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beast。〃
〃I will see him； Dan。 If I can help him in any way I will do so。
Unfortunately I do not know any of the people who help to get
slaves away； so I can give him no advice as to the best way to
proceed。 Still I might talk it over with him。 When I have joined
him； do you go up to the house and tell Chloe from me to give you
a pile of corn…cake… it's no use giving him flour； for he would be
afraid to light a fire to cook it。 Tell her to give you； too； any cold
meat there may be in the house。 Don't tell Dinah her husband is
here till we have talked the matter over。〃
Dan led Vincent up to a clump of bushes。
〃It am all right； Tony；〃 he said； 〃here is Massa Vincent come to see
you。〃
The bushes parted and Tony came out into the full moonlight。 He
looked haggard and worn； his clothes were torn into strips by the
bushes。
〃My poor fellow；〃 Vincent said kindly； 〃I am sorry to see you in
such a state。〃
A great sob broke from the black
〃De Lord bress you； sah； for your goodness and for saving Dinah
from do hands of dose debils！ Now she safe wid you and de child；
Tony no care berry much what come to him…do sooner he dead de
better。 He wish dat one day when dey flog him dey had kill him
altogether； den all de trouble at an end。 Dey hunt him ebory day
with dogs and guns； and soon they catch him。 No can go on much
longer like dis。 To…day me nearly gib myself up。 Den me thought
me like to see Dinah once more to say good…by； so make great
effort and ran a bit furder。〃
〃I have been thinking whether it would be possible to plan some
way for your escape； Tony。〃
The negro shook his head。
〃Dar never escape； sah； but to get to Canada； dat too far any way。
Not possible to walk all dat way and get food by do road。 Suah to
be caught。〃
〃No； I do not think it will be possible to escape that way； Tony。
The only possible plan would be to get you on board some ship
going to England。〃
〃Ships not dare take negro on board；〃 Tony said。 〃Me heard dat
said many times…dat against de law。〃
〃Yes； I know it's against the law；〃 Vincent said； 〃and it's against
the law my talking to you here； Tony； but you see it's done。 The
difficulty is how to do it。 All vessels are searched before they
start； and an officer goes down with them past Fortress Monroe to
see that they take no one en board。 Still it is possible。 Of course
there is risk in the matter； but there is risk in everything。 I will
think it over。 Do not lose heart。 Dan will be back directly with
enough food to last you for some days。 If I were you I would take
refuge this time in White Oak Swamp。 It is much nearer； and I
hear it has already been searched from end to end； so they are not
likely to try again； and if yon hear them you can； if you are
pressed； cross the Chickahominy and make down through the
woods。 Do you come again on Saturday evening…that will give me
four days to see what I can do。 I may not succeed； you know； for
the penalty is so severe against taking negroes on board that I may
not be able to find any one willing to risk it。 But it is worth
trying。〃
〃De Lord bless you； sah！〃 Tony said。 〃I will do juss what you toll
me； but don't you run no risks for me； my life ain't worth dat。〃
〃I will take care； Tony。 And now here comes Dan with the
provisions。〃
〃Can I see Dinah； sah？〃 Tony pleaded。
〃I think you had better not；〃 Vincent replied。 〃You see the
Jacksons might at any moment learn that she is here； and then she
might be questioned whether she had seen you since your escape；
and it would be much better for her to be able to deny having done
so。 But you shall see her next time you come； whether I am able to
make any arrangements for your escape or not。 I will let he！ know
to…morrow morning that I have seen you； and that you are safe at
present。〃
The next morning Vincent rode over to City Point； where ships
with a large draught of water generally brought up； either
transferring their goods into smaller craft to be sent up by river to
Richmond； or to be carried on by rail through the town of
Petersburg。 Leaving his horse at a house near the river； ho crossed
the James in a boat to City Point。 There were several vessels lying
here； and for some hours ho hung about the wharf watching the
process of discharging。 By the end of that time ho had obtained a
view of all the captains； and had watched them as they gave their
orders； and had at last come to the conclusion as to which would
be the most likely to suit his purpose。 Having made up his mind；
he waited until the one he had fixed upon came ashore。 Ho was a
man of some five…and…thirty years old； with a pleasant face and
good…natured smile。 He first went into some offices on the wharf；
and half an hour later came out and walked toward the
railway…station。 Vincent at once followed him； and as he overtook
him said：
〃I want very much to speak to you； sir； if you could spare me a
minute or two。〃
〃Certainly；〃 the sailor said with some surprise。 〃The train for
Petersburg does not go for another half hour。 What can I do for
you？〃
〃My name is Vincent Wingfield。 My father was an English
officer； and my mother is the owner of some large estates near
Richmond。 I am most anxious to get a person in whom I am
interested on board ship； and I do not know how to set about it。〃
〃There's no difficulty about that；〃 the captain said smiling； 〃you
have only to go to an office and pay for his passage to where he
wants to go。〃
〃I can't do that；〃 Vincent replied； 〃for unfortunately it is against the
law for any captain to take him。〃
〃You mean he is a negro？〃 the captain asked； stopping short in his
walk and looking sharply at Vincent。
〃Yes； that is what I mean；〃 Vincent said。 〃He is a negro who has
been brutally ill…treated and has run away from his master； and I
would willingly give five hundred dollars to get him safely away。〃
This is a very serious business in which you are meddling； young
sir；〃 the sailor said。 〃Putting aside the consequences to yourself；
you are asking me to break the law and to run the risk of the
confiscation of my ship。 Even if I were willing to do what you
propose it would be impossible； for the ship will be searched from
end to end before the hatches are closed； and an official will be on
board until we discharge the pilot after getting well beyond the
mouth of the river。〃
〃Yes； I know that；〃 Vincent replied； 〃but my plan was to take a
boat and go out beyond the sight of land； and then to put him on
board after you have got well away。〃
〃That might be managed； certainly；〃 the captain said。 〃It would be
contrary to my duty to do anything that would risk the property of
my employers； but if when I am out at sea a boat came alongside；
and a passenger came on board； it； would be another matter。 I
suppose； young gentleman； that you would not interfere i