"All right," the other said. "You come along with us then."
"What wages massa pay?" Jim asked.
"Anything you may be worth. Don't you fret about wages."
Jim pretended to hold out for a fixed sum; but the man said, in stern tones:
"Come along, we don't want no more jaw, so you had best hold your tongue."
No other words passed till they got back to the trees, and then turned off where the horses had previously done so. Two minutes' walk brought them to a roughly-made shed, built against the almost perpendicular side of the hill. It was built of logs, and there was nothing to show that it was inhabited. No smoke curled up from the chimney. The door and shutters were closed. Anyone who, passing through the valley, had turned among the trees and accidentally come upon it, would have taken it for some hut erected by a wood cutter.
One of the men knocked three times at the door, and it was at once opened. Jim was pushed inside, the men followed him, and the door was shut.
"Who have you got here?" a man, sitting by the side of a large fire some distance inside the cottage, asked angrily.
"It's a nigger who wants work. He says he is accustomed to horses so, as it was the choice between shooting him and bringing him here, we thought we might as well bring him to you. It would be handy to have a fellow to look after the horses, and cut the wood, and make himself useful. If we find he is of no use, there will be no great trouble in getting rid of him."
"That is true enough," the other said, "and I don't think there's much risk about it.