"Dear me!" exclaimed Lily, when Dandy joined her on the lawn; "I am frightened out of my senses."
"There is nothing to fear yet, Lily," said her conductor, as he took her by the hand to restore her confidence. "The wind is quite fresh, and long before we are missed we shall be out of the reach of pursuit."
"I am frightened, and I can't help it."
"You will feel better when you get on board of the boat. You shall have a nice cabin, and you can lie down and go to sleep just as you would in your own chamber."
"I don't think I shall sleep much to-night. I was afraid I should not be able to join you, for Miss Edith had the headache, and made me stay with her till she could go to sleep."
"We are all right now, Lily. Every thing is as favorable as it can be. We have nothing to fear as long as the wind blows."
Lily had very little practical knowledge of boating, and she did not comprehend the allusions of Dandy; but she trusted him with all her soul, and when he said there was no danger, her fluttering heart was calmed down. Before they reached the pier she had entirely recovered her self-possession, though she could not help being deeply impressed by the important step she was taking.
Cyd was seated on the landing steps, whistling the air of a negro melody, as cool as though he was about to engage in a lawful enterprise. He had been tremendously agitated at the announcement of the idea, and when he decided to form one of the party; but he was one of that class to whom exciting events soon become an old story. He already regarded his freedom as achieved, and he had even made himself familiar with his new social condition.
Dandy handed Lily into the bateau which was to serve as the Isabel's tender, and then seated himself in the bow.
"Come, bear a hand, Cyd," said the leader, in a low but sharp tone.
"What am I to bear a hand to?" demanded Cyd.
"Jump in quick, and paddle off to the Isabel."
"Golly! Is dis chile got to row de boat? Says I, 'Cyd,' says I, 'you's a free nigger, and you got nuffin to do but——'"
"Take your paddle quick, or I will leave you here!" interposed Dandy.
Cyd obeyed this time. His ideas of freedom were, no doubt, derived from his master and the other white people at Redlawn, who had nothing to do but amuse themselves and order the negroes round the place. They were very crude ideas, and he was yet to learn that freedom did not mean idleness. He paddled the bateau off to the sail-boat, and Lily was put on board.
"Now, haul the Edith alongside," said the skipper, as he proceeded to unloose the sails.
"De Edif!" exclaimed Cyd. "Wha—wha—what you gwine to do wid de Edif?"
"Haul her alongside!" replied Dandy, sharply. "If you spend the night in talking, we shall not get off till morning."
"Hossifus!" ejaculated Cyd, whose vocabulary being rather limited, he was under the necessity of coining a word occasionally, when he felt the need of a strong expression. "Dis nigger tink he was free, but it's Do dis, and Do dat. Hossifus; dis chile tink he's only got a new massa—dat's all, for sartin."
"If you don't want to go, Cyd, you needn't. I will put you on shore, and go without you."
"Gossifus! Dis chile like to know what you gwine to do widout Cyd."
"I shall do very well without him. Shall I put you on shore, or not?"
"Possifus! No, Dandy; I'se gwine wid you, any how."
"Then you must mind me!" added the skipper, earnestly.
"I done do dat."
"Haul the Edith alongside, then."
"Sartin, Dandy. I'se gwine to haul de Edif alongside, but dis chile like to know what for?"
"Mind me, or I'll put you on shore!" cried Dandy, angrily.
"Mossifus! I'se gwine, Dandy," said Cyd as hestepped into the tender, and paddled off to the Edith, which was moored a short distance above.
Presently he returned, and the painter of the race boat was made fast to a cleat on the quarter of the Isabel. Cyd was much mystified by the operation, for he could not see why they should take the Edith with them. He was very anxious to argue the point with Dandy, who, it seemed to him, had never before in his life been so sharp and ill-natured. But the skipper was too much excited by the tremendous issues of the hour to be in a mood for argument.
By this time Dandy had cast loose the sails, and together they manned the halyards, and hoisted the mainsail. It was large, and the fresh breeze caused it to flap and beat with a fearful noise, which added not a little to the excitement of the skipper.
"Stand by the moorings, Cyd, and have your jib halyards ready!" said Dandy, as he took his place at the tiller.
"Hossifus! I'm dar, Massa Dandy."
"You needn't 'massa' me, Cyd. Stop!"
"Which'll I do, Massa Dandy, stand by de moorings, or stop?" demanded Cyd, whose ivorieswere now distinctly visible in the gloom of the night.
"Neither; jump into the bateau, and bring the wherry alongside," replied Dandy.
"Gossifus! What you gwine to do wid de wherry?"
