with lee in virginia-第11章

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probable　that　you　may　have　to　leave　the　state。　　What　on　earth　can

have　influenced　you　to　act　in　such　a　mad…brained　way？〃



〃I　did　not　interfere　to　prevent　his　flogging　the　slave；　mother；　but　to

prevent　his　flogging　the　slave's　wife；　which　was　pure　wanton

brutality。　　It　is　not　a　question　of　slavery　one　way　or　the　other。　　Any

one　has　a　right　to　interfere　to　put　a　stop　to　brutality。　　If　I　saw　a　man

brutally　treating　a　horse　or　a　dog　I　should　certainly　do　so；　and　if　it

is　right　to　interfere　to　save　a　dumb　animal　from　brutal　ill…treatment

surely　it　must　be　justifiable　to　save　a　woman　in　the　same　case。　　I

am　not　an　Abolitionist。　　That　is　to　say；　I　consider　that　slaves　on　a

properly　managed　estate；　like　ours；　for　instance；　are　just　as　well　off

as　are　the　laborers　on　an　estate　in　Europe；　but　I　should　certainly

like　to　see　laws　passed　to　protect　them　from　ill…treatment。　　Why；　in

England　there　are　laws　against　cruelty　to　animals；　and　a　man　who

brutally　flogged　a　dog　or　a　horse　would　get　a　month's

imprisonment　with　hard　labor。　　I　consider　it　a　disgrace　to　us　that　a

man　may　here　ill…treat　a　human　being　worse　than　he　might　in

England　a　dumb　animal。〃



〃You　know；　Vincent；〃　his　mother　said　more　quietly；　〃that　I　object

as　much　as　you　do　to　the　ill…treatment　of　the　slaves；　and　that　the

slaves　here；　as　on　all　well…conducted　plantations　in　Virginia；　are

well　treated；　but　this　is　not　a　time　for　bringing　in　laws　or　carrying

out　reforms。　　It　is　bad　enough　to　have　scores　of　Northerners　doing

their　best　to　stir　up　mischief　between　masters　and　slaves　without　a

Southern　gentleman　mixing　himself　up　in　the　matter。　We　have　got

to　stand　together　as　one　people　and　to　protect　our　State　rights　from

interference。〃



〃I　am　just　as　much　in　favor　of　State　rights　as　any　one　else；　mother；

and　if；　as　seems　likely；　the　present　quarrel　is　to　be　fought　out；　I

hope　I　shall　do　my　best　for　Virginia　as　well　as　other　fellows　of　my

own　age。　　But　just　as　I　protest　against　any　interference　by　the

Northerners　with　our　laws；　I　say　that　we　ought　to　amend　our　laws

so　as　not　to　give　them　the　shadow　of　an　excuse　for　interference。　　It

is　breeze　sprang　up。　　Vincent　then　put　up　the　mast；　and；　having

hoisted　the　sail；　took　his　place　at　the　helm；　while　Dan　went

forward　into　the　bow。　　They　passed　several　fishing…boats；　and　the

smoke　was　seen　curling　up　from　the　huts　in　the　clearings　scattered

here　and　there　along　the　shore。　　The　sun　had　now　risen；　and　its　heat

was　pleasant　after　the　damp　night　air。



Although　the　breeze　was　light；　the　boat　made　fair　way　with　the

tide；　and　when　the　ebb　ceased　at　about　ten　o'clock　the　mouth　of　the

river　was　but　a　few　miles　away。　　The　mast　was　lowered　and　the

sails　stowed。　　The　boat　was　then　rowed　into　a　little　creek　and　tied

up　to　the　bushes。　　The　basket　of　provisions　was　opened；　and　a

hearty　meal　enjoyed；　Tony　being　now　permitted　for　the　first　time

to　sit　up　in　the　boat。　　After　the　meal　Vincent　and　Dan　lay　down　for

a　long　sleep；　while　Tony；　who　had　slept　some　hours　during　the

night；　kept　watch。



At　four　in　the　afternoon　tide　again　slackened；　and　as　soon　as　it　had

fairly　turned　they　pushed　out　from　the　creek　and　again　set　sail。　　In

three　hours　they　were　at　the　mouth　of　the　river。　　A　short　distance

out　they　saw　several　boats　fishing；　and　dropping　anchor　a　short

distance　away　from　these；　they　lowered　their　sail；　and　taking　the

fishing…lines　from　the　locker　of　the　boat；　set　to　to　fish。　　As　soon　as

it　was　quite　dark　the　anchor　was　hauled　up；　and　Vincent　and　Dan

took　the　oars；　the　wind　having　now　completely　dropped。　　For　some

time　they　rowed　steadily；　keeping　the　land　in　sight　on　their　right

hand。



Tony　was　most　anxious　to　help；　but　as　he　had　never　had　an　oar　in

his　hand　in　his　life；　Vincent　thought　that　ho　would　do　more　harm

than　good。　　It　was；　he　knew；　some　ten　miles　from　the　mouth　of　the

York　River　to　Fortress　Monroe；　at　the　entrance　to　Hampton　Roads；

and　after　rowing　for　three　hours　he　thought　that　he　could　not　be　far

from　that　point；　and　therefore　turned　the　boat's　head　out　toward　the

sea。　　They　rowed　until　they　could　no　longer　make　out　the　land

astern；　and　then　laying　in　their　oars　waited　till　the　morning；

Vincent　sitting　in　the　stern　and　often　nodding　off　to　sleep；　while

the　two　negroes　kept　up　a　constant　conversation　in　the　bow。



As　soon　as　it　was　daylight　the　oars　were　again　got　out。　They　could

clearly　make　out　the　outline　of　the　coast；　and　saw　the　break　in　the

shore　that　marked　the　entrance　to　Hampton　Roads。　　There　was　a

light　breeze　now；　but　Vincent　would　not　hoist　the　sail　lest　it　might

attract　the　attention　of　some　one　on　shore。　　He　did　not　think　the

boat　itself　could　be　seen；　as　they　were　some　eight　or　nine　miles

from　the　land。　　They　rowed　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　when　Vincent

