In the meanwhile Captain Harding was rejoined by a servant who was devoted to him in life and in death.

This intrepid fellow was a Negro born on the engineer's estate, of a slave father and mother, but to whom Cyrus, who was an Abolitionist from conviction and heart, had long since given his freedom.

The once slave, though free, would not leave his master.

He would have died for him.

He was a man of about thirty, vigorous, active, clever, intelligent, gentle, and calm, sometimes naive, always merry, obliging, and honest.