"Mind me, or go on shore!" said the skipper, sternly.
"I'se gwine. Golly! dat makes two boats apiece all round, for sartin."
"Go, quick!"
"I'se gone; 'pears like I'se only swapped off Massa Archy for Massa Dandy."
But Cyd obeyed the order, and brought the wherry to the side of the Isabel, to which she was secured, like the other boats. The bewildered boy was not in the habit of doing his own thinking, and his faculties were not, therefore, very fully developed, and an explanation would have relieved him of a world of doubts and conjectures.
"Now, have your jib halyards ready, and stand by the moorings," said Dandy.
"Yes, sar!" replied Cyd, putting a wicked emphasis on the complimentary part of the answer.
"Let go the moorings!" shouted Dandy, as he hauled in the main sheet.
"All gone, Massa Dandy," replied Cyd, as the heavy rope by which the boat was secured splashed into the water.
"Hoist the jib!" added the skipper, in the same loud tones, that he might be heard above the noise of the flapping sail.
"Up she goes," responded Cyd, joyously.
The Isabel, released from her moorings, caught the breeze, and the voyage of the young fugitives was commenced. She leaped like a race-horse before the fresh breeze.
"We done gone!" exclaimed Cyd, as he walked aft, when he had secured the jib sheet.
"We are off!" replied Dandy, as he cast an anxious glance in the direction of the planter's great house, to assure himself that none of its inmates witnessed their departure.
The night was very dark, and there were indications of a storm. It required all the skill of the bold leader of the expedition to steer the boat in the thick gloom of the night. The navigation wasdifficult and dangerous. The bayou was filled with snags and stumps, and to strike one of them was to dash the boat in pieces, and wreck all the hopes which hung upon the success of the enterprise. But Dandy was thoroughly acquainted with all the difficulties in his course, and was so familiar with the waters of the bayou, that he was as much at home upon them by night as by day.
"Hoist the foresail, Cyd," said the skipper.
"Mossifus! Dis chile tinks de boat's gwine fas enough," answered Cyd, "but I'se gwine to do jus what you say, Massa Dandy."
"Do it then."
Cyd did do it then; but it was evident to the commander of the Isabel that the "crew" of his vessel was in a lamentable state of insubordination. All his orders were questioned, and the boat was liable to go to the bottom in an emergency, because his commands were not promptly obeyed. He was not a little astonished at Cyd's conduct, for in the boat of Master Archy he was in the habit of obeying all orders like a machine, never presuming to ask a question, or suggest a doubt.
The foresail was set, and the Isabel dashed on with increased speed. There was no more "working ship" to be done, and Cyd again took his place on the cushioned seats in the standing-room, a luxury, by the way, in which he had never before attempted to indulge himself; but when it is considered that he had just emerged from slavery to freedom, his want of respect for the dignity of the "quarter deck" will be fully excused.
"Go forward, Cyd, and keep a sharp lookout ahead," said Dandy, as soon as the "crew" was comfortably seated on the cushion.
"Gossifus! I suppose I'se a nigger still," said he. "Dis chile tinks he's jes as good's any body now."
"You are, Cyd."
"Den I mus squat on de hard deck, and you sets on de cushions."
"Take one of the cushions with you, if you wish to; but go forward and keep a sharp lookout."
"I'se gwine."
"Go, then."
"Dis nigger don't zackly like dis kind ob freedom," growled Cyd, as he moved forward.
The wind was about south-west, which was fair for the course the Isabel was then steering, and in three quarters of an hour she made Green Point. Dandy could not but recall the events which had occurred there three weeks before, for they had stimulated him to the daring enterprise in which he was now engaged. It was there he had resolved to watch and wait in patience and submission for a less perilous opportunity to effect his escape than that which he had now embraced. The spot was full of interest, for his great resolution had been born there; but the moment was big with the destiny of the whole party, and he could not stop to indulge in sentimental reflections.
"Stand by the jib sheet, Cyd!" said he, as the Isabel swept past the point.
"Yes, sar—all ready!" replied Cyd, who had so many times assisted in working the boat, that he was perfectly familiar with the routine of a foremast hand's duty.
"Hard—lee!" cried Dandy, as he put the helm down, and brought the Isabel up on the other tack.
Cyd tended the jib sheet without further instruction, and then took his place again on the forecastle to look out for danger ahead. The course for the next five miles was up the large bayou, of which the Crosscut was a tributary. It was lined on both sides with large trees, which sheltered the water, to some extent, from the force of the wind, and her progress was less rapid than before. The navigation was less obstructed, and Cyd was called aft to enjoy the luxury of the cushioned seats.
