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suppose； young gentleman； that you would not interfere in such a
business； and run the risk that you certainly would run if detected；
unless you were certain that this was a deserving case； and that the
man has committed no sort of crime； for I would not receive on
board my ship a fugitive from justice； whether he was black or
white。〃
〃It is indeed a deserving case；〃 Vincent said earnestly。 〃The poor
fellow has the misfortune of belonging to one of the worst masters
in the State。 He has been cruelly flogged on many occasions； and
was finally driven to run away by their selling his wife and child。〃
〃The brutes！〃 the sailor said。 〃How you people can allow such
things to be done is a mystery to me。 Well； lad； under those
circumstances I will agree to do what you ask me； and if your boat
comes alongside when I am so far away from land that it cannot be
seen； I will take the man to England。〃
〃Thank you very much indeed；〃 Vincent said； 〃you will be doing a
good action。 Upon what day do you sail？〃
〃I shall drop down on Monday into Hampton Roads； and shall get
up sail at daylight next morning。 I shall pass Fortress Monroe at
about seven in the morning； and shall sail straight out。〃
〃And how shall I know your ship？〃 Vincent asked。 〃There may be
others starting just about the same time。〃
The sailor thought for a moment。 〃When I am four or five miles
out I will hoist my owner's flag at the foremast…head。 It is a red
flag with a white ball； so you will be able to make it out a
considerable distance away。 Yon must not be less than ten or
twelve miles out； for the pilot often does not leave the ship till she
is some miles past Fortress Monroe； and the official will not leave
the ship till he does。 I will keep a sharp lookout for you； but I
cannot lose my time in waiting。 If you do not come alongside I
shall suppose that you have met with some interruption to your
plans。〃
〃Thank you very much； sir。 Unless something goes wrong I shall
be alongside on Tuesday。〃
〃That's settled； then；〃 the captain said； 〃and I must be off； or else I
shall lose my train。 By the way； when you come alongside do not
'rake any sign that you have met me before。 It is just as well that
none of my crew should know that it is a planned thing； for if we
ever happened to put in here again they might blab about it； and it
is just as well not to give them the chance。 Good…by； my lad； I
hope that all will go well。 But； you know； you are doing a very
risky thing； for the assisting a runaway slave to escape is about as
serious an offense as you can commit in these parts。 You might
shoot half a dozen men and get off scot free； but if yen were
caught aiding a runaway to escape there is no saying what might
come of it。〃
After taking leave of the captain； Vincent recrossed the river and
rode home。 He had friends whose fathers' estates bordered some
on the James and others on the York River； and all of these had
pleasure…boats。 It was obviously better to go down the York River；
and thence round to the mouth of the James at Fortress Monroe； as
the traffic on the York was comparatively small； and it was
improbable that he would be noticed either going down or
returning。 He had at first thought of hiring a fishing…boat from
some of the free negroes who made their living on the river。 But
he finally decided against this； for the fact of the boat being absent
so long would attract its owner's attention； and in case any
suspicion arose that the fugitive had escaped by water； the hiring
of a boat by one who had already befriended the slave； and its
absence for so long a time； would be almost certain to cause
suspicion to be directed toward him。 He therefore decided upon
borrowing a boat from a friend； and next morning rode to the
plantation of the father of Harry Furniss； this being situated on a
convenient position on the Pamunky； one of the branches of the
York River。
〃Are you using that sailing…boat of yours at present； Harry？
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 I
was 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 I
saw 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 y