Andy sprang up beside Matt, and it was soon decided by the partners to continue on the road until another house should appear. They looked back, but saw nothing more of the negroes, and then started off.
They passed through a bit of woods and down a long hill. Here they found a neat farmhouse, where a pleasant enough woman was sitting upon the doorstep, knitting socks.
“This is one road, but it is not the best road,” replied the woman, in reply to Andy’s question 235 regarding the way to Bethlehem. “But now you are this far, you had better keep on, for it will be harder to turn back.”
“How far is it to the town?”
“Not over a mile and a half.”
“And is the road fairly good from here?”
“Oh, yes; you can get along very well.”
“Then we will continue,” returned Andy. “By the way,” he went on, “do you know anything of the negroes that live in the cottage back a ways?”
The woman’s face lost its smile and she sighed.
“Yes, I know them only too well,” she replied. “They have stolen so many of our chickens and so much garden truck that my husband is going to make a complaint against them. I wish they would leave the neighborhood.”