Lily, who had now become reconciled to her situation, also joined the skipper in the standing room. The hurry and excitement of the departure had passed off, and the load of anxiety was removed from the mind of Dandy.
It was midnight, dark and gloomy; but the young fugitives felt that they were passing from the gloom of slavery into the light of freedom. The first difficulties of the enterprise had been overcome, and though there were months of peril and hardship before them, it seemed as though the glorious sun of the new existence had already risen.
The Isabel moved steadily through the waters of the wide bayou, bearing her precious freight farther and farther from the plantation. With every mile she advanced, the hopes of the fugitives grew stronger. Though Dandy alone knew the route by which they were to reach the land of freedom, they were conscious that any white man whom they might meet would arrest them as runaways. Before they could pass out of the limits of the state, they must go in sight of many plantations, where they were liable to be seen, and even near two or three villages.
In spite of the perils which the future had in store for them, the party were quite cheerful. Even Lily, gentle and timid as she was, soon became accustomed to the novel situation in which she wasplaced, and ceased to dread the pursuing footsteps of the slave-hunters.
"Do you think we shall escape, Dandy?" asked she, as she seated herself by the side of her friend.
"I expect we shall," replied he, unwilling to kindle too strong a hope in the mind of the girl. "If we manage well, we have a good chance."
"I hope we shall, for master would certainly sell us all if we should be caught."
"Dat ud be wus as staying wid Massa Kun'l," added Cyd. "But I s'pect we won't be caught, Massa Dandy."
"Why do you call me master, Cyd?"
"Dis chile tink you cutting it rader fat."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'se tell me do dis, and, Cyd, do dat,—jes as dough dis nigger no account at all."
"I am in command of the boat; and it was my duty to get her under way. When I told you to do any thing, you began to ask questions."
"Dis nigger's free now," replied Cyd, with becoming dignity.
"Not yet, Cyd. We may be caught at any moment."
"Gossifus! I tought I was free now."
"What made you think so?"
"We done runned away from Massa Kun'l."
"He may catch you again."
"De Kun'l ain't here, no how, Dandy; 'pose I neber see him any more, and he neber see me any more, who's my massa den?"
"When you get into a free country, you will be free."
"But who's my massa now? Dat's what dis chile want to know for sartin."
"You have no master."
"Den I'se free," exclaimed Cyd, exhibiting his ivories, which the gloom of the night, increased by the deep shadows of the tall trees, was powerless to conceal. "I tell you, I'se a free nigger."
Cyd commenced a most violent demonstration of satisfaction as he contemplated his new social position. He laughed, kicked with his heels, sang and danced. He felt that he had got the best of the argument, and this was no small ground of rejoicing.
"Suppose you should be caught?"
"Den I be Massa Kun'l's boy again."
"But why did you call me Massa Dandy?"
"Kase you order me round jes like Massa Kun'l, and de white folks. Dis chile begin to tink he's your nigger."
"You are just as good as I am."
"Yes, sar; Cyd knows all about dat. You tell me to git de row boat; den to git de wherry; and when I ask what for, you tell me to mind my own business, and not ask queshuns."
"It was because we had no time to spare," replied Dandy, whose feelings were injured by the charge of his sable companion.
"Dat may be; but you speak to me jes like de white folks."
"I didn't mean to do or say any thing that would make me seem like a master, for I hate the very sound of the word."
"Hossifus!" exclaimed Cyd, gratified by this acknowledgment. "I done tink you meant to be my massa, jes like de kun'l. If dis chile jes as good you be, Cyd can't see why you don't tell what you do dese tings for."
"I am willing to tell you what I did these thingsfor, now that I have time to do so. But, Cyd, I will change places with you."
"Possifus! What fur?"
"You shall command the boat, and I will obey all your orders without asking a single question."
"What, Cyd?"
"Yes, Cyd," replied Dandy, earnestly. "Here, take the helm!"
"Gossifus! I dunno whar you're gwine."
"Very well; I will give you my map of the country, and you shall find the way for yourself, as I shall have to do."
"What you gib me?"
"The map."
"What's dat?"
"Here it is," replied Dandy, giving him a small pocket map of the State of Louisiana, of which he had possessed himself a few days before the departure.
Cyd took the map, turned it over two or three times, and could not make out its use. Lily and Dandy both enjoyed his confusion, for it was a great puzzle to him to know how they were to find theirway through the swamp by the aid of this little book, as he called it. A lantern was lighted, and Lily unfolded the map, and spread it out upon one of the berths.
