按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃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。
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 light
The 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