NOT FORSAKEN
and thus escort him aboard a vessel in defiance of the mob, the sheriff, and the law of the land. In his district he was feared and respected; he was not liked as his father had been, but he was known to be utterly fearless and as relentless as an Indian. He appreciated of course the futility of any attempt at open lawlessness.
"And now," said Leyden, arising from the table, for he had been taking some refreshment, "I will go in and look for our unfortunate friend."
"You are not going alone, are you, Dr. Leyden?" exclaimed Virginia.
"Yes, Miss Moultrie. "I—eh—think that this is best."
•••••••
The afternoon, the night, all of the following day—thirty-six hours—passed without tidings of Leyden or Dessalines. Midnight rested on Live Oak Plantation, hovered over the Caw Caw Swamp.
Virginia had retired, exhausted, semi-hysterical. Giles and Manning sat in the office and smoked innumerable cigars. Occasionally they would walk out upon the broad veranda which flanked the house, and listen. Far across the rice fields, where the still waters of the main canal drew a straight, black, gleaming line, fires sparked out here and there where the watchers, awed by the night, had gathered in groups for greater cheer, regardless of their self-imposed duties.
"They are getting tired of it," observed Manning; "another day will send most of them about their business. Some of them came to me this evening with a proposition to make a general search. I told them that in my opinion they were a set of fools to waste so much
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