When
the pursuing party started from the crossing, Romescos took the lead
in order to draw it in an opposite direction, and keep the dogs from
the trail. This would allow the stolen clergyman to get beyond their
reach. When daylight broke upon the capturers they were nearly
twenty miles beyond the reach of the pursuers, approaching an inn by
the road side. The waggon suddenly stopped, and Harry found himself
being unrolled from his winding sheet by the hands of two strangers.
Lifting him to his feet, they took him from the waggon, loosed the
chains from his legs, led him into the house, and placed him in a
dark back room. Here, his head being uncovered, he looks upon his
captors with an air of confusion and distrust. "Ye know me too, I
reckon, old feller, don't ye?" enquires one of the men, with a
sardonic grin, as he lifts his hat with his left hand, and scratches
his head with his right.
"Yes, mas'r; there's no mistakin on ye!" returns Harry, shaking his
head, as they release the chains from his hands. He at length
recognises the familiar faces of Dan Bengal and Nath. Nimrod. Both
have figured about Marston's plantation, in the purchase and sale of
negroes.
"Ye had a jolly good ride, old feller, had'nt ye?" says Bengal,
exultingly, looking Harry in the face, shrugging his shoulders, and
putting out his hand to make his friendship.
Harry has no reply to make; but rubs his face as if he is not quite
satisfied with his new apartment, and wants to know a little more of
the motive of the expedition.
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