"Mossifus!" exclaimed Cyd, when he had carefully examined the map, and the lantern was prudently extinguished. "I don't see what dis paper fur."
"It's all I have to guide me to the ocean, after we have passed Chicot. Now, if you will take the map, and command the boat, I will obey you in all things."
"Golly! I don't see what good de paper's fur. I kin foller de norf star."
"But we are going to the south."
"I tink I will stay where I is, and you shall command de boat."
"Then you must mind me at once. Our very lives may depend upon your prompt obedience."
"I will, Dandy."
"Free men have to obey, as well as slaves. On board a ship, every body obeys the captain."
"What's use ob bein free, den?"
"The captain of the ship can't sell the sailor, norseparate him from his wife and children. The man is paid for what he does, and when his voyage is up he may go where he pleases."
"I knows all about it now, Dandy."
"I don't want to be called Dandy any more. My name is Daniel, but you may call me Dan for short."
"Possifus! Den's what's my name? I'se free too, and I wan't my name changed."
"Your name is Thucydides."
"Tucydimes!"
"No, Thucydides," laughed Dan—for we will adopt his suggestion, and call him no longer by his plantation name.
"Hossifus! Hab to git up afore breakfast to speak dat word in season for dinner," chuckled Cyd.
"You are called Cyd for short, as I am Dan. There is nothing bad about the word."
"It's a very good name, Cyd," added Lily.
"Goshus! If you say so, Missy Lily, it's all right. If it suits de fair seck, it suits me," said Cyd, shaking his fat sides with satisfaction. "Dis chile don't keer what you calls him, if you only calls him to supper."
"Now, Cyd, I will answer the questions you asked when we were getting under way."
"Yes, what ye got all dem boats draggin arter us fur?"
"Don't you see the reason, Cyd?"
The boy scratched his head, but he could not see. As we have before observed, he had not been in the habit of doing his own thinking, and, consequently, he was not skilled in reasoning from effect to cause.
"Suppose we had left the boats, Cyd," added Dan.
"Den we shouldn't hab em wid us, keepin de boat back."
"At six o'clock in the morning, Colonel Raybone will be ready to start on his trip. He will go down to the pier, and expect to find us all there."
"Gossifus! we shan't be dar!" exclaimed Cyd, whose imagination was lively enough to enable him to picture the scene that would ensue.
"What then, Cyd?"
"Golly! Massa Kun'l up and rave like he neber did afore," replied Cyd, who appeared to enjoy the idea.
"Well, what then?"
"Dunno. He can't help hisself," chuckled Cyd.
"Suppose we had left the boats?"
"Mossifus! He tell four stout boys to git in de club-boat, and streak it down de riber like an alligator arter a possum. Yah! ha, ha!" roared Cyd, holding on to his sides.
"Do you see why I have taken all the boats?"
"Yes, Dandy—Dan; I sees into it jes like a millstone. You'se got a long head, Dan. But what ye gwine to do wid de paint?"
"We shall live in the swamp till the colonel has done looking for us. This boat is white now, and we will paint her green, so that she can't be seen so easily."
"Dat's good, Dan; but de kun'l won't stop lookin fur us till he finds out something."
"I mean that he shall find out something. He will suppose that we have gone to the north. He will never suspect that we have come this way. Here we are," said Dan, suddenly rising in the boat, as she came to a narrow opening on the southerly bank of the river.
Running the boat up to the bank of the bayou, he ordered Cyd to make her fast to a tree on the shore.
"What's gwine to be done now, Dan?" asked Cyd, when he had obeyed the order.
"We shall follow the big river no farther. Now, I want to make Master Raybone think we have gone up that way, which leads to the Mississippi. I left some papers in my room, which will convince him that I intended to go that way. Now, Lily, we must leave you for a little while," added Dan, as he drew the bateau alongside. "We will not be gone more than an hour."
Dan and Cyd got into the bateau, and towed the other boats about two miles up the river, where they secured them in such a position that they seemed to be abandoned. When the search for them was made, these boats would be found two miles from the course the fugitives had actually taken. They then pulled back to the Isabel, and got under way again.
Their course was now changed, and the boat passed down the narrow cut-off, which soon widenedinto a broad stream. The wind, which had been quite fresh when they started, had now subsided to a gentle breeze; but as the country was more open than on the Big River, as it was called, they still moved along at the rate of three or four miles an hour.
At five o'clock in the morning—Dan had a silver watch which had been presented to him by Master Archy—they reached the entrance of Lake Chicot. It was about daylight, and as there was a plantation on the western bank, it was not deemed prudent to proceed any farther, for if the boat was seen, it would at once be recognized as that of Colonel Raybone.
The westerly side of the lake was low, swampy ground, covered with a thick growth of trees and an undergrowth of cane. The skipper of the Isabel ran along this shore till he found a stream flowing into the lake. Hauling up the centre board, he ran his craft into this creek. As the sails would not draw, being sheltered by the trees and cane, the two boys worked the boat up the stream with their oars till she was completely concealed from the opposite shore, or fromthe lake, if any boat should happen to pass during the day.
Here the careful skipper intended to lie until the friendly shades of another night should permit them to proceed on the voyage to a more secure haven.
"Now, Cyd, get up the furnace, and make a fire," said Dan, as soon as the sails of the Isabel had been furled, and the boat carefully secured to a tree on the shore.
"Sartin," replied Cyd, as he took off the hatch of the stow-hold. "Who's gwine to be de cook, Dan?"
"Do you know how to cook, Cyd?"
"Hossifus! I don't know nossin at all 'bout it."
"Neither do I; and I think Lily does not. I will try my hand at the business first. We can make some coffee, boil the potatoes, and fry the bacon. I am sure I can do that."
"So kin Cyd."
"Just as soon as we get to the place where we are going, we will divide the work between us.You shall be cook one week, and I will the next week. Now bring up the bacon, the potatoes, and the coffee."
Old Jake, who was to do the cooking for the excursionists, had provided every thing that would be needed for the purpose. In a short time the fires were blazing in the two furnaces, the coffee and the potatoes were boiling upon one, and the other was in readiness for the frying-pan, when the other articles should be in a sufficiently forward state to require its use.
Though Dan had never actually turned his hand to the business of cooking, he had so often seen the various operations performed, that he was competent to do it himself, after acquiring a little experience. He was a keen observer, and whenever he saw any thing done, he could generally do it himself.
In the forward part of the cabin of the Isabel, reaching from the foremast to the centre-board, was a fixed table; and while Dan was cooking the bacon, Cyd prepared it for the morning meal. They had every thing which could be found in anywell-ordered house, and the table had more the appearance of that of a first-class hotel than one provided for the use of the runaway slaves.
"Possifus!" exclaimed Cyd, when the table was ready, as he sat down upon the berth to observe the effect. "Dat's bery fine! Cyd, you'se gwine to set down to dat table. You'se a free nigger, now, Cyd, and jes as good as de best ob dem. Dar's de bread, dar's de pickles, dar's de butter, dar's de sugar, dar's de milk, dar's de salt, dar's de castor. Gossifus! All dat's bery fine, and Cyd's gwine to set down at de fus table."
"Here, Cyd," called Dan, through the sky-light, as he proceeded to pass down the breakfast. "Put them on the table."
"Mossifus! Do you think Cyd don't know what to do wid dese yere tings? I knows what fried bacon's fur!"
The potatoes, the bacon, and the coffee were handed down, and when they were placed upon the table, the effect called forth another rhapsody from Cyd. While he was apostrophizing the bacon and the potatoes, he was joined by Dan.
"Come, Lily," said he; "breakfast is ready."
"Hossifus! We forgot one ting for sartin," exclaimed Cyd, suddenly looking as sober as though he had not a friend in the world.
"What, Cyd."
"De bell."
"Bell? What do we want of a bell?"
"To call de folks to breakfas, to be sure," replied Cyd, distending his mouth from ear to ear.
"I think we can get along without a bell," replied Dan, laughing at the folly of his companion.
Lily joined the boys in the forward cabin, as they called the space forward of the centre-board. She looked as pleased and happy as Dan and Cyd; and one would hardly have believed, from their appearance, that they were fugitives from slavery. All the talk about the chilly damps of the swamp, the perils and the hardships of the flight, appeared to have been forgotten. The planter and his son could hardly have been more jovial than the party which had taken possession of the yacht.
Cyd was not accustomed to the refinements of social life, as Dan and Lily had been, and hebegan to behave in a very indecorous and remarkable manner. As it was all in the family, Dan ventured to suggest to him that, as he was now seated at a gentleman's table, he should behave in a gentlemanly manner, and not eat bacon from his fingers, when a knife and fork had been especially provided for this purpose. Cyd accepted the rebuke, and thereafter imitated the manners of his companions, even carrying his ideas of gentility to extremes.
The cooking was a decided success, with the exception of the coffee, which was very muddy and uninviting. This was not strange, inasmuch as none of the chemical conditions, upon which good coffee is produced, had been complied with. It was nothing but coffee and water stewed together. Dan was mortified, and apologized for the failure.
"How did you make it, Dan?" asked Lily, with a smile, which fully spoke the offender's pardon.
"I put the coffee in, and then the water," replied the amateur cook, with a blush.
"Hot water?"
"No, cold."
Lily laughed aloud at this blunder, and then gave him a receipt for making good coffee, which included the use of boiling water and fish-skin.
"I saw that fish-skin in the locker, and I couldn't think what it was for?" laughed Dan.
But the breakfast was finished, and, in spite of the drawback of poor coffee, it was pronounced satisfactory, especially by Cyd, whose plantation rations had not included coffee, butter, white bread, and other articles which graced the table of the Isabel.
"Now, Dan and Cyd, you can go away and do what you please," said Lily.
"We will clear up the table and wash the dishes first," replied Dan.
"No; I am going to do that."
"You, Lily?"
"I am going to do my share of the work. I can't manage a boat, but I think I can cook, and take care of the cabin, set the table, and do every thing that belongs to the women."
"I didn't mean to have you work, Lily," said Dan. "You have been a lady's-maid all your life, and never did any work."
"Well, I know how; and I'm going to do my share. I should not feel right to live like a lady here. I mean to do all the work in the cabin, and the cooking too."
"No, Cyd and I will do that."
"Mossifus! Do all dat, and all de rest too."
"I must do something, or I should be very unhappy."
"Well, Lily, you shall have your own way; and while you are clearing off the table, Cyd and I will prepare the lady's cabin."
"The what?" asked Lily.
"Your cabin; you shall have a room all to yourself."
Dan left the cabin, followed by Cyd. Taking from one of the lockers, in the standing room, an awning which was used to spread over the forward deck, he unrolled it, and proceeded to make his calculations, while Cyd stood by, scratching his head and wondering what was going to be done.
The cabin of the Isabel was entered by two doors, one on each side of the centre-board, which divided the after cabin into two apartments. Dan, aftermeasuring the cabin, cut the awning to the size required, and then nailed it up as a partition between the forward and the after cabin. The space thus enclosed formed a state room, six feet long and three feet wide, outside of the berth. This room could be entered only by the door from the standing room. It made a very neat and comfortable chamber, and Lily was much pleased with it.
By the time the dishes were washed and put away, there was considerable gaping among the party. Cyd opened his mouth fearfully wide, and Miss Lily's eyelids drooped, like her fragrant namesake, when its mission on earth is nearly finished. The fugitives had come to the knowledge that they had slept none during the preceding night, and as the voyage was to be continued when darkness favored the movement, it was necessary that the hours should be appropriated to slumber. Lily retired to her new state room, closed the door, and was soon asleep.
"Now, Cyd, one of us must turn in," said Dan.
"Can't we bof turn in?"
"No; one of us must stand watch while the other sleeps. We have been getting along sofinely, that we have almost forgot that we are in danger."
"Possifus!" gasped Cyd. "Wha—wha—what you want to keep watch fur?"
"Suppose any one should come upon us while we are asleep?" added Dan.
"'Pose any one come 'pon us when we're awake: what den? Who's a gwine to help hisself?" yawned Cyd.
"I am, for one. I shall not be taken, if I can help it."
"Gossifus! What you gwine to do? 'Pose you see de nigger hunter, wid tree, four dozen bloodhounds: wha—wha—what you gwine to do den?"
"I'm going to fight! And you must do the same!" replied Dan, with energy, as he grasped one of the fowling-pieces that lay upon the bunk.
"Gwine to fight!" cried Cyd, opening his eyes with astonishment. "Gwine to kill de dogs and kill de men?"
"That's what I mean. I will shoot man or dog that attempts to touch me."
"Wha—wha—wha—" stammered Cyd, as healways did when excited; but the idea was too big for him just then, and he broke down altogether.
"That's a settled point, and you must learn to use a gun."
"Woo—woo—woo—would you shoot Massa Kun'l, if he come for to take you?" demanded Cyd.
"I would, or any other man. I belong to myself now, and I will fight for my own freedom to the last."
"I dunno 'bout dat, Dan," mused Cyd. "Hossifus! Shoot Massa Kun'l! Dunno 'bout dat."
"Turn in, Cyd, and go to sleep. You may have the first chance."
The two boys drew lots for the choice of berths, and Dan obtained the after one. Cyd was soon snoring in one of the forward bunks, while Dan took his place upon deck to guard against the approach of man or beast that might threaten their newly-acquired freedom.
