He dare not expose her to the view of others, or permit her the slightest opportunity to appeal to them for rescue.

Whether the man still believed her to be of negro blood, or not, the girl's unusual appearance would be certain to exercise more weight than his unsupported word--her refined, Caucasian face, the purity of her language, her simple story, would assuredly win an instant response from many of those on board.

These waters were too far to the northward to be a safe hiding place for slave-hunters, and Kirby must be fully aware--knowing the characteristics of the river as he did--that his only security lay in keeping this woman in seclusion, carefully hidden away under lock and key, until he held her completely in his power, in a land where slavery was king.

Then he could play the brute, but not here.

I was convinced the man possessed brains and caution enough to deliberately choose this course--to do otherwise would mark him a fool, and that was not to be thought of.