Dandy could not go to sleep, could not forget all about it. The wound in his soul was more painful than those upon his back, and hour after hour passed away, but his eyes were still set wide open. His great resolution filled the future with sublime visions, which he panted to realize. His path lay through trial and danger, was environed by death on every side; but paradise was at the end of it, and he was willing to encounter every hardship, and brave every danger, to win the glorious prize, or content to die if his struggles should be in vain. He was determined to leave Redlawn at the first favorable opportunity; and while he pictured a glowing future beyond the chilly damps of the swamp, and out of the reach of the rifle-ball and the bloodhound, there were still some ties which bound him to the home of his childhood. Home! No, it was only a mockery of that heaven upon earth! It had been the scene of his tribulation--that which riveted the bonds upon his limbs. But it was home so far as it was the abiding place of his friends,--not those who scourged him, whose caprices had tormented him; not his young master, not his old master. That delightful poetry which paints a loving slave clinging fondly to the master that scourges him had never glowed in his imagination. Whatever of regard he had before cherished towards his master had been driven from his heart by the thongs of the slave whip. He had friends at Redlawn,--the gentle, meek, and patient Lily,--the wild, rollicking, mirthful Cyd. They were his friends, indeed, and the thought of leaving them at all was sad; the thought of leaving them in bondage, to be sold and scourged, was intolerable. While he was thinking of them he heard a slight rap at the door. "May I come in?" It was Lily, and the permission was promptly given. The clock in the great hall below had struck eleven, and the family had but just retired. She had been waiting all this time to pay a visit of sympathy to the sufferer. "How do you do, Dandy?" asked she, as she sat down in a chair at the head of the bed. "I'm better, Lily." "I'm very glad. I wanted to come and see you very much, but I was afraid to do so. It was terrible, Dandy! To think that you should be whipped! I should as soon have thought of being whipped myself." "It is terrible, Lily." "What did you do, Dandy? It must have been some awful thing." The sufferer briefly related the particulars of the event at Green Point, which had procured him the whipping. Lily expressed her horror at the meanness of Master Archy, and poured out her sympathy in unmeasured fulness upon her friend. "But I shall not be here long, Lily," added Dandy, in a whisper. "Why, what do you mean?" asked she, amazed at the idea of resistance in any form. "Will you keep my secret, Lily?" "You know that I will, Dandy." "I mean to run away." "Run away!" gasped Lily. "I will not stay here another month if I can help it." "But where will you go?"