"Well, and now that you know me, are you disposed to answer my questions?" "I must know their nature first, so you had better ask them." "What has become of my slave?" "Do you mean the man who leaped off the platform just before you reached it?" "Yes. Where is he?" "Here, by my side." In fact, the Negro, his strength and courage quite exhausted from the desperate efforts he had made during the obstinate pursuit of which he had been the object, had dragged himself to the spot where the Canadian stood, and now lay in a half fainting condition at his feet. On hearing the hunter reveal his presence so clearly, he clasped his hands with an effort, and raised toward him a face bathed in tears. "Oh! master, master!" he cried, with an expression of agony impossible to render, "Save me! Save me!" "Ah, ah!" John Davis shouted, with a grin, "I fancy we can come to an understanding, my fine fellow, and that you will not be sorry to gain the reward." "In truth I should not be sorry to hear the price set on human flesh in what is called your free country. Is the reward large?" "Twenty dollars for a runaway nigger." "Pooh!" the Canadian said, thrusting out his lower lip in disgust, "that is a trifle!" "Do you think so?" "Indeed I do." "Still, I only ask you to do a very simple matter in order to earn them." "What is it?" "Tie that nigger, put him in your canoe, and bring him to me." "Very good. It is not difficult, I allow; and when he is in your power, supposing I do what you wish, what do you intend doing with him?" "That is not your business." "Granted: hence I only asked you for information." "Come! Make up your mind; I have no time to waste in chattering. What is your decision?" "This is what I have to say to you, Mr. John Davis, who hunt men with dogs less ferocious than yourself, which in obeying you only yield to their instincts--you are a villain! And if you only reckon on my help in regaining your Negro, you may consider him lost." "Ah, that is it!" the American shouted, as he gnashed his teeth furiously, and turned to his servants; "fire at him! Fire! Fire!" And joining example to precept, he quickly shouldered his gun and fired. His servants imitated him, and four shots were confounded in a single explosion, which the echoes of the forest mournfully repeated. CHAPTER II. QUONIAM. The Canadian did not lose one of his adversaries' movements while he was speaking with them; hence, when the shots ordered by John Davis were fired, they proved ineffectual; he had rapidly hidden himself behind a tree, and the bullets whistled harmlessly past his ears. The slave-dealer was furious at being thus foiled by the hunter; he gave him the most fearful threats, blasphemed, and stamped his foot in rage.