as he turned around, to his great joy, he saw another dwelling a little way off, and toward that he hastened his now lightened footsteps.  With a palpitating heart, he approached the door and knocked cautiously.  The man of the house opened it, and as soon as he saw him, he said, “You are a fugitive slave, but be not alarmed, come in; no harm shall befall you here; I shall not inquire from whence you came; it is enough for me to know that you are a human being in distress; consider me your friend, and let me know your wants.”

“Bread!  Oh, for a morsel of bread!” said the famished creature, while his hitherto wild and sunken eyes, began to distil grateful tears.  The “good Samaritan” stepped to another apartment and brought him a piece of bread, which he expected to see him devour at once, but instead, he looked at it wistfully, literally devouring it with his eyes; turned it over and over, and at last stammered out, “my good master, without a piece of bread for my poor starving wife, I can never swallow this, tempting as it is.”

“Poor man,” said his benefactor, “can it be that you have a wife with you, wretched as yourself?” He brought out a loaf of bread, some cheese and meat, and while the fugitive was preparing to return, the kind gentleman said, “I am glad you came to me; had you called at the house you first saw, you would have been betrayed, and immediately arrested.  You must remember,” he continued, “that you are young and valuable slaves, and that your master will make every effort in his power to find you, especially since he has made a sale of you.  To-day and to-night, remain in the woods, and the next morning you may come to me, if all is quiet; should I see danger approaching you, I will warn you of it by the crack my rifle.  Go now, to your poor wife, and listen for the signal of danger; if you hear none, come to me at the appointed time.”  He returned, and after feeding his helpless Rosa, she revived, and soon felt quite comfortable and grateful.

When the morning came for them to leave their retreat, they listened intently, but hearing nothing, Joe started for the residence of his friend.  He had been gone but a short time, when his wife, who lay in the bushes, thought she heard the tramp of horses,—­she crept nearer the highway, and peeping through the bush—­Oh, horror! what was her consternation and sickening fear, to find herself gazing upon the well-known features of her old master, and two of his neighbors, all armed to the teeth!  Her heart seemed to stand still, and the blood to chill in her veins.  Had she been discovered she would have been an easy prey, for she declared that she could not move a step.  In the meantime her husband had got about half way to the residence of his preserver, when his quick ear detected the sound made by the feet of horses, and as he stopped to listen more intently, the sharp crack of a rifle sent him bounding back to his concealment in the forest.

The party of horsemen rode on to the dwelling of the kind hearted gentleman, and inquired whether he had seen any fugitive slaves pass that way.