He paused a moment, looking around upon the little assembly; and then fixing his eyes upon a handsome, intelligent-looking, young man, to whom the gift of freedom might well seem the most desirable of goods, he said: "Brother Joseph, will you take me into custody?" "May the enemy of souls take me in custody, and never let me go, when I do!" promptly replied young Joe. "That's you, my boy! And may the same fate befall any one else who would do the like!" exclaimed old Elisha, emphatically. A murmur of approbation ran around the little assembly and revealed the fact that the feelings of the majority were with the speakers. "Brother Walley! you think yourself a very guilty man. But no one ever craved freedom more than you did, and yet you know you would never o' bought your freedom at the price o' any man's life, no matter how fur forfeit his life might be! An' now, Brudder Walley, please don't think us so much wus than yourself." When the little assembly heard this, with one voice (and one exception) they declared that they would die before they would betray Valentine. And Elisha, to confirm their faith, went around with the Bible in his hand, and administered to each an oath of fidelity and silence upon the subject of Valentine and the transactions of that night. But when he came to old Portiphar, the latter declared that he had a scruple against taking an oath on the Evangelists, but readily gave his promise to be secret. Valentine, with grateful but troubled looks, regarded these proceedings, until Phædra and Fannie, taking advantage of the popular sentiment, came to him, and, one on each side, seized his hands, besought him, for their sakes, not to cast away his slender chance of safety. What was to be done? Love was almost irresistible, and life, perhaps, even at the worst was sweet; he had come to the resolution to deliver himself up to justice; but that could be done at any time; and for the present it could be deferred. He embraced his mother and his wife, and bade them rest quietly, as he would proceed no farther in the matter now. The meeting soon after broke up. One by one the members of the little community took leave of Valentine, promising to guard his secret, and remember him in their prayers. After all the others had departed old Portiphar still lingered. And when the room was quite clear, he called Valentine to the door and said: "Brudder Valley, I'se a poor man, wid a fam'ly o' chillun, an' ef so be you'se 'termin' on gibbin' o' yourself up I wouldn' min' walkin' far as the squire's office wid you myself." "Thank you, Portiphar; I will inform you when I need your services. Good-night," replied the young man, shutting the door upon him. Portiphar had not proceeded half a dozen steps on his way before he felt himself seized by the shoulder, and he recognized as his assailant the strapping negro, young Joe, who, holding him tightly, said: