"I see, father," said Charlie, "you could build two boats in that way while you were building one in our fashion."
Charlie instantly set to work, at odd jobs, to build a boat for the Perseverance that should take the fly off of everything. It was a labor of love, because he meant to make a present of it to Lion Ben, and felt all the enthusiasm naturally connected with new ideas.
He made the stem, stern-post, sharp-risers, and floor-timbers of apple tree, which takes a very good polish, and the other timbers from plank sawed out of small, second-growth white-oak butts, tough enough for ox-goads, and as blue as a whet-stone. The excellent quality of the wood enabled him to secure sufficient strength, and yet make them quite small and neat. She was planked with the best of cedar.
He then made a fancy rudder, fancy oars, mast, and boom, and painted her white to correspond. As she was small, Lion Ben made a shoulder-of-mutton sail for her, which shape brought the body of the sail low in the boat, enabling her to carry it much longer. She was just the prettiest, lightest thing imaginable; and she would streak it with a good breeze. After work at night, the boys did enjoy sailing in her. Pleasantly and swiftly did these days pass away. They hardly ate two meals in the same house; for they were universal favorites, and all wanted to have the boys at their houses, and it was only on Sabbath days that Walter spent the day at home.
Again he sat beside Charlie Bell in the old church, and had many a pleasant talk with him; but Walter was obliged to tell Charlie, that, although he had often thought of that moonlight talk by the brook, and how vividly, among the crumbling ruins of the old castle, the power of association recalled that conversation, he had complied with his request no farther than to repeat the Lord's Prayer with Ned then, and ever after when he retired to rest.
The Perseverance was now ready for sea; as Dick Cameron said, everything about her was ship-shape and Bristol fashion. Never did more good wishes and fervent prayers follow a craft than followed her, as, with a wholesale breeze, she weighed anchor, and went down the bay like a race-horse. Reluctantly the crowd of spectators left the heights from which they had watched her as she faded from view, and slowly sought their different places of abode.
To make a quick passage was the great desire of all on board the schooner from various motives, the most prominent of which was to break the fetters of Peterson at the earliest opportunity; but they also burned to show themselves equal to the occasion, and justify the expectations formed of them, well aware that the attention of the whole community, and those whom they loved best, was fixed upon them. Time was also precious, us they could not tell how much time might be occupied in the search and rescue at Martinique, and it was of the greatest importance to get away from there before the hurricane months.
With new rigging and masts, new sails, and plenty of them, a clean bottom, and a wholesale breeze, the gallant little craft, that had been employed on so many errands of mercy, and with which so many pleasant associations were connected, nobly seconded the eager wishes of her young navigators, and sustained her previous reputation.
"Don't them 'ere sails set like a board, and don't she travel, the jade?" shouted Dick, in ecstasy, as Agamenticus grew dim in the distance, and the stars came out one by one; "we shall have to heave to for the wind. That's the time o' day, shipmate," he cried, as a rooster, sticking his head between the slats of a coop, uttered a shrill note of defiance. "Doctor" (cook), "don't kill that chap. We'll keep him to crow when we get the nigger."
It was the intention of Captain Rhines to have taken one of Peterson's boys for cook; but Ben was in the Casco, with Isaac Murch, and the boy next in age had sailed for Berbice, in a Kennebunk ship, the day before Captain Rhines returned from Boston. They, therefore, shipped a black, who, like Peterson, had been a slave, and was formerly owned by Henry Merrithew's father. His name being Neptune, they called him Nep for short.
Captain Griffin (though, for convenience, we shall continue to call him Walter) and Dick were in one watch, Mr. Gates (little Ned) and Sewall Lancaster in the other. It was not a very aristocratic arrangement; for the captain and mate worked ship, and took their tricks at the helm, although Dick and Sewall were very particular in addressing them by their titles; and, when the captain was on deck, Ned was as scrupulous about taking the weather-side of the quarter-deck as though he had been aboard the largest ship.
At daybreak of the ninth day, they made Mount Pelee in the distance, and soon after sighted the north-western part of Martinique, and saw a big rock, and a flat point, with a plantation on it.
"This," said Lancaster, "is Point Precheur, and the rock Pearl Rock."
It was not long before they made the white awnings of the vessels in the harbor of St. Pierre, the principal commercial port of Martinique. This island belongs to France, is about thirty-five miles long, and of irregular shape, rocky, somewhat mountainous, abounding in intricate coves and creeks of difficult navigation, but affording excellent sheltered harbors for vessels both of large and small burdens. The soil is fertile, and water abundant; the population ninety-nine thousand, of whom seventy-eight thousand are negroes. It is subject to earthquakes and hurricanes at certain seasons of the year.
Captain Rhines had given Walter particular directions about taking care of the vessel at St. Pierre, which is an open roadstead. The town is built on the side of a hill which falls off towards the water, forming a circular beach. The shore being bold, vessels moor head and stern, with anchors carried out to the south-east and north-west. Lumber is rafted to the eastern portion of the harbor, where the water is shoaler, and merchandise from the shore is brought off in launches. For special reasons, the boys were in no haste to sell, and went ashore to look at the place.
The town presented a singular appearance, being built in such a manner upon the declivity of the hill, that from the vessel you saw a good part of one house over the roof of the one in front, while steeper hills behind seemed to overhang the houses.
The roofs of their houses were covered with tiles, which excited Walter's curiosity to see how they were made, as he was always interested in everything of a mechanical nature. So he clambered up on to the roofs, and found the tiles were of two kinds: some were shaped like a gouge, or half of an earthen pot. A row of these were laid, hollow side up, the length of the roof, and two or three inches apart, to economize stock; then others laid hollow side down to cover the space between the others, and direct the water into the hollow of those first laid; and so on, till the roof was covered.
Multitudes of bats find a lodgment under the tiles covering the joints, and come out as twilight comes on.
Other tiles were made the shape of the letter S, the extremity of one lapping the hollow of the other. These tiles were made of strong, coarse pottery, of different colors, red predominating, and were laid in mortar.
The houses of the negroes and the poorer class of whites were merely four bamboo posts, stuck in the earth, the walls formed of wicker-work, and plastered with mud, and the roofs thatched with cane leaves.
There had been a rain the day before, and the water was running in streams from the hills, in paved gutters, through the middle of the streets. The next morning presented a curious spectacle. It seemed as though the entire population had been seized with a desire to wash. Negro nurses were bringing children of all ages and colors down to the beach, and washing them; infants in arms, and those who could just go alone; while men were washing horses, asses, and mules. Hosts of boys, black, white, and mulatto, were swimming with a facility and grace quite wonderful. Whenever they could obtain permission, they would dive from the masts, and even top-gallant-yards, of the vessels, in some seventy feet in height, going down feet foremost, with their hands close to their sides.
Going to the market, the boys witnessed a singular sight. The market-men were not allowed to kill any animal before five o'clock in the afternoon, nor sell any fresh meat after ten in the morning. Whatever was left at that time they were obliged to rub with salt, and dry in the shade. Near to a butcher's stall a bullock was tied. The butcher, finding he was likely to fall short of meat that morning, runs out, and thrusts a sharp-pointed knife into the marrow of the bullock's neck, just back of the horns. The creature dropped in a moment.
The butcher and his assistants instantly began to skin him, cutting the flesh from the ribs, thighs, and brisket as fast as they skinned, and selling it hot from the bones, the skin and flesh being stripped from the bones before the entrails were removed. Then the bones were cut up in short pieces, tied in little bunches, and sold for a few sous, or a bit (twelve cents), to poor people, for soups. All sorts of coin were current there.
Walter went to the market to buy some fruit; there were twenty-five cents in change due him, and the negro gave him a triangular piece of silver.
"What is this?" asked Walter.
"Makkatena," replied the black; "he be two bit."
Upon examination, he found a Spanish dollar had been cut into four equal parts, and, upon inquiry, ascertained that one way they procured small change was to cut dollars, half dollars, and quarters into four pieces, which they called "makkatena."
"Sewall," said Walter, when he returned on board the vessel, "the story, at first, was, that Peterson fell between the vessel and the wharf. I don't see a wharf here."
"They sold their lumber to the government, and there was a breastwork belonging to them. Joe Elwell said it was torn to pieces by the sea. Nothing of that kind will stand here after the middle of July, when the hurricanes come."
They were now surrounded by bumboat-men, wanting to buy vegetables; and the captain, who was much ashore, had several offers for his lumber; but he seemed in no haste to sell; thought he should go round to some of the plantations and small villages along the coast; didn't know but he should go to Precheur, Case Pilote, or Case de Navire; might go to Port Royal. Trinity Bay, or to the plantations near Carvel (Caravelle); meant to try the market; guessed he had the right sort of things; shouldn't wonder at all if he went to Guadaloupe; rather thought he should; guessed that was the best market. In the mean time, he retailed a few hens, some vegetables, and a little butter.
The captain was also very liberal to the blacks, especially to those belonging to launches and drogers, giving them beef and biscuit, which they carried off in the top of their high-crowned hats. The whole ship's company were very sociable, particularly with the free negroes. The result of this was, that the vessel was thronged with negroes. One old black, a bumboat-man, terribly pock-marked, and his wool white with age, was very intimate with Nep, in consequence of which he got many a fritter and cup of coffee, and bought the cook's slush.
He also did a great many errands for the captain, was half the time on board the vessel, and often invited Nep to his house on Sundays. He was constantly telling about going to Point Solomon, where he had a good many negro acquaintances; so Lancaster christened him Solomon, to which name he answered as readily as to his own.
Lion Ben told Walter, the day they sailed, that he might sell the boat, buy some cheap affair that would answer to come home with, and divide the money between himself, Ned, and the crew. Many were the offers he had for this boat: he refused them all.
"Why don't you sell her?" asked Dick Cameron.
"I have good reasons for not doing it," was the reply.
"Solomon," said the captain one afternoon, as the old negro sat on the heel of the bowsprit, enjoying a cigar, "how old are you?"
"Golly, massa, dunno. How much be two hunder?"
"As much again as one hundred."
"Den s'pose I be two hunder."
"No, you ain't two hundred, or one hundred. What makes you think you are so old?"
"'Cause eberybody say, when come to de vessel, 'Dere come de old bumboat-man.' I go 'long de street: dey say, 'Dere go ole Quambo.' Eberybody gone I knowed; cap'ns all dead, vessels all dead, too; one, two, tree massas—all be dead. Last massa, he be sick; he say, 'Gib old Quambo his freedom; he ole nigger, all wear out; only fit eat plantin.' Dat one die; his chillen all die. Ole Quambo live yet, run de bumboat, buy de slush, sell plantin, bananas, eat fish Sunday. Yah, yah, yah! S'pose Gorra mighty forget all about ole Quambo. Yah, yah, yah!"
"How long have you been a bumboat-man?"
"Dunno, massa cap'n. S'pose half hunder year."
"O, pshaw! no, you haven't half of it. Captains that follow this trade don't live long, and perhaps the vessels you used to know are not worn out, but have gone to some other island. Do you board all the vessels that come here?"
"Yes, massa, ebery one. Dey lets me hab de slush. All de cap'n know ole Quambo."
"Do you remember an American vessel, the Casco, that, came here last year?"
"Bery big ship, massa. Nebber so big ship here, only men-o'-war."
"Yes; do you remember her?"
"Yes, massa. Bring great pile o' boards; goberment buy it all. Me hab her slush. Sell many tings to de crew; dey hab plenty ob money."
"Did you know the cook?"
"He black man; bery large; white on his hair. Me buy de slush ob him."
"What was his name?"
"Dunno, massa; old man no 'member. He lose part ob de small finger on de right hand."
"Just so. He was drowned. Do you remember their trying to find him on the bottom?"
"Dat man nebber drowned, massa; he libe now."
"How do you know that?"
"Sometime, when hurricane months come, no vessel. Me go to de houses, sell de candles me buy ob de 'Merican sailors; me go to Pierre Lallemont's house; hear him tell de wife dat man no dead; he sold to de Frenchman on de plantation."
"What Frenchman?"
"Dunno, massa; no 'member."
"Who is Pierre Lallemont?"
"He free nigger; cooper; make much money; hab niggers hisself. Eberybody know Pierre."
"I guess that's a story, Solomon, that somebody got up to hear themselves talk. The captain and crew all said he was drowned. It is likely they knew best."
"S'pose so, massa."
Here ended Walter's questioning of Solomon, who certainly did not resemble his namesake in wisdom. Walter told Nep to give Solomon half a dozen biscuit, and send him ashore. After the old man had been gone a while, he said to Cameron,—
"Dick, take the cook's axe, and stave in the head of that empty water-cask that stands on end abreast the main batch."
"It's a good cask, sir," amazed at the order from so prudent a man as Walter.
"No matter; do as I tell you."
"Obey orders if you break owners," said Dick; and in went the head of the cask.
"Cut the upper hoops off that beef-barrel."
Dick did as he was ordered.
"Take Sewall with you, go ashore, and inquire for a black cooper by the name of Pierre Lallemont, and ask him to come aboard, and put a head in a water-cask, cooper some barrels, and bring the stock to do it with. I want it done aboard."
Walter gave Dick the measure of the head.
"That beats all my going to sea," said Dick, as they pulled ashore—"to stave in the head of a good water-cask, cut the hoops of a new beef-barrel, and then send ashore for a cooper to mend 'em, as high wages as the coopers charge here."
"It's none of our consarn. We don't find the water-casks or pay the cooper."
"I guess Lion Ben would think it was his consarn to let us have the vessel for nothing, and then have water-casks stove up for the fun of the thing. There must be something the matter with his head. I hope the poor lad ain't got a sun-stroke. He was sitting there a long time in the sun, talking with the bumboat-man."
"I reckon his head is well enough," said Sewall. "I wish mine had as much in it."
At noon the boat came back, and, in company, a shore boat, in which was Pierre Lallemont, with his stock and tools, rowed by a negro boy. He was quite a contrast to Solomon, being a strong, tall, intelligent-looking man, pretty well bleached, and in the prime of life. He went to work directly, with his boy, on the water-cask. When the job was finished, Walter took him into the cabin alone, and, after paying him, said to him in French, "Did you do any work for Captain Aldrich, of the Casco, when he was here?"
"Yes, sir; I coopered his molasses."
"He lost his cook here, it is said."
"So I heard at the time."
"Old Quambo, the bumboat-man, told me you said he was kidnapped, and sold to a planter."
"He lies!" replied Pierre, quickly. "I never spoke a word to him about any such thing."
"He never said you did, but that he overheard you tell your wife that man was sold to a planter."
"He's an old fool, and lost what sense he ever had."
"Will one hundred dollars in gold help your recollection?"
This offer made no impression upon the negro.
"Cooper, was you born of free parents, or was you ever a slave?"
"I never was a field-hand, cap'n. I was a slave, but kept about my master, and learned to read, write, and cast accounts, and learned the cooper's trade."
"How did you get your freedom?"
"By working holidays, Sundays, and extra hours, often in the night."
"I know you can tell me what became of that man, if you will. I see it in your face. Now take the matter home to yourself. Suppose, after you had worked hard, obtaining your liberty by many long years of hard toil, and had gone on business to Guadaloupe, leaving wife and children behind; there been seized, and sold into slavery; what would you think of a person of your own color, who, having been a slave, and knowing from experience how bitter that bondage was, would not contribute in so small a degree towards your deliverance as to tell your friends, your wife, your children, where you was. Pierre Lallemont, you are that man."
"Is that all you want me to do, cap'n?"
"Yes, to give such information as may enable me to act."
"If I aid you, and it is known, I am a dead man."
"I don't want you to lift a finger, or commit yourself in any way. All the information I ask you can give me on this spot, where there are no witnesses except the God above us; and I never will breathe a word you utter."
"Put your questions, captain."
"Did Aldrich sell Peterson to Henri Lemaire for two thousand dollars?"
"He did."
"Is he alive?"
"He is."
"Where?"
"On Lemaire's plantation."
"Where is that?"
"On the north-eastern side, at Vauclin. He has plantations at the northern part of the island; but this is his home place, where he lives, and where he keeps the most slaves, and stores the greatest part of his coffee till he sells it."
"What does he put Peterson to doing?"
"Calking. He has so many drogers, there's work enough for him and others all the time."
"Does he treat him well?"
"Yes; feeds him well, and hires him holidays; does all he can to make him contented, for fear he will get away, but locks him up every night. Haven't you obtained information enough?"
"A few more questions. Does he often come to St. Pierre in his droger?"
"Once a fortnight."
"Does he have any particular one for his own use?"
"Yes."
"Is she any different from the rest?"
"She has a white streak, a red bead, and H. L. in her mainsail; the others are all black."
"Here is your money."
"I didn't give you this information for money, cap'n. I've been a slave to Henri Lemaire. If he should find out that any information had gone from me, he would have me assassinated. I have put my life in your hands."
"You may trust in me. I am equally in your power. You can secure yourself and destroy me at any moment by telling him my business here. Have you any objection to inform me of another thing?"
"No, now that we have gone so far."
"How came you by this knowledge?"
"His overseer told me."
"He was a very powerful man; how did they take him?"
The Capture of Peterson.
The Capture of Peterson.
The Capture of Peterson.
"He had to pass through a narrow alley on his way back to the vessel. The overseer and four more stretched a wire across it; he couldn't see the wire in the night, and fell over it. They leaped on him while he was down, handcuffed, gagged him, and put him into a droger. It was nothing uncommon to see Lemaire's overseer taking a runaway slave home, and no one paid any attention to it."
"When will he probably be here again?"
"To-day is Saturday; next Tuesday will be his day."
Walter did not communicate his information to any one, not oven to Ned. In the mean time, they were all very much puzzled to divine why he did not get under way, if he was going from one plantation to another, and not lose any more time.
Sunday night, without giving the source of his information, he told them he had ascertained where Lemaire's plantation was; that he would probably be at St. Pierre the next Tuesday, or thereabouts; and to look sharp for a droger with a white waist, a red bead round her, and H. L. in the middle cloth of her mainsail.
Tuesday afternoon, about three o'clock, Ned, whose curiosity had led him to go to the mast-head, reported that there was a sail in sight, which proved to be the droger they were expecting, followed at different distances by several others, also belonging to Lemaire.
"Mr. Gates," said the captain, "let us take the boat when he gets along, and have a look at him."
They put the sail in the boat, shipped the fancy rudder, which had not been used since they left Pleasant Cove, and started just as the droger came to anchor at a cable's length from the beach.
They were passing the droger, on their way to the beach, while her negro crew were furling the sails. The planter, who was seated on deck, smoking, hailed and invited them to come on board. They gladly accepted an invitation which afforded a personal interview with the very man they were so anxious to see.
Quite contrary to their expectations, they found Henri Lemaire, in appearance at least, an affable, frank, pursy little Frenchman, of about sixty years of age, and very neatly dressed. It was evidently the boat that had attracted his attention; for the first question he asked, after the usual salutations had been exchanged, was, "Will you sell that boat, captain?" instantly adding, with a smile, "Of course you will. Your countrymen will sell anything; for it was in this very harbor that one of your American captains sold all the masts he had for a thousand dollars, and went home with a jury-mast."
Walter did not tell the Frenchman that the captain who did that was one of his schoolmates, but replied, "This is all the boat I have, and she answers my purpose well. I should be loath to part with her."
"What are you loaded with, captain?"
"Frames for small houses, shingles, nails, locks and hinges, spermaceti candles, and knickknacks."
"How large are the frames?"
Walter gave him the dimensions.
"How many have you got?"
"Twenty-five, or thereabouts."
"I think they would be what I should like to store different qualities of coffee in, and for other purposes. I want a house for my overseer. They are not large enough for that."
"Put two of them together."
"What do you ask for them?"
"I haven't fixed any price yet. I don't know as I shall sell here."
"Do you think you can do better at Guadaloupe?"
"I didn't know but I should go up to the northern part of the island, and call at the plantations. My vessel is light draught. I can run into any of the coves and creeks, and barter with the planters."
"What do you want for your lumber?"
"My vessel is small to take sugar or cotton; therefore prefer coffee, indigo, cloves, or cocoa."
"But that boat—of course you'll sell her; you are only holding off for price."
"Well, I don't know. You see yourself, if I go calling round into the creeks, this boat is just what I want, and I could not get along without it."
Walter then invited him to get into her, and take a sail, which he did, and they parted on the best of terms.
If the crew of the Perseverance thought their young captain somewhat dilatory, they soon had reason to modify that opinion, since he turned them out at three o'clock the next morning to raft one of the frames ashore, and raise it on the beach.
A large crowd of buyers came to look at it, and among the first Lemaire. All were anxious to buy, not merely the frames, but the hardware, some edge-tools that were in the vessel, and, in short, the whole cargo; but Lemaire outbid the rest, and made a bargain with Walter to go to his plantation at Vauclin, and there exchange his frames and other cargo for coffee, indigo, tortoise-shell, and cloves, at certain prices agreed upon between them. Walter, for the sake of going to the spot where Peterson was, would have closed with the planter at almost any price; but the rates now agreed upon left him a very large profit. The frame on the beach was taken down, and put on board of one of the drogers that had discharged her cargo of sugar, and she immediately made sail for the plantation.
That night, when the crew of the Perseverance assembled in the cuddy,—for, like all pink sterns, she had her accommodations forward, and the salt-room aft,—Walter told them that in two days, during which time Lemaire would get through with his business, they were to set sail for his plantation. The announcement gave rise to a most animated discussion as to the course to be pursued after they arrived there. It was much nearer morning than midnight when they turned in.
French and Spanish vessels are all well modelled, and, in general, sail well. The West India drogers, being constantly obliged to work out in creeks and coves, and contend with head winds, are generally fast vessels; but although, during the war of Independence, the Americans had been brought by necessity to build sharp vessels to prey upon British commerce, and escape from their men-of-war, the great majority of the American vessels employed in the West India trade were of the old English model, built after the fashion of the colonial period. Beauty and speed were sacrificed to capacity, and the vessel that could carry the most lumber and molasses, with the least tonnage on the custom-house books, was considered the best, since in that trade, at that period, capacity was more profitable than speed. But the inventive genius of the people, always equal to the situation, was manifested in their fishermen. In respect to this class of vessels, always on a lee shore, and navigating among shoals and breakers, where both life and property depended upon their weatherly qualities, speed paid. Thus it came to pass that occasionally, in the winter, after the fishing season was over, an Ipswich chebacco boat or Marblehead pink-stern would take a cargo of onions, codfish, or small lumber, and go to the West Indies, when those who confounded her with the common lumber drogers, and supposed they could sail two feet to her one, caught a Tartar. It was so in the present instance. Lemaire prided himself upon the sailing qualities of his droger, and thought nothing on the coast could hold way with her.
He came alongside of the Perseverance, the morning of the day appointed, and said,—
"Captain, I shall be ready in about two hours. I must go ashore again. You had better get your anchor and make sail."
"But I don't know the way."
"No matter; you can be jogging along the coast. I'll overtake you, and then you can follow me."
"Very well," was the reply.
It was a good working breeze, the wind for a portion of the way nearly ahead—a direction well adapted to show the weatherly qualities of a vessel.
"Make sail," said Walter; "we'll bejogging."
With only her fore, mainsail, and jibs set, the Perseverance soon left the harbor astern. Hour after hour passed, and nothing was seen of Lemaire; but as they knew the general direction, and that there were no reefs or shoals, they kept on till they made Diamond Rock, on the port hand, when they must round the southern extremity of the island, and a pilot was needed. They accordingly hove to abreast of this singular rock, rising perpendicularly between five and six hundred feet above the sea, except on the western side, which is accessible, and where are a few small trees and bushes.
Lemaire was astonished, when, after getting his anchor, he looked in vain for the Yankee schooner, and knew not what to make of it, as she was hidden from his view by the island. After waiting till the droger came up, and passed ahead for nearly a mile, they put the bonnet on the jib, set the gaff-topsails, came up with and passed her, as Dick Cameron said, "hand over fist," then hove to, and waited for her to come up.
"I guess," said Walter, "we can spare him the gaff-topsails, the bonnet off the jib, and the flying-jib, and then keep jogging."
Having thus shortened sail, they fell into the wake of the droger.
Lemaire was excessively annoyed at being beaten so outrageously by a lumber carrier, and internally resolved to buy the American schooner, as he had not the least doubt but a Yankee would sell anything, only give him his price; and if she would sail like that loaded, what wouldn't she do in a set of pig-iron ballast, and with copper on her bottom!
Rounding Cape Ferre, they entered the Passe Vauclin, where the navigation was most intricate. Sewall Lancaster was one of those who seem by nature constituted for pilots. If he went to a place once, he could go again. In the woods, or on the water, Sewall could find his way. Though an uncouth, awkward being, caring little whom he pleased or displeased, he was a good navigator, had been mate several voyages, and only went before the mast in the brigantine because of the profits, and volunteered to go in the Perseverance because he was a relative of Walter, and greatly attached to Captain Rhines. When Walter saw the nature of the navigation, he said,—
"Sewall, I must calculate on you to bring us out again; this is a crooked place."
"Never fear, cap'n; I'll take my landmarks, crooked as it is."
The plantation of Lemaire was of great extent, comprising two coves, separated by a point of moderate height, rocky at its extremity. The cove on the southern side being appropriated to the house and offices connected with it, and the northerly one, where was a greater depth of water, was the site of the mill, the house of the overseer, negro quarters, hospital, and other buildings. Here were a wharf, and facilities for repairing vessels, work-shop, and so on, and here the drogers were moored. The great wealth of this planter was evident from the character of the buildings, which were to a great extent of stone or timber, and the roofs covered with tiles, instead of thatch and palm-leaf, as is generally the case. Many of the work-shops were built of timber framed together, the walls covered with narrow pine boards lapped one over the other to shed rain, and the roofs either tiled or shingled after the fashion in America—constant intercourse with the States having taught the French planters many of the methods of building in use there; and, as in that climate timber decayed rapidly, there was a steady demand for lumber.
As they slowly entered the harbor, the sound of hammers, axes, and calking mallets was heard from the northern cove. With eager curiosity the boys strove to make out the form of Peterson among some negroes driving oakum into the gar-board seams of a droger that lay aground upon the beach.
"There is no man there large enough for him," said Walter.
The schooner dropped her anchor in the cove, and the ship's company had the rest of the day—it being two hours before night—at their own disposal, as nothing could be done towards discharging till the negroes moved some sugar that occupied the wharf.
After supper they went ashore, and took a stroll over the plantation, hoping they might get some inkling of Peterson, but without making any inquiries, or manifesting any undue curiosity to excite suspicion, for all felt that they were treading on dangerous ground. They went among slaves employed in all sorts of work, calkers, coopers, carpenters, not daring to inquire, and, without obtaining any information, returned on board.
"Where do you suppose he can be?" said Ned. "We've looked everywhere."
"Perhaps they've carried him to some of his other plantations," said Lancaster.
"No, he's here," said Walter.
"Where is he, then?"
"Locked up. That was what that droger was sent off in such a hurry for,—that we put the frame aboard of, that was on the beach,—to tell the overseer that an American vessel was coming into the creek. Lemaire is not such a fool as not to know that a fellow as smart as Peterson would do his best to get aboard of her. He will probably be kept out of sight as long as we are here, and we must find where he's confined, and get at him."
"What puzzles me," said Dick, "is why so smart a nigger as you say he is hasn't got away before, and got aboard some vessel."
"That is what puzzles me, too," said Walter.
"What kind of a vessel do you call that, captain?" said the planter, when he came down in the morning.
"We call them pink-sterns."
"Why don't you build larger vessels of the same model?"
"They would draw too much water, and would not carry enough."
"What are they made for?"
"Fishing. They will carry all the fish necessary, and are excellent sea-boats."
"She sails like the wind. Will you sell her?"
"She doesn't belong to me."
"Your captains are always allowed discretionary powers. Your owners would not object to a round price."
"She is owned by one man, who would not part with her, as she once belonged to a dear friend of his."
Every effort was made by Walter and his crew, by prowling round in the night, to discover the place of Peterson's confinement.
They cultivated the acquaintance of the negroes, who for their long residence on the estate, and supposed devotion to their master's interests, were promoted to the office of night watchmen, in hopes something might drop from them to throw light on the matter, while, at the same time, they dared not commit themselves by inquiry. The captain also became more and more intimate with Lemaire and the overseer, but all to no purpose, till at length the matter grew serious. The vessel was discharged, would soon begin to load, and there would be no longer any excuse for remaining.
One night, as Walter lay feverish and wakeful in his berth, his mechanical turn furnished him with an excuse for prolonging his stay.
"Monsieur," said he the next day to Lemaire, "I thought you wanted a new house for your overseer."
"So I do; but these frames are not large enough."
"Put three of them together, one on top of the other, and the third for a porch."
"That would be a great deal of work."
"I'll do it for you with my crew, if you will find us, and pay us moderate wages, cover the outside, lay the floors, and shingle the roofs."
To this the planter agreed, and forthwith all hands went to work, but in a manner very much resembling that of the negroes, as they desired to prolong the time.
For some time the attention of Walter had been attracted by a stone building of moderate size, of which no use seemed to be made as a storehouse, the windows of which were some feet from the ground and grated. He noticed a negro, a body servant of the planter, go in there about meal times with something in a basket, and thought it must be the place where Peterson was confined.
Access was difficult, even to the outside, in the night, as a negro called Jean Baptiste, and in whom great confidence was placed, kept the night watch before it. Walter made the acquaintance of Jean, which was not at all difficult, as the negro was delighted with the notice of both him and Ned. Nothing, however, came of it for some days.
At length Walter, being at work with Ned on the frame of the overseer's house, and thus brought above the level of the grates in the building which had been so long the object of intense curiosity, thought, as he looked towards it, he perceived something moving behind the grates, although the distance was too great to determine its character.
But the very possibility that Peterson was confined there made Walter's heart leap to his throat. He looked around. Below were Sewall, Dick, and three negro assistants. He made a signal to Ned, and directed his attention to the place, and received a nod of intelligence.
Every few moments that afternoon their eyes were fastened on those grates. As the sun declined, the rays, falling on the apertures, made them quite confident that they saw a human figure pacing back and forth. It seemed to Walter and Ned as though the sun would never, never set that night.
The moment they reached the vessel the announcement was made. Walter, Ned, and Dick began to devise methods to ascertain whether their suspicions were well founded.
"If you want to know, and can't see," said Lancaster, who stood listening in silence, "why don't you take the glass? That's what they have 'em for."
"What precious fools we are," said Walter, "looking and longing all the afternoon, and couldn't think of that!"
Within a short distance of the frame they had been at work upon, rose the high ground, forming the point that separated the two coves. In the evening, Walter hid the glass among some bushes on the side of the ascent, and while the rest were at breakfast the next morning, he and Ned repaired to the spot.
Walter put the glass to his eye, and was rewarded by seeing the well-known features of his black friend pressed against the grates.
"It's he," whispered Walter, trembling with suppressed delight, as he passed the glass to Ned. The boys sat and looked at each other in silent ecstasy, with hand clasped in hand for a few moments, and then, creeping stealthily from the place, by a look and gesture conveyed the intelligence to their shipmates as they joined them at the building. How to establish communication with Peterson was the subject that occupied the thoughts of Walter during the entire day.
Having made the habits of Jean a study for some time, he ascertained that he, like most negroes, kept a very poor watch. An old log lay beside the wall of the pig-yard, several rods from Peterson's window; upon this the negro would often sit, lean his back against the wall, and get sound asleep. During this time a good opportunity offered to attract the attention of Peterson, and communicate with him; but as it was not until late at night that Jean fell asleep, Peterson would be asleep also, and it would be impossible to arouse him within those thick walls without making noise enough to wake Jean likewise. They therefore determined to do it in the daytime, as exposing them to the least chance of detection, there being no watch kept then, the building not situated in any common thoroughfare, and the risk of observation from any transient passer very little. There is a great difference in the treatment of slaves by different planters, some being of a cruel, others of a more mild disposition, and disposed not to aggravate the hardships of their slaves by savage treatment; and there are some in whose hands the institution assumes somewhat of a patriarchal character. Lemaire was one of this latter class; whether it sprang from kindness of natural disposition or calculation, as thinking they would last longer and accomplish more in the end, his slaves were well fed, lightly worked, and seldom flogged. He kept a strict watch over his overseers, and the negro drivers especially, and has been known, when he heard the lash too frequently, to go to the spot, take the whip from the negro driver, and giving him three or four severe cuts, say, "See how you like that yourself!" The chief business of the day was over at three o'clock; then came the dinner hour at the mansion, after which Lemaire took his afternoon nap. The overseer did the same; the negroes improved the opportunity to shirk and sleep, and while work went on in the field and at the cane mill more leisurely, all was repose in the vicinity of the dwelling.
The boys had succeeded so well in gaining the confidence of all on the plantation, that they went everywhere without question, both night and day, sat down and gossiped with the children and worn-out darkies who were employed in picking over coffee and cloves, strolled into the fields, and among the carpenters and calkers, at work upon the drogers, for Lemaire built his own vessels.
This hour of napping was the time of the day selected by the boys as most favorable for their purpose. It was a little after four in the afternoon of the day succeeding that on which they had obtained a glimpse of Peterson, when they strolled leisurely towards the lock-up to reconnoitre.
A superannuated negro, partially blind and wholly deaf, sat half asleep on the steps; a parcel of negro children were burrowing in the sand beneath the walls of the adjoining stable, and teasing a turkey-cock by holding up before him a tattered red handkerchief.
With these exceptions, no person was seen around the premises. "We need not fear that old negro, nor these little children," said Walter, "and we never shall have a better opportunity than at this very time."
In the yard was a small building used for storing the coarse cloth of which coffee-bags were made; a cart was tipped up against it, by clambering on which it was not difficult to reach the roof.
"I will get up to the roof of that shed," said Ned, "where I can see all around, and make a signal if any one is coming."
No sooner had Ned gained the roof of the shed, than Walter placed himself directly beneath the grated window, at which they had seen Peterson the morning previous. The blacks possess a wonderful ability for singing those songs of labor used by both black and white seamen to lighten their toil. Negroes in general possess a great facility for remembering tunes, and even the words of songs. In the West Indies you will hear negroes who cannot speak a word of English (to know what it means), sing a song which they have caught from white sailors, all through, without knowing the meaning of one word.
Peterson had a large stock of these songs, which he had picked up in the course of his sea life from sailors of different nations, with whom he had been shipmate. It had been a favorite recreation of Walter, in years past, to sit on Peterson's knee, and coax him to sing those songs, while the little fellow would clap his hands, join in the chorus, and applaud most lustily at the close, always winding up with an entreaty for just one more. Sometimes on a rainy Saturday afternoon, when the weather prevented Peterson from working, half a dozen of the boys would get round him, and, together with his own children, make the old house ring with their screams, while Luce, Peterson's wife, would take her hands out of the suds and join the merry company.
Walter stood some minutes leaning against the wall, striving to recall some favorite song that had often served them upon those occasions. Al length, suddenly exclaiming, "I have it," he began in a low tone to sing,—