“I’m hurt-, but not by them.  I got on very well, and gleaned a great deal of information, when I heard a sudden exclamation, and, on looking round, I found myself recognized by a white man of my acquaintance.  I ran immediately; and whether I was pursued or not, I’m unable to say.  I had almost reached here, when my foot caught in a grating and gave my ancle such a wrench that I’m unable to stand.”  As he spoke, his face grew pale from the suffering the limb was occasioning.  “I’m sorry, very sorry,” he continued, limping to the sofa; “I was going out again immediately.  They intend making an attack on Mr. Garie’s house:  I didn’t hear his name mentioned, but I heard one of the men, who appeared to be a ringleader, say, ’We’re going up to Winter-street, to give a coat of tar and feathers to a white man, who is married to a nigger woman.’  They can allude to none but him.  How annoying that this accident should have happened just now, of all times.  They ought to be warned.”

“Oh, poor Emily!” cried Esther, bursting into tears; “it will kill her, I know it will; she is so ill.  Some one must go and warn them.  Let me try; the mob, even if I met them, surely would not assault a woman.”

“You mustn’t think of such a thing, Esther,” exclaimed Mr. Walters; “the idea isn’t to be entertained for a moment.  You don’t know what ruthless wretches they are.  Your colour discovered you would find your sex but a trifling protection.  I’d go, but it would be certain death to me:  my black face would quickly obtain for me a passport to another world if I were discovered in the street just now.”

“I’ll go,” calmly spoke Mr. Ellis.  “I can’t rest here and think of what they are exposed to.  By skulking through bye-streets and keeping under the shadows of houses I may escape observation—­at any rate, I must run the risk.”  And he began to button up his coat.  “Don’t let your mother know I’m gone; stick by her, my girl,” said he, kissing Esther; “trust in God,—­He’ll protect me.”

Esther hung sobbing on her father’s neck.  “Oh, father, father,” said she, “I couldn’t bear to see you go for any one but Emily and the children.”

“I know it, dear,” he replied; “it’s my duty.  Garie would do the same for me, I know, even at greater risk.  Good-bye! good-bye!” And, disengaging himself from the weeping girl, he started on his errand of mercy.

Walking swiftly forwards, he passed over more than two-thirds of the way without the slightest interruption, the streets through which he passed being almost entirely deserted.  He had arrived within a couple of squares of the Garies, when suddenly, on turning a corner, he found himself in the midst of a gang of ruffians.

“Here’s a nigger! here’s a nigger!” shouted two or three of them, almost simultaneously, making at the same time a rush at Mr. Ellis, who turned and ran, followed by the whole gang.  Fear lent him wings, and he fast outstripped his pursuers, and would have entirely escaped, had he not turned into a street which unfortunately was closed at the other end.  This he did not discover until it was too late to retrace his steps, his pursuers having already entered the street.