"It just is," remarked Jack. "And if I thought the fellow would ever have the nerve to come back here to this spot, I'd be tempted to leave something for him--a dollar perhaps, to keep him from starving while he was getting out of the country." "Well, time is getting along, and perhaps we'd better be packing up so as to be ready to start at eight sharp. Tonight we ought to make that place at the mouth of the Sunflower river, opposite the island in the big water, which is marked down as Station Number Five in the race." George, as he spoke, whirled around on his heel. As he did so, the others heard him ewe utterance to a cry of astonishment. "Look there, fellows, at what is in my boat!" he cried, pointing. And the others, upon following the direction of his extended finger, could only stare at what they saw. Seated in the body of the _Wireless_ and holding George's rifle, which had been incautiously left aboard while they ate breakfast, was a big coal-black negro, whom they could easily guess must be the accused house burner, Erastus! CHAPTER XVIII. AT THE MOUTH OF THE SUNFLOWER. No one moved immediately. Nick was gasping for breath; and the sound was not unlike that made by a porpoise in swishing through the water while rolling. Jack happened to have his gun in his hand, having just picked it up. But somehow he hesitated to raise it against a human being. And presently he was glad the idea had not taken possession of him. The man in the boat waved his hand toward them, beckoning, Jack believed. "Cum long ober hyah, sah. I'se done wanter say sumpin tuh youse all." He called this out, with one quick glance toward the section of woods where the sheriff and his posse had last been seen. Well, that did not seem very hostile, at any rate. Jack started toward the two boats, and seeing him carrying his Marlin, the negro immediately elevated both of his arms as high as he could. "Dat means I ain't agwine tuh do yuh no dirt, sah." He hastened to call out, "I cud a stole dis yeah leetle boat, if I wanted tuh. Boss, dar's yuh gun. I might er held yuh off till I got clar; but I didn't wanter, sah. 'Case I done heerd all dat was sed, an' I knows as how yuh ain't gwine tuh gib a pore innercent niggah over tuh be hung foh sumpin' he nebber did do." They reached his side, and Jack was more than impressed with the truth written on the fugitive's black face. Frightened Erastus certainly was, and with good reason; but he did not look like a bad man, Jack felt. "Where were you all the time the sheriff and his men were here?" asked Jack, as a sudden suspicion flashed through his mind, remembering the frantic actions of the two dogs to get over to the big live oak tree. The negro grinned until he showed two rows of snowy ivories.