With Axe and Rifle | Page 5

he rushed into the water, wading as far as the depth
would allow him, then he struck out swimming, and quickly reached
the horses' heads.
"Here, massa stranger, nebber fear, dis boy help you," he exclaimed,
and seizing the bridle of one of the animals he pointed to a spot, a little
lower down the bank. My father, being taller than the negro, was still
able, though with difficulty, to keep his feet, and grasping the bridle of
the other horse, he followed the advice he had received. Before,
however, we had gone far, the wave was upon us. The next instant the
waggon was lifted up and jerked violently round. I had until then been
holding on, but how it happened I cannot tell, for I felt myself suddenly
thrown into the water. I heard my mother's shriek of frantic despair, and
my father shouted to her to hold on for her life, while he dragged
forward the horses, whose feet almost the next moment must have
touched the firm ground.

"Me save him!" cried the black, "go on, massa stranger, go on, all safe
now," and the brave fellow, relinquishing his hold of the horse, which
he left to my father's guidance, swam off to where I was struggling in
the seething water. With one arm he seized me round the waist, and
keeping my head above the surface, struck out once more towards the
bank. His feet fortunately soon regained the ground, and wading on
while he pressed with all his might against the current, he carried me
safely in his arms to the bank. Having placed me on the grass, he
hastened back to assist my father in dragging up the waggon.
My mother, as may be supposed, had all the time been watching me
with unspeakable anxiety, forgetting the danger in which she herself
was placed. As the banks sloped very gradually, the horses, by a slight
effort, contrived to drag the waggon up to the level ground.
"Blessings rest on your head, my brave man!" exclaimed my mother,
addressing the black who had saved me, as she got out of the waggon
and rushed to where I lay; then kneeling down, she gazed anxiously
into my face.
I had suffered less I believe from immersion than from fear, for I had
not for a moment lost my consciousness, nor had I swallowed much
water.
"Berry glad to save de little boy, him all right now," answered the
black.
"Yes, I believe I'm all right now. Thank you, thank you," I said, getting
up.
My mother threw her arms round my neck and burst into tears.
My father wrung the hand of the black, who had hurried back to help
him rearrange the harness of the horses. "You have saved the lives of us
all, my gallant friend; I thank you from my heart, and should wish to
show you my gratitude by any means in my power."
"Oh, massa, him one poor black slave," answered the negro, astonished

at being so spoken to by a white man; "him berry glad to save de little
boy. Now, massa, you all berry wet, want get dry clo' or catch cold an'
die ob de fever."
"Indeed I am most anxious to get my wife and child under the shelter of
some roof;" answered my father. "Can you guide us to the nearest
house where we can obtain what we require?"
The black thought a moment, and then answered--
"De plantation where I slave not far off; Massa Bracher not at home--
better 'way perhaps, he not always in berry good temper, but de
housekeeper, Mammy Coe, she take care ob de lady and de little boy.
Yes, we will go dare dough de oberseer make me back feel de lash 'cos
I go back without carry de message I was sent on. It can wait, no great
ting."
I do not believe that my father heard the last remark of the black, as he
was engaged in replacing some of the articles in the waggon which had
escaped being washed out, for he answered--
"Yes, by all means, we will drive on to Mr Bracher's plantation. It's not
very far off, I hope, for the sooner we can get on dry clothing the
better."
My father, as he helped in my mother, and placed me in her arms,
threw his own coat, wet as it was, over me, as it served to keep off the
wind and was better than nothing.
"What's your name, my good fellow?" he asked of the black.
"Me Diogenes, massa, but de folks call me `Dio'."
"Well, jump in, Dio, and tell me the way I am to drive."
"Straight on den, Massa," said Dio, climbing in at the hinder part of the