After much reflection, he concluded his wisest plan would be to seek safety in New Orleans, where, in the crowd, he might escape recognition.  The cane-brake and the cotton-grove would not protect him.  He might be seen, and the blood-hound and the rifle bring him in a prisoner, and even Miss Emily would now be unable to save him from the penalty.  How could he live in New Orleans, or how escape from there?  He was without money, and he had sense enough to know that money is a desideratum, especially to the traveller.

Of this useful commodity, however, he had a supply in the mansion house, which he had saved from the presents made him by Colonel Dumont and his guests.  Recognizing the necessity of obtaining it, as well as some more clothing, he resolved to enter the house and procure them, after the light he saw in the library-window was removed.

While waiting, he pondered more fully his position.  What should be his future conduct in regard to the will?  He carried with him, he felt, the future destiny of his gentle, much-loved mistress.  He felt that on his action during the next hour depended the happiness for a lifetime of one whom he had been taught to revere, and whose gentleness and beauty had almost lured him to worship.  If the morrow’s sun found him in the vicinity of the estate, he would probably fall a victim to Jaspar’s policy.  What should he do with the will?  Should he show himself at the hour appointed for the reading of it?  He might fall into Jaspar’s hands in the attempt, the precious document be wrested from him, and thus all his exertions be in vain.  Without the will itself he could do nothing,—­his word or his evidence in court would be of no avail.  No one would believe the former against Jaspar, and the latter was inadmissible.

Should he carry it to Mr. Faxon, or even to Miss Emily herself, Jaspar might obtain possession of it by some means.

His deliberations could suggest no method by which immediate justice could be done his mistress; and the conclusion of his reflections was, that he must place himself in a safe position before he attempted to expose the villany of others.  His mistress, he knew by the will which he had heard De Guy read, was to be conveyed to Cincinnati.  He must go to Cincinnati—­but how?  This was a hard question for the faithful Hatchie to answer; but answer it he must.  He would go to New Orleans, and there form his plan.

After waiting till the lights were extinguished in the library, he entered the house, and obtained his money and clothing.

By the exercise of much caution, he reached New Orleans in safety, where, by the disbursement of a small sum of money, he obtained a secure retreat in the house of a free man, with whom he had formerly been acquainted.  His object was now to obtain a passage to Cincinnati,—­a matter not easy to accomplish, as the law against conveying blacks, unprovided with the necessary permit, was very stringent.  He could not hope, with his limited means, to offer an acceptable bribe for this service.  To attain his object, therefore, he must resort to stratagem, for the chances of obtaining a passage by direct means were too remote and too perilous to be hoped for.  But accident soon afforded him the means of attaining his end.