Dan had his solitary watch for four hours, with nothing to disturb his meditations except the occasional visit of an alligator; but as the ugly reptiles did not offer to swallow the boat, or otherwise interfere with her, the lonely sentinel did not even challenge the intruders. He was very sleepy, for he had not closed his eyes during the preceding night, and his great purpose had sadly interfered with his slumbers since the time for its execution had been fixed.
It was one o'clock when he called the "watch below." Lily was still wrapped in slumber, worn out by her sleepless night, and by the excitement of her novel position. After charging Cyd to keep awake, assuring him that "eternal vigilance was the price of liberty," Dan went into the cabin to obtain the rest he so much needed. He slept soundly, and, no doubt,dreamed strange things; but when he awoke it was nearly dark. Starting up with a spring, he bounded to the deck, where he found Cyd fast asleep upon the cushions of the standing room.
"Cyd!" exclaimed he, seizing the faithless sentinel by the collar. "Is this the way you keep watch?"
"Possifus!" ejaculated Cyd, as he sprang to his feet. "I done been asleep."
"Been asleep! I should think you had! Have you been snoring there all the afternoon?"
"No,sar! Dis chile hain't been asleep more'n two minutes—no, sar, nor more'n a minute and a half."
"Yes, you have; you have been asleep all the afternoon. You deserve to be a slave all the rest of your life!" added Dan, indignantly.
"Gossifus! I tink not. Wha—wha—wha—what does you mean by dat?" stuttered Cyd.
"How dared you go to sleep when you were on watch?"
"I tell you, Dan, I'se been wide awake all de arternoon. Hadn't been asleep quite two minutes."
"He hasn't slept long, Dan," said Lily, as she came out of the cabin; "for I was with him only a little while ago."
"I'm glad of it, if he hasn't," added Dan, more calmly.
"You kin bet yer life dis chile don't go to sleep on de watch. No,sar!"
"But you did go to sleep, Cyd. You were asleep when I came on deck."
"I jes close my eyes for a minute, but I was jes gwine to wake up when you comed on deck."
"I can't keep awake all the time; I must sleep some."
"Bout six hours," chuckled Cyd; and his companion had really slept about this time.
"Why didn't you call me then, as I did you?"
"I told him not to do so, Dan," interposed Lily, whose sweet smile was sure to remove any objection which Dan might have. "We ate our supper about an hour ago. Cyd was going to call you, but I wouldn't let him. I knew how tired you were, and you will not have any chance to sleep to-night."
"It was very kind of you, Lily," said Dan with a smile. "But I must teach Cyd not to sleep when he is on watch. Any carelessness of this kind might spoil every thing."
"I never'll go to sleep on de watch agin, so help me Possifus!" exclaimed Cyd, now fully impressed by the magnitude of his criminal neglect.
"I'll answer for him," said Lily; "I'll stay on deck and keep him awake next time."
"O, no, you needn't, Lily."
"But why can't I keep watch in the daytime, and let both of you sleep? If there was any danger I could call you."
"I don't mean to ask you to keep watch, or do any such work. It is not a woman's place."
"I mean to take my turn next time," said she, resolutely. "Now, Dan, I will get your supper. Cyd and I ate bread and butter, and drank cold water; but if you are going to sail the boat all night, you will want some tea."
"Thank you, Lily; you are very kind. I will get the tea myself."
"No, you shall not. I am not going to be idle all the time. I mean to do my share of the labor. If it isn't a woman's work to keep watch, it is to get tea; and if you please, I will do it myself."
My young readers will remember that Lily,though a slave girl, was a gentle, delicate creature. She had never done any manual labor. She had simply stood by her young mistress, fanned her when she was warm, brushed away the flies, handed her a book, or other article, when she wanted it, picked up her handkerchief when she dropped it, and assisted at her toilet. If Miss Edith needed any greater exertion of bone and muscle, another person was called to render the service. But she had been about the kitchen and work rooms of the plantation, and having a taste for the various housekeeping operations, she had incidentally acquired some little skill in cooking, needle-work, and other branches of female industry.
Her form was agile and graceful, her organization delicate; and no person, even with a knowledge of her social condition, and rankly imbued with southern prejudices, could have denied that she was beautiful in form and feature. Her complexion was fairer than that of a majority of Anglo-Saxon maidens. Her eye was soft, and sweetly expressive. Such was Lily, the slave girl of Redlawn; and when she talked of performing the drudgeryof the Isabel, Dan, with that chivalrous consideration for the gentler sex which characterizes the true gentleman, resented the idea. He preferred to labor day and night, rather than permit her to soil her white hands with the soot of the furnaces.
