light of a friendless wretch, whom it were better to save, than sink in shame?  One word more and I am done” (Blowers was about to cut short the conversation); “the extent of the law being nothing less than twenty blows of the paddle, is most severe punishment for a woman of fine flesh to withstand on her naked loins.  Nor, let me say-and here I speak from twelve years’ experience-can the lady-I beg pardon, the slave you bring me!-bear these blows:  no, my lips never spoke truer when I say she’ll quiver and sink in spasms ere the second blow is laid on.”  Here-some twenty minutes having passed since the fair slave was led into the punishment room-Blowers cut short the conversation which had failed to thaw his resolution, by saying Broadman had bored his ears in spinning out his long song, and if he were unwilling to fulfil the duties of his office, such should be reported to the authorities, who would not permit workhouse-keepers so to modify their ordnances that black and white niggers have different punishments.  “Nay, sir!” says the honest man, with an air of earnestness, as he rises from his seat; “follow me, and with the reality will I prove the truth of my words.”  Here he proceeds to that place of torments, the punishment-room, followed by Blowers; who says, with singular indifference-"Can do the job in five minutes; then I’ll leave her with you for two, three, or four days or so.  Then if she’s civilly humbled down, I’ll send my nigger fellow, Joe, with an order for her.  Joe’ll be the fellow’s name; now, mind that:  but you know my Joe, I reckon?” The keeper led the way, but made no reply; for indeed he knew nothing of his Joe, there being innumerable niggers of that name.  As the men left the little office, and were sauntering up the passage, our worthy friend Rosebrook might be seen entering in search of Broadman; when, discovering Blowers in his company, and hearing the significant words, he shot into a niche, unobserved by them, and calling a negro attendant, learned the nature of his visit.  And here it becomes necessary that we discover to the reader the fact of Rosebrook having been apprised of the forlorn woman’s return, and her perilous position in the hands of Pringle Blowers; and, further, that the communication was effected by the negro man Pompe, who we have before described in connection with Montague at the time of his landing from the witch-like schooner.  This Pompe was sold to Blowers but a few months before Annette’s recovery, and acting upon the force of that sympathy which exists among fellow slaves of a plantation, soon renewed old acquaintance, gained her confidence, and, cunningly eluding the owner’s watchfulness, conveyed for her a letter to the Rosebrooks.  In truth, Pompe had an inveterate hatred of Blowers, and under the incitement would not have hesitated to stake his life in defence of the fair woman.  Now, the exacting reader may question Rosebrook’s intrepidity in not proceeding at once to the rescue of the victim; but when we say that he was ignorant of the positive order given the keeper, and only caught distinctly the words-"I’ll send my nigger fellow, Joe, with an order for her!” they may discover an excuse for his hastily withdrawing from the establishment.  Indeed, that my reader may withhold his censure, it may be well to add that he did this in order to devise more strategical means of effecting her escape.