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from them。〃
There was no need； however； to do this。 It was just the four hours
from the time of starting when they saw some eight or ten
fishing…boats ahead of them。
〃I expect that that is the entrance to the river。 When we get half a
mile further we shall see it open。〃
On approaching the fishing…boats they recognized at once the
appearance of the shore； as they had noticed it when fishing there
before； and were soon in the entrance to the river。
It will be high tide in about two hours；〃 Vincent said； 〃according to
the time it was the other day。 I am afraid when it turns we shall
have to get down our sails； there will he no beating against both
wind and tide。 Then we must get out oars and row。 There is very
little tide close in by the bank； and every little gain will be a help。
We have been out； four days。 It is Thursday now； and they will be
beginning to get very anxious at home； so we must do our best to
get back。〃
Keeping close under the bank； they rowed steadily； making on an
average about two miles an hour。 After five hours' rowing they
tied up to the bank； had a meal； and rested until tide turned； then
they again hoisted their sail and proceeded on their way。 Tide
carried them just up to the junction of the two rivers； and landing
at Cumberland they procured beds and slept till morning。
Another long day's work took them up to the plantation of Mr。
Furniss； and fastening up the boat； and carrying the sails and oars
on shore； they started on their walk home。
〃Why； Vincent； where on earth have you been all this time？〃 Mrs。
Wingfield said as her son entered。 〃You said you might be away a
couple of nights； and we expected you back on Wednesday at the
latest； and now it is Friday evening。〃
〃Well； mother； we have had great fun。 We went sailing about right
down to the mouth of the York River。 I did not calculate that it
would take me more than twice as long to get back as to get
down； but as the wind blew' right down the river it was precious
slow work； and we had to row all the way。 However； it has been a
jolly trip； and I feel a lot better for it。〃
〃You don't look any bettor for it；〃 Annie said。 〃The skin is all off
your face； and you are as red as fire。 Your clothes look shrunk as
well as horribly dirty。 You are quite an object； Vincent。〃
〃We got caught in a heavy gale；〃 Vincent said； 〃and got a thorough
ducking。 As to my face； a day or two will set it all to rights again；
and so they will my hands； I hope； for I have got nicely blistered
tugging at those oars。 And now； mother； I want some supper； for I
am as hungry as a hunter。 I told Dan to go into the kitchen and get
a good square meal。〃
The next morning； just after breakfast； there was the sound of
horses' hoofs outside the house； and； looking out；； Vincent saw Mr。
Jackson； with a man he knew to be the sheriff； and four or five
others。 A minute later one of the servants came in； and said that
the sheriff wished to speak to Mrs。 Wingfield。
〃I will go out to him；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield replied。 Vincent followed
her to the door。
〃Mrs。 Wingfield；〃 the sheriff said； 〃I am the holder of a warrant； to
search your slave…huts and grounds for a run…away negro named
Anthony Moore； the property of Mr。 Jackson here。〃
〃Do you suppose； sir；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield asked angrily； 〃that I am the
sort of person to give shelter to runaway slaves？〃
No； madam； certainly not；〃 the sheriff replied； 〃no one would
suppose for a moment that Mrs。 Wingfield of the Orangery would
have anything to do with a runaway； but Mr。 Jackson here learned
only yesterday that the wife of this slave was here； and every one
knows that where the wife is the husband is not likely to be far
off。〃
〃I suppose； sir；〃 Mrs。 Wingfleld said coldly； 〃that there was no
necessity for me to acquaint Mr。 Jackson formerly with the fact
that I had purchased through my agent the woman he sold to
separate her from her husband。〃
。'By no means； madam； by no means； though； had we known it；
before； it might have been some aid to us in our search。 Have we
your permission to see this woman and to question her？〃
〃Certainly not；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield said； 〃but if you have any question
to ask I will ask her and give you her answer。〃
〃We want to know whether she has seen her husband since the day
of his flight； from the plantation？〃
〃I shall certainly not ask her that question； Mr。 Sheriff。 I have no
doubt that； as the place from which he has escaped is only a few
miles from here； he did come to see his wife。 It would have been
very strange if he did not。 I hope that by this time the man is
hundreds of miles away。 He was brutally treated by a brutal
master； who； I believe； deliberately set to work to make him run
away； so that he could hunt him down and punish him。 I presume；
sir； you do not wish to search this house； and you do not suppose
that the man is hidden here。 As to the slave…huts and the
plantation； you can； of course； search them thoroughly； but as it is
now more than a fortnight since the man escaped； it is not likely
you will find him hiding within a few miles of his master's
plantation。〃
So saying she went into the house and shut the door behind her。
Mr。 Jackson ground his teeth with rage； but the sheriff rode off
toward the slave…huts without a word。 The position of Mrs。
Wingfield of the Orangery； connected as she was with half the old
families of Virginia； and herself a large slave…owner； was beyond
suspicion； and no one would venture to suggest that such a lady
could have the smallest sympathy for a runaway slave。
〃She was down upon you pretty hot； Mr。 Jackson；〃 the sheriff said
as they rode off。 〃You don't seem to be in her good books。〃
Jackson muttered an imprecation。
〃It is certainly odd；〃 the sheriff went on； 〃after what you were
telling me about her son pitching into Andrew over flogging this
very slave； that she should go and buy his wife。 Still； that's a very
different thing from hiding a runaway。 I dare say that； as she says；
the fellow came here to see his wife when he first ran away； but I
don't； think you will find him anywhere about here now。 It's pretty
certain from what we hear that he hasn't made for the North； and
where the fellow can be hiding I can't think。 Still the woods about
this country are mighty big； and the fellow can go out on to the
farms and pick corn and keep himself going for a long time。 Still；
he's sure to be brought； up sooner or later。〃
A thorough search was made of the slave…huts； and the slaves were
closely questioned； but all denied any knowledge of the runaway。
Dan escaped questioning； as he had taken up Vincent's horse to the
house in readiness for him to start as soon as he had finished
breakfast。
All day the searchers rode about the plantation examining every
clump of bushes； and assuring themselves that none of them had
been used as