They had issued from the
cornfield now and were going along the road toward Raleigh.
Suddenly Betty paused.
"Hark!" she whispered.
"It were nothing, Miss Betty," said Hannibal reassuringly, and
they hurried forward again. In the utter stillness through which
they moved Betty heard the beating of her own heart, and the
soft, and all but inaudible patter of the boy's bare feet on the
warm dust of the road. Vague forms that resolved themselves into
trees and bushes seemed to creep toward them out of the night's
black uncertainty. Once more Betty paused.
"It were nothing, Miss Betty," said Hannibal as before, and he
returned to his consideration of the judge. He sensed something
of that intellectual nimbleness which his patron's physical
make-up in nowise suggested, since his face was a mask that
usually left one in doubt as to just how much of what he heard
succeeded in making its impression on him; but the boy knew that
Slocum Price's blind side was a shelterless exposure.
"You don't think the carriage could have passed us while we were
crossing the corn-field?" said Betty.
"No, I reckon we couldn't a-missed hearing it," answered
Hannibal. He had scarcely spoken when they caught the rattle of
wheels and the beat of hoofs. These sounds swept nearer and
nearer, and then the darkness disgorged the Belle Plain team and
carriage.
"George!" cried Betty, a world of relief in her tones.
"Whoa, you!" and George reined in his horses with a jerk.
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