saw　the　white　sails　of　a　ship　coming　out　from　the　entrance。



The　breeze　was　so　light　that　she　would；　he　thought；　be　nearly　three

hours　before　she　reached　the　spot　where　they　were　now；　and

whether　she　headed　to　the　right　or　left　of　it　he　would　have　plenty

of　time　to　cut　her　off。　　For　another　two　hours　he　and　Dan　rowed

steadily。　　The　wind　had　freshened　a　good　deal；　and　the　ship　was

now　coming　up　fast　to　them。　　Two　others　had　come　out　after　her；

but　were　some　miles　astern。　　They　had　already　made　out　that　the

ship　was　flying　a　flag　at　her　masthead；　and　although　they　had　not

been　able　to　distinguish　its　colors；　Vincent　felt　sure　that　it　was　the

right　ship；　for　he　felt　certain　that　the　captain　would　get　up　sail　as

soon　as　possible；　so　as　to　come　up　with　them　before　any　other

vessels　came　out。　They　had　somewhat　altered　their　course；　to　put

themselves　in　line　with　the　vessel。　　When　she　was　within　a

distance　of　about　a　mile　and　a　half　Vincent　was　able　to　make　out

the　flag；　and　knew　that　it　was　the　right　one。



〃There's　the　ship；　Tony；〃　he　said；　〃it　is　all　right；　and　in　a　few

minutes　you　will　be　on　your　way　to　England。〃



Tony　had　already　changed　his　tattered　garments　for　the　suit　of

sailor's　clothes　that　at　Dan　had　bought　for　him。　　Vincent　had　given

him　full　instructions　as　to　the　course　be　was　to　pursue。　　The　ship

was　bound　for　Liverpool；　on　his　arrival　there　be　was　at　once　to　go

round　the　docks　and　take　a　passage　in　the　steerage　of　the　next

steamer　going　to　Canada。



〃The　fare　will　be　about　twenty…five　dollars；〃　he　said。　〃When　you

get　to　Canada　you　will　land　at　Quebec；　and　you　bad　better　go　on　by

rail　to　Montreal；　where　you　will；　I　think；　find　it　easier　to　get　work

than　at　Quebec。　　As　soon　as　you　get　a　place　you　are　likely　to　stop

in；　get　somebody　to　write　for　you　to　me；　giving　me　your　address。　

Here　are　a　hundred　dollars；　which　will　be　sufficient　to　pay　your

expenses　to　Montreal　and　leave　you　about　fifty　dollars　to　keep　you

till　you　can　get　something　to　do。〃



CHAPTER　IV。　　SAFELY　BACK。



WHEN　the　ship　came　within　a　few　hundred　yards；　Vincent　stood

up　and　waved　his　cap；　and　a　minute　later　the　ship　was　brought　up

into　the　wind　and　her　sails　thrown　aback。　　The　captain　appeared　at

the　side　and　shouted　to　the　boat　now　but　fifty　yards　away：



〃What　do　you　want　there？〃



〃I　have　a　passenger　for　England；〃　Vincent　replied。　〃Will　you　take

him？〃



〃Come　alongside；〃　the　captain　said。　　〃Why　didn't　he　come　on　hoard

before　I　started？〃



The　boat　was　rowed　alongside；　and　Vincent　climbed　on　board。　

The　captain　greeted　him　as　a　stranger　and　led　the　way　to　his　cabin。



〃You　have　managed　that　well；〃　he　said　when　they　were　alone；　〃and

I　am　heartily　glad　that　you　have　succeeded。　I　made　you　out　two

hours　ago。　　We　will　stop　here　another　two　or　three　minutes　so　that

the　men　may　think　you　are　bargaining　for　a　passage　for　the　negro；

and　then　the　sooner　he　is　on　board　and　you　are　on　your　way　back

the　better；　for　the　wind　is　rising；　and　I　fancy　it　is　going　to　blow　a

good　deal　harder　before　night。〃



