第18章

Because, if not, I wish you would let me have the use of it for a week or so.""With pleasure, Vincent; and my fishing-lines and nets as well, if you like.We very seldom use the boat.Do you mean to keep it here or move it higher up the river, where it would be more handy for you, perhaps?""I think I would rather leave it here, Furniss.A mile or two extra to ride makes no difference.I suppose it's in the water?""Yes; at the foot of the boathouse stairs.There is a padlock and chain.I will give you the key, so you can go off whenever you like without bothering to come up to the house.If you just call in at the stable as you ride by, one of the boys will go down with you and take your horse and put him up till you come back again.""That will do capitally," Vincent replied."It is some time since Iwas on the water, and I seem to have a fancy for a change at present.One is sick of riding into Richmond and hearing nothing but politics talked of all day.Don't be alarmed if you hear at any time that the boat has not come hack at night, for if tide and wind are unfavorable at any time I might stop at Cumberland for the night.""I have often had to do that," Furniss said."Besides, if you took it away for a week, I don't suppose any one would notice it; for no one goes down to the boathouse unless to get the boat ready for a trip."The next day Vincent rode over to his friend's plantation, sending Dan off an hour beforehand to bale out the boat and get the masts and sails into her from the boathouse.The greater part of the next two days was spent on the water, sometimes sailing, sometimes fishing.The evening of the second of these days was that upon which Vincent had arranged to meet Tony again, and an hour after dark he went down through the garden to the stable; for that was the time the fugitive was to meet him, for he could not leave his place of concealment until night fell.After looking at the horses, and giving some instructions to the negroes in charge, he returned to the shrubbery, and, sending Dan up to summon Dinah, he went to the bushes where he had before met Tony.The negro came out as he approached.

"How are you, Tony?"

"Much better dan I was, massa.I hab not been disturbed since Isaw you, and, thanks to dat and to de good food and to massa's kind words, I'm stronger and better now, and ready to do whatever massa think best.""Well, Tony, I am glad to say that I think I have arranged a plan by which you will be got safely out of the country.Of course, it may fail; but there is every hope of success.I have arranged for a boat, and shall take you down the river, and put you on board a ship bound for England."The black clapped his hands in delight at the news.

"When you get there you will take another ship out to Canada, and as soon as I learn from you that you are there, and what is your address, I will give Dinah her papers of freedom and send her on to you.""Oh,! massa, it is too much," Tony said, with the tears running down his cheeks; "too much joy altogeder.""Well, I hope it will all come right, Tony.Dinah will be here in a minute or two.Do not keep her long, for I do not wish her absence from the house to be observed just now.Now, listen to my instructions.Do you know the plantation of Mr.Furniss, on the Pamunky, near Coal harbor?""No, sir; but me can find out.""No, you can't; because you can't see any one or ask questions.

Very well, then, you must be here again to-morrow night at the same hour.Dan will meet you here, and act as your guide.lie will presently bring you provisions for to-morrow.Be sure you be careful, Tony, and get back to your hiding-place as soon as you can, and lie very quiet to-morrow until it is time to start.It would be terrible if you were to be caught now, just as we have arranged for you to get away."On the following afternoon Vincent told his mother that he was going over that evening to his friend Furniss, as an early start was to be made next morning; they intended to go down the river as far as Yorktown, if not further; that be certainly should not be back for two days, and probably might be even longer.

"This new beating freak of yours, Vincent, seems to occupy all your thoughts.I wonder how long it will last.""I don't suppose it will last much longer, mother," Vincent said with a laugh."Anyhow, it will make a jolly change for a week.

One had got so sick of hearing nothing talked about but secession that a week without hearing the word mentioned will do one lots of good, and I am sure I felt that if one had much more of it, one would be almost driven to take up the Northern side just for the sake of a change.""We should all disown you, Vin," Annie said, laughing; "we should have nothing to say to you, and you would be cut by all your friends.""Well, you see, a week's sailing and fishing will save me from all that, Annie; and I be all be able to begin again with a fresh stock of patience.""I believe you are only half in earnest in the cause, Vincent," his mother said gravely.

"I am not indeed, mother.I quite agree with what you and every one say as to the rights of the State of Virginia, and if the North should really try to force us and the other Southern States to remain with them, I shall be just' as ready to do everything I can as any one else; but I can't see the good of always talking about it, and I think it's very wrong to ill-treat and abuse those who think the other way.In England in the Civil War the people of the towns almost all thought one way, and almost all those of the counties the other, and even now opinions differ almost as widely as to which was right.I hate to hear people always laying down the law as if there could not possibly be two sides of the case, and as if every one who differed from them must be a rascal and a traitor.