第19章

Almost all the fellows I know say that if it comes to fighting they shall go into the State army, and I should be quite willing, if they would really take fellows of my age for soldiers, to enlist too; but that is no reason why one should not get sick of hearing nothing but one subject talked of for weeks."It was nearly dark when Vincent started for his walk of ten miles;for he had decided not to take his horse with him, as he had no means of sending it back, and its stay for three days in his friend's stables would attract attention to the fact of his long absence.

After about three hours' walking he reached the boat.house, having seen no one as he passed through the plantation.He took the oars and sails from the boathouse and placed them in the boat, and then sat down in the stern to await the coming of the negroes.

In 'an hour they arrived; Tony carrying a bundle of clothes that Dan had by Vincent's orders bought for him in Richmond, while Dan carried a large basket of provisions.Vincent gave an exclamation of thankfullness as he saw the two figures appear, for the day having been Sunday he knew that a good many men would be likely to join the search parties in hopes of having a share in the reward offered for Tony's capture, and he had felt very anxious all day.

"You sit in the bottom of the boat, Tony, and do you steer, Dan.

You make such a splashing with your oar that we should be heard a mile away.Keep us close in shore in the shadow of the trees; the less we are noticed the better at this time of night."Taking the sculls, Vincent rowed quietly away.He had often been out on boating excursions with his friends, and had learned to row fairly.During the last two days he had diligently instructed Dan, and after two long days' work the young negro had got over the first difficulties, but he was still clumsy and awkward.Vincent did not exert himself.He knew he had a long night's row before him, and he paddled quietly along with the stream.The boat was a good-sized one, and when not under sail was generally rowed by two strong negroes accustomed to the work.

Sometimes for half an hour at a time Vincent ceased rowing, and let the boat drift along quietly.There was no hurry, for he had a day and two nights to get down to the month of the river, a distance of some seventy miles, and out to sea far enough to intercept the vessel.At four o'clock they arrived at Cumberland, where the Pamunky and Mattapony Rivers unite and form the York River.Here they were in tidal waters; and as the tide, though not strong, was flowing up, Vincent tied the boat to the branch of a tree, and lay down in the bottom for an hour's sleep, telling Dan to wake him when the tide turned, or if he heard any noise.Day had broken when the boat drifted round, and Dan aroused him.

The boat was rowed off to the middle of the river, as there could be no longer any attempt at concealment.Dan now took the bow oar, and they rowed until a lightThe Jacksons were newcomers in Virginia.Six years before, the estate, of which the Cedars, as their place was called, formed a part, was put up for sale.It was a very large one, and having been divided into several portions to suit buyers, the Cedars had been purchased by Jackson, who, having been very successful as a storekeeper at Charleston, had decided upon giving up the business and leaving South Carolina, and settling down as a land-owner in some other State.His antecedents, however, were soon known at Richmond, and the old Virginian families turned a cold shoulder to the newcomer.

Had he been a man of pleasant manners, he would gradually have made his way; but he was evidently not a gentleman.The habits of trade stuck to him, and in a very short time there were rumors that the slaves, whom he had bought with the property, found him a harsh and cruel master.This in itself would have been sufficient to bring him disrepute in Virginia, where as a rule the slaves were treated with great kindness, and indeed considered their position to be infinitely superior to that of the poorer class of whites.Andrew Jackson had been for a few months at school with Vincent; he was unpopular there, and from the rumors current as to the treatment of I he slaves on the estate, was known by the nickname of he "slave-driver."Had Vincent been the son of a white trader, r a small cultivator, he knew well enough that his position would be a very serious one, and that he would have had to ride to the border of the State with all speed.He would have been denounced at once as an Abolitionist, and would have been accused of stirring up the slaves to rebellion.against their masters; a crime of the most serious kind', in the Southern States.But placed as he was, as the heir of a great estate worked by slaves, such a cry could hardly be raised against him.He might doubtless be fined and admonished 1'or interfering between a master and his slave; but the sympathy of the better classes in Virginia would be entirely with him.Vincent, therefore, was but little concerned for himself; but he doubted greatly whether his interference had not done much more harm than good to the slave and his wife, for upon them Andrew Jackson would vent his fury.He rode direct to the stables instead of alighting as usual at the door.Dan, who had been sitting in the veranda waiting for him, ran down to the stables as he saw him coming.

"Give the horse to one of the others, Dan; I want to speak to you.

Dan," he went on when he had walked with him a short distance from the staNes, "I suppose you know some of the hands on Jackson's plantation."Dan grinned, for although there was not supposed to he any communication between the slaves on the different estates, it was notorious that at night they were in the habit of slipping out of their huts and visiting each other.

"I know some oh dem, Massa Vincent.What you want ob dem?

Berry had master, Massa Jackson.Wust master hereabouts."Vincent related what had happened, to Dan's intense delight.