〃And　won't　you　let　me　pay　for　the　man's　passage；　cap　tam？　It　is

only　fair　anyhow　that　I　should　pay　for　what　he　will　eat。〃



〃Oh；　nonsense！〃　the　captain　replied。　　〃He　will　make　himself　useful

and　pay　for　his　keep。　　I　am　only　too　glad　to　get；　the　poor　fellow

off。　　Now；　we　will　have　a　glass　of　wine　together　and　then　say

good…by。〃



Two　minutes　later　they　returned　to　the　deck　　Vincent　went　to　the

side。



Jump　on　board；　Tony。　　I　have　arranged　for　your　passage。〃



The　negro　climbed　up　the　side。



〃Good…by；　captain；　and　thank　you　heartily。　　Good…by；　Tony。〃



The　negro　could　not　speak；　but　he　seized　the　hand　Vincent　held

out　to　him　and　pressed　it；　to　his　lips。　　Vincent　dropped　lightly　into

his　boat；　and　pushed　off　from　the　side　of　the　vessel。　　As　he　did　so

he　heard　orders　shouted；　the　yards　swung　round；　and　the　vessel

almost；　at　once　began　to　move　through　the　water。



〃Now；　Dan；　up　with　the　mast；　and　sail　again；　but　let　me　put　two

reefs　in　first；　the　wind　is　getting　up。〃



In　five　minutes　the　sail　was　hoisted；　and　with　Vincent　at　the　helm

and　Dan　sitting　up　to　windward；　was　dashing　through　tile　water。　

Although　Vincent　understood　the　management　of　a　sailing…boat　on

the　calm　waters　of　the　rivers；　this　was　his　first　experience　of

sea…sailing；　and　although　the　waves　were　still　but　small；　he　felt　at

first　somewhat　nervous　as　the　boat　dashed　through　them；　sending

up　at　times　a　sheet　of　spray　from　her　bows。　　But　he　soon　got　over

this　sensation；　and　enjoyed　the　lively　motion　and　the　fresh　wind。　

Tile　higher　points　of　the　laud　were　still　visible；　but　even　had　they

not　been　so　it　would　have　mattered　little；　as　be　had　taken　the

precaution　to　bring　with　him　a　small　pocket…compass。　　The　wind

was　from　tile　southwest；；　and　he　was　therefore　able；　with　the　sheet

hauled　in；　to　make　for　a　point　where　he　judged　the　mouth　of　the

York　River　lay。



〃Golly；　massa！　how　do　boat　do　jump　up　and　down。〃



〃She　is　lively；　Dan；　and　it　would　be　just　as　well　if　we　had　some

ballast　on　board；　however；　she　has　a　good　beam　and　walks　along

splendidly。　　If　the　wind　keeps　as　it　is；　we　shall　be　back　at　the

mouth　of　the　York　in　three　or　four　hours。　　You　'nay　as　well　open

that　basket　again　and　hand　me　that；　cold　chicken　and　a　piece　of

bread；　cut　the　meat　off　the　bones　and　put　it　on　the　bread；　for　I　have

only　one　hand　disengaged；　and　hand　me　that　bottle　of　cold　tea。

That's　right。　　Now　you　had　better　take　something　your…self。　　You

must　be　hungry。　　We　forgot　all　about　the　basket　in　our　interest　in

the　ship。〃



Dan　shook　his　head。



〃A　little　while　ago；　massa；　me　seem　berry　hungry；　now　me　doesn't

feel　hungry　at　all。〃



〃That's　bad；　Dan。　I　am　afraid　you　are　going　to　be　seasick。〃



Me　no　feel　seasick；　massa；　only　me　don't　feel　hungry。〃　But　in　a

few　minutes　Dan　was　forced　to　confess　that；　lie　did　feel　ill；　and　a

few　moments　afterward　was　groaning　in　the　agonies　of

seasickness。



〃Never　mind；　Dan；〃　Vincent　said　cheerfully。　　〃You　will　be　better

after　this。〃



〃Me　not　seasick；　massa；　de　sea　h