Mr. Tucker now arose from his seat, put his hat on his head, and stepping up to Mr. Oakum-- 'All _that_ is well enough, sir; but it don't pay the bill. If you cannot settle it at once, you will please go along with me'--at the same time putting his hand on his shoulder. 'I have a warrant to take you, unless you can give me the money, or goods in the place of it. Shall I read the warrant?' 'There is no occasion for that, sir. I have not got the money, if it was to save my life; and goods I have none, only what you see here.' 'Well, sir, if you go peaceably, it is well enough; if not, I must read the warrant, for I have no time to lose--it is getting dark.' Mr. Oakum arose, but his limbs could scarcely sustain him; big drops of sweat stood on his pale forehead, and a deadly sickness was at his heart. 'Oakum, Oakum! tell me what it is. What does this man want?' 'I don't see, Mr. Tucker, what good it is going to do Mr. Grizzle to shut me up in jail. I can't do no work there. And what are my wife and children to do? must they starve?' '_Jail! jail!_ Ah, sir; you ain't going to put my husband in _jail_! What hurt has he done you, or any body else?' And she flew to her husband, and putting her arms around his neck, wept as though her heart had broken. But Mr. Tucker was not to be balked in the discharge of his official duties by the tears of either man or woman--some harsh things he said, which aroused the humbled spirits of this suffering husband and wife. Mrs. Oakum hushed her grief for the time, in order to quiet the distressed children, who were clinging to their father, and screaming in their agony when they learned whither he was going. Mr. Oakum, however, made no resistance to the imperious demands of the officer; but quieting the feelings of his family as far as he could, entered the gig with Mr. Tucker, and was driven rapidly away amid the darkness of the gathering storm. As soon as Mrs. Oakum was enabled to collect her thoughts, apprehensions on Sam's account again oppressed her. She took her seat by the window, and looked in every direction; but the darkness had increased so rapidly, that objects could be discerned at only a short distance from the house. Occasionally the vivid lightning would, for an instant, throw its bright glare across the water, making the prospect distinctly visible. On one occasion, she thought she saw a small white sail; and every succeeding flash she watched, until her eyes were nearly blinded by the dazzling light, but nothing more of it could she discern. A startling peal of thunder proclaimed that the storm was at hand, and the rain began to patter in large drops, and then to pour its floods upon them. Just at that moment the door opened; and Sam, with his cheerful smile and pleasant words, was in the midst of them. They all flew to caress him; but missing his father, and seeing the marks of distress in his mother's countenance--