"Now, boy, you say Mr. Duval is leaving to-morrow?"
"Yas, suh. He done got three hosses waitin' foh him."
"Making ready for a quick trip, eh?" said Ayres. The merchant nodded.
"Have you overheard anything about his plans, boy?"
"Yas, suh. Ah done heard him talkin' wif a man. He reckoned they was gwine to beat Cap'n Brookfield's boat to Henderson, suh."
"Two of them, eh? Anything more?"
"No, suh."
Upon this, Tarascon dismissed the slave, and the four friends discussed the news. They finally reached the conclusion that Duval intended to meet the pirates and take part in the attack on the horse-boat, after which he would doubtless flee the country, as he must know that there was something afoot.
"So much the better," cried Audubon gaily. "Success to the Regulators!"
"All very well," retorted Norton. "But I don't like this slave business. What we can do, Duval can do."