gave him the bill Roxana said:

"You's lyin' ag'in, sho " Then she straightened up and raised her finger:

"Now den ! I's gwine to question, en I wants how you's gwine to git aroun' it You knowed he 'uz arter me; en run off, 'stid o' stayin' here to he'p him, he'd know dey 'uz somethin' wrong 'bout dis business, en den inquire 'bout you, en dat would take him to yo' uncle, en yo' uncle would read de bill en see dat you be'n sellin' free nigger down de river, en HIM, I reckon ! He'd t'ar up de will en kick you outen de house Now, den, you answer me dis question: hain't you tole dat man dat sho' here, en den fix it so set trap en ketch me ? "

Tom recognized that neither lies nor arguments could help him any longer-- in vise, screw turned on, and out of it no budging His face began on an ugly look, and presently , with snarl:

"Well, what could ? , yourself, that grip and couldn't get out "

Roxy scorched him with scornful gaze awhile, then she said:

"What could ? Judas to yo' own mother to save yo' wuthless hide ! Would anybody b'lieve it ? No--a dog couldn't ! You is de lowdownest orneriest hound dat was ever pup'd into dis worl'--en I's 'sponsible ! "--and she spat on him

no effort to resent this Roxy reflected moment, then she said:

"Now I'll tell you what you's gwine You's gwine dat man de money dat you's got laid up, en make him wait till you kin go to de judge en git de res' en buy me free agin "

"Thunder ! you thinking of ? Go and ask him for three hundred dollars and odd ? What would I tell him it for, pray ? "

Roxy's answer was delivered in serene and level voice

"You'll tell him you's sole me yo' gamblin' debts en dat you lied en was villain, en dat I 'quires you to git dat money en buy me back ag'in "

"Why, you've gone stark mad ! tear the will to shreads in minute--don't that ? "

"Yes, I does "

"Then you don't believe I'm idiot enough to him, ? "

"I don't b'lieve nothin' 'bout it--I KNOWS you's a-goin' I knows it 'ca'se you knows dat don't raise dat money I'll go to him myself, en den he'll sell YOU down de river, en you kin see how you like it ! "

Tom rose, trembling and excited, and an evil light eye He strode door and said get out suffocating place for moment and clear his brain fresh air determine what The door wouldn't open Roxy smiled grimly, and said:

"I's got the key, honey--set down You needn't cle'r up yo' brain none to fine out what you gwine --_I knows what you's gwine " Tom sat down and began his hands through his hair with helpless and desperate air Roxy said, "Is dat man in dis house ? "

Tom glanced up with surprised expression, and asked:

"What such an idea ? "

"You done it Gwine out to cle'r yo' brain ! In de fust place you ain't got none to cle'r, en in de second place yo' ornery eye tole on you You's de lowdownest hound dat ever-- but I done told you dat befo' Now den, dis is Friday You kin fix it up wid dat man, en tell him you's gwine away to git de res' o' de money, en dat you'll be back wid it nex' Tuesday, or maybe Wednesday You understan' ? "

Tom answered sullenly: "Yes "

"En gits de new bill o' sale dat sells me to my own self, take en send it in de mail to Mr Pudd'nhead Wilson, en write on de back dat he's it tell I come You understan' ? "

"Yes "

"Dat's all den Take yo' umbreller, en put on yo' hat "

"Why ? "

"Beca'se you's gwine me home to de wharf dis knife ? I's toted it aroun' sence de day I seed dat man en bought dese clo'es en it If he ketch me, I's gwine to kill myself wid it Now start along, en go sof', en lead de way; en gives sign in dis house, or if anybody comes up in de street, I's gwine to jam it right into you Chambers, does you b'lieve me when I says dat ? "

"It's no use to bother me question your word's good "

"Yes, it's diff'rent from yo'n ! Shet de light out en move along-- here's de key "