Page:The Homes of the New World- Vol. III.djvu/218

Rh “Ah, no!” returned Madame C., “such conduct is not in accordance with human nature! It happened at that very time that I was quite alone among my negroes, and they it was who watched over my safety. My son was obliged to go to his plantation on the southern side of the island, where just then the tumult was in full force. The majoral was absent for a time. I summoned my contra-majorals, who were all negroes, and thus addressed them:—

You know what is going forward at this time, not far from this place; that the negroes have arisen, and that they murder and plunder their owners.’

“Yes, they knew of it.

Very well,’ said I; ‘I now place myself and my family under your protection. My son must leave me, and remain away for two or three weeks. There will not be a white man on the plantation; neither will I send for any. I depend upon you, and will confide myself to you. I shall consider you responsible for the behaviour of the negroes. If you observe any disorder among them, let me be informed of it.’

“They promised me accordingly.

I at that time, as now, and indeed ever since my husband's death, slept very badly, and often lay awake great part of the night. One night, therefore, being sleepless, I rose between two and three in the morning, and looked through the window, when I saw, to my astonishment, one of my majorals armed and walking sentry before my house. I called to him, and asked him if anything were amiss?

No; all is tranquil,’ replied he; ‘but we fear, I and my comrades, that some of the negroes from —— might come here and disturb your Grace, and therefore we determined to keep watch over your house in turn every night, so that your Grace might be able to sleep quietly.’

I thanked him for this proof of devotion, and inquired