that boy?" and it would seem to me it must be the tyrant in quest of his
weary prey, and would find myself starting again.

[Footnote A: If W.W. had ascended the stairs without calling, I should
certainly have jumped out of the window.]

From that time the agitation of my mind became so great that I could not
feel myself safe. Every day seemed to increase my fear, till I was unfit
for work, study or rest. My friend endeavoured, but in vain, to get me to
stay a week longer.

The events of the spring proved that I had not left too soon. As soon as
the season for travelling fairly opened, active search was made, and my
master was seen in a town, twenty miles in advance of where I had spent my
six months.

The following curious fact also came out. That same brother-in-law who
frightened me, was putting up one evening at a hotel some miles off, and
while sitting quietly by himself in one part of the room, he overheard a
conversation between a travelling pedler and several gossippers of the
neighbourhood, who were lounging away the evening at the hotel.

PEDLER.--"Do you know one W.W. somewhere about here?"

GOSSIPER.--"Yes, he lives ---- miles off."

PED.--"I understand he had a black boy with him last winter, I wonder if
he is there yet?"

GOS.--"I don't know, he most always has a runaway nigger with him."