'We karn't let him off without consent uv the judge,' said Mr. Moore.
A messenger was sent for Gaston, who soon appeared, and consented that further proceedings should be stopped. Mulock was at once released, and, coatless, hatless, and all but trouserless, he made his way through the hooting multitude, and left the plantation, a blacker, if not a wiser and a better man.
As we walked away from the 'scene of execution,' I said to the negro-trader:
'Larkin, you should have been a lawyer; you managed that thing admirably.'
'Th' boys hed got thar blood up, an' I know'd I couldn't clar him. A man stands a sorry chance in sech a crowd, ef they's raally bent on mischief.'
On the following morning the remainder of the negroes were purchased by Joe; and in the afternoon I was on my way home.
CHAPTER XXVII.
As I was sitting in my library, late one evening, rather more than a month after the events recorded in the last chapter, a hasty ring came at the street door.
'Who can be calling so late?' said Kate. 'Had you not better go?'
Drawing on my boots, I went to the door. As I opened it, my hand was suddenly seized, and a familiar voice exclaimed: