"Oh! golly! massa, dis chile will do just what massa cap'n tell him. But is ye gwan to lebe dis chile all stark, staring, breving alone?"
"All alone, George, and your only safety will be in keeping perfectly quiet so that you will not be discovered."
"Can't Massa Nettleton stay?"
"William," said Hayward, "give that fellow a lecture."
"Yes, captain. Look a here, you disgrace of your country," said Nettleton, as he rode up to the side of the negro, "look a here; if I hear you open your mouth again, I'll cram the muzzle of my gun down your throat, and then shoot it off. Lord wouldn't there be a splutterin of nigger!"
"I'se dumb, Cap'n Nettleton."
"Well, talk no more. Come, comrades, double quick."
Captain Hayward struck his horse and dashed forward, followed by the entire party.
It was about two o'clock in the morning, as they were riding rapidly along, when Nettleton rode up to the side of Captain Hayward and said:
"Captain, don't you see them sneaks ahead?"