Lily, as we have seen, had wiser and more sensible ideas on the subject. She had an instinctive contempt for that sort of chivalry, and in spite of the remonstrances of the knightly skipper of the Isabel, she kindled a fire, and with the assistance of Cyd, soon placed the tea and bread and butter upon the cabin table. She then took her place at the head of the board, and "did the honors" with an elegance and grace which would have adorned the breakfast parlor at Redlawn. Though Cyd had been to supper, he accepted the invitation to repeat the operation.
Before the meal was commenced, it was necessary to light the cabin lantern, which swung over the table. Whether there is any exhilaration in a cup of tea or not, the party soon became very cheerful; and Cyd was as chipper as though he were in the midst of the Christmas holidays.
After supper Dan took the bateau, and pulled out to the lake, to reconnoitre the position, and assure himself that there were no obstacles to the departure of the Isabel. When he returned, Lily had washed the dishes and put the cabin in order, thus carrying her point, and establishing herself as mistress in this department. Dan did not deem it prudent to start so early in the evening; but the sails were hoisted, and every thing made ready for the departure.
The wind was light, and the leader of the expedition had some doubts about starting at all that night. The Isabel had made only about twenty miles during the preceding night, with a strong breeze to help her during a portion of the time. He had carefully studied the maps in his possession, and estimated the distances by the scale between the various points. He knew exactly where he intended to go, and a failure to reach the place before daylight would expose him to the risk of being seen from some of the plantations on the banks of the lake.
The responsibility of deciding this importantquestion rested upon him alone. The distance to be accomplished before they could reach another place of security was about twenty-five miles. An average of three miles an hour would enable him to complete the passage by sunrise, and he at last decided to attempt it.
About nine o'clock the two boys got into the bateau, and towed the Isabel out of the creek, and with gaff-topsails and staysail set, in addition to the jib, fore, and main sails, the voyage was renewed. Keeping as near the western shore of the lake as it was prudent to go, the boat glided gently over the tranquil waters.
In a couple of hours the Isabel reached the narrow outlet of the lake. Thus far, the south-westerly wind had enabled her to run with a free sheet; but at this point the course changed, and Dan found that he should be compelled to beat dead to windward in order to reach his destination. Then he wished he had not started; but up the creek he had been unable to determine from what direction the light breeze came, and had decided the question to the best of his ability.
Though he had no reason to reproach himself for his want of care, the situation was none the less difficult or trying on that account. But there was one compensating advantage: as he passed through the narrow outlet of the lake, the broad surface of the Chetemache was before him. It was forty miles long by ten miles wide, and afforded him abundant space in which to work the boat. And in this open sea the wind came unobstructed to his sails.
The course of the Isabel, on her first tack, lay close to the eastern shore of the lake. The boat moved very slowly through the water, and Lily and Cyd sat by the side of the skipper, talking in low tones of the future, with its hopes and its trials, its joys and its dangers. Suddenly they heard a crackling sound in the cane-brake near them; then came from a greater distance the bay of bloodhounds. There was no mistaking these sounds; and for an hour they listened in almost breathless anxiety to these appalling indications of a slave-hunt.
The yelp of the dogs came nearer and nearer; but they had lost the sounds which indicated the presence of the hunted fugitive.
"Gossifus!" whispered Cyd, for he had been forbidden to speak a loud word. "Where you 'pose de nigger dem dogs is chasin' is?"
"I don't know. I pray that he may escape," replied Dan.
"Can't you help him?" asked Lily, whose frame shook with terror, as her fancy pictured the terrible scene which she had so often heard described.
A splash in the water a hundred yards astern of the Isabel now attracted the attention of the party.
"Can't you help him?" repeated Lily, in trembling tones.
"It will not be safe for us to show ourselves, for the human bloodhounds are not far off."
"Do help him if you can. Save him from those terrible dogs!" pleaded Lily.
"He will swim to that island," said Dan. "Perhaps the dogs will not catch him."
"Yes, they will."
"Yes, dey will. Dey done leap in de water. Dar dey go!" added Cyd, as they listened to the splashes as the brutes sprang into the lake.
"Save him! Save him, Dan!" cried Lily.
"It may cost us our lives and our liberty," replied Dan.
"No matter. Let us die if we can save the poor man from the fangs of the bloodhounds."
"I will, Lily," replied Dan, as he put the Isabel about, and headed towards the small island, about half a mile from the shore. "Take the helm, Cyd," continued he, as he left his post at the tiller, and rushed into the cabin.
He returned in a moment with two fowling-pieces in his hands, and proceeded to load them. By this time the panting fugitive was distinctly seen, closely pursued by the dogs.