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. He gwine
say, 'Run for it, niggah!' Yaas, Lawd, I sholy gwine do what _you_
say--I gwine run to de very aidge of de yearth.

"Oh, I fool you, Mister Oberseer Man!
Oh, I fool you, my ole Marster!
Cotch de mockin'bird co'tin' in de locus',
Cotch de bullfrog gruntin' in de ma'sh,
Cotch de black snake trabellin' 'long his road,
But you ain' gwine see dis niggah enny mo'!

"Miss Deb, ef I gets to de big gate fust, you gwine lemme hol' dat doll
baby Marse Edward gin you?"