The man objected; but he at last consented to procure his neighbor's mule team and help them out. For this service Dan paid him two dollars more, which entirely collapsed his exchequer. The stores were safely deposited in the bateau, and the man drove off, apparently as well satisfied with his morning's work as the other party to the transaction. As soon as he was out of sight and hearing, Quin could contain himself no longer, and vented his satisfaction at the success of the enterprise in the most violent and extraordinary manner. He laughed till his eyes were filled with tears, and had nearly upset the overloaded boat by his extravagant demonstrations. "What's the matter, Quin?" demanded Dan, astonished at the conduct of his usually prudent and sedate companion. "Bress de Lo'd, we's got all de tings," exclaimed Quin. "Don't crow till you get out of the woods." "Dar's de hard bread, and de salt, and de butter--golly, Massa Dan, you done do dat ting bery fine." "Wait till we get back to the camp before you say any thing. We are not out of danger yet." "But we's got de tings, Dan--de coffee, de sugar, and de salt." "Take your oar now, and when we get back we'll have a jolly time." "Bress de Lo'd, yes, Dan," said the delighted Quin, as he grasped the oar. Prosperity makes men careless and reckless. The bateau was so crowded with stores that the rowers had but little space to use the oars. Their progress was necessarily very slow. They wanted to get back to the camp before night, and instead of keeping under the lee of the land, where the boat would not be likely to attract attention, they proceeded by the shortest route. When they reached the upper end of the lake, and were within five miles of the camp, they were startled to see a boat put out from one of the small islands, and pull towards them. "De Lo'd sabe us!" exclaimed Quin, as he discovered the boat, which contained two white men. "Take no notice of them, and don't speak a word," said Dan, in a low tone. "De Lo'd hab us in his holy keeping!" ejaculated Quin, reverently, as he raised his eyes towards heaven. "Do you know them?" asked Dan. "One of dem's Massa Longworth; don't know de oder," replied Quin, his teeth chattering as though he had been suddenly seized with the ague. "Who is he?" "De oberseer on de plantation next to ole massa's." The overloaded bateau rendered an escape by fast rowing impossible, and the fugitives continued to pull steadily, as before. Dan had his gun in a position where he could use it when occasion required. The two men pulled up to within a short distance of the bateau, and rested on their oars. "Where ye gwine with all that stuff?" demanded Longworth. "We belong to a party of gunners up here," replied Dan, boldly; for he was determined to make the most of the circumstances. "Where be they?" "Up to Chicot--about ten miles from here."