CHAPTER XVIII.
Almost Betrayed.
Whither he was leading them no one knew, or cared to ask; for, if they had entertained any suspicions in regard to George, the scene at the house had dispelled them; and knowing that he had as much, if not more, cause to dread recapture than themselves, they relied implicitly on him to get them out of their present difficulty.
The woods were pitch-dark, but George seemed to understand what he was about, and, for two hours, not a word was spoken, except, perhaps, now and then a growl of anger, as some one stumbled over a log or bush that lay in his way.

Finally, the softness of the ground under their feet indicated that they were approaching a swamp.

George now paused, and said: "Major, with your permission, we will stop here until daylight.

It is impossible to go further in this darkness, for it is an ugly road to travel." "What makes you take to the swamp ?" inquired Frank.
"It is a short cut across the country," answered George, "and if we are pursued by blood-hounds we can more easily elude them." Between sleeping and listening for the noise of pursuit, the fugitives passed the night.

As soon as day began to dawn, they made a hasty breakfast on the provisions which they had obtained at the plantation, and resumed their journey.