The steamer went in to the landing-place, leaving Dan to wonder and rejoice at the happy turn which had taken place in the affairs of his party. He informed Lily of the altered state of things on deck, and the devout girl was happy in the reflection that her prayers had been so promptly answered.
"But we haven't seen the end of it yet, Lily. O, no," added Dan, "Colonel Raybone will never give us up. He would spend more money than we are all worth for the pleasure of flogging me for running away; but he shall never have that satisfaction. I had rather die here like a man than to be scourged to death at the Dead Oak."
"Can't we get away? Is there no chance to escape?" asked Lily, whose beating heart was full of mortal terrors.
"Gossifus! Wha—wha—what's de reason we can't take de bateau and row ober to de shore, and take to de woods?" suggested Cyd.
"Well, what then?" demanded Dan, calmly.
"Why, den run like a possum up a gum tree."
"With bloodhounds and slave-hunters on your track. No, Cyd; we should certainly be taken if we did that."
"What shall we do, Dan?" murmured Lily. "We shall certainly be taken if we stay here."
"No; we have beaten off the slave-hunters twice, and we can do it again. They will come in small boats, and I will shoot them down, one at a time, if they persist," answered Dan, bringing down the butt of the rifle upon the floor of the standing room to emphasize his words.
"But you may be shot, yourself, Dan," said Lily, with a visible shudder.