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!
white lad; some two years Vincent's senior; was showering blows
with a heavy whip upon him。 The slave's back was already
covered with weals; and the blood was flowing from several
places。 A few yards distant a black girl; with a baby in her arms;
was kneeling on the ground screaming for mercy for the slave。
Just as Vincent burst through the bushes; the young fellow;
irritated at her cries; turned round and delivered a tremendous
blow with the whip on her bare shoulders。
This time no cry came from her lips; but the slave; who had stood
immovable while the punishment was being inflicted upon
himself; made a desperate effort to break from the men who held
him。 He was unsuccessful; but before the whip could again fall on
the woman's shoulders; Vincent sprang forward; and seizing it;
wrested it from the hands of the striker。 With an oath of fury and
surprise at this sudden interruption; the young fellow turned upon
Vincent。
〃You are a coward and a blackguard; Andrew Jackson!〃 Vincent
exclaimed; white with auger。 〃You are a disgrace to Virginia; you
ruffian!〃
Without a word the young planter; mad with rage at this
interference; rushed at Vincent; but the atter had learned the use of
his fists at his English school; and riding exercises had
strengthened his muscles; and as his opponent rushed at him; he
met him with a blow from the shoulder which sent him staggering
back with the blood streaming from his lips。 He again rushed
forward; and heavy blows were exchanged; then they closed and
grappled。 For a minute they swayed to and from but although
much taller; the young planter was no stronger than Vincent; and at
last they came to the ground with a crash; Vincent uppermost;
Jackson's head as he fell coming with such force against a low
stump that he lay insensible。
The contest had been so sudden and furious that none had
attempted to interfere。 Indeed the negroes were so astonished that
they had not moved from the moment when Vincent made his
appearance upon the scene。 The lad rose to his feet。
〃You had better carry him up to the house and throw some water
on him;〃 he said to the negroes; and then turned to go away。 As he
did so; the slave who had been flogged broke from the others; who
had indeed loosened their hold; and ran up to Vincent; threw
himself on his knees; and taking the lad's hand pressed it to his
lips。
〃I am afraid I haven't done you much good;〃 Vincent said。 〃You
will be none the better off for my interference; but I couldn't help
it。〃 So saying he made his way through the shrubbery; cleared the
fence; mounted; and route homeward。
〃I have been a fool;〃 he said to himself as he rode along。 〃It will be
all the worse for that poor beggar afterward; still I could not help
it。 I wonder will there be any row about it。 I don't much expect
there will; the Jacksons don't stand well now; and this would not
do them any good with the people round; besides I don't think
Jackson would like to go into court to complain of being thrashed
by a fellow a head shorter than himself。 It's blackguards like him
who give the Abolitionists a right to hold up the slave…owners as
being tyrants and brutes。〃
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 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; lie was
unpopular there; and from the rumors current as to the treatment of
the slaves on the estate; was known by the nickname of the
〃slave…driver。〃
Had Vincent been the son of a white trader; or a small cultivator;
he knew well enough that his position would he a very serious one;
and that he would have bad 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 filled and admonished for 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 stables; 〃I suppose yen know some of the bands on
Jackson's plantation。〃
Dan grinned; for although there was not supposed to be 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 bad master; Massa Jackson。 Wust master hereabouts。〃
Vincent related what had happened; to Dan's intense delight。
〃Now; Dan;〃 he went on; 〃I am afraid that after my interference
they will treat that poor fellow and his wife worse than before。 I
want yen to find out for me what is going on at Jackson's。 I do not
know that I can do anything; however badly they treat them; but I
have been thinking that if they ill…treat them very grossly; I will get
together a party of fifteen or twenty of my friends and we will go
in a body to Jackson's; and warn him that if he behaves with
cruelty to his slaves; we will make it so hot for him that he will
have to leave the state。 I don't say that we could do anything; but
as we should represent most of the