Page:The Overland Monthly Volume 5 Issue 3.djvu/9

 portation, one by one were silently ferried across, and delivered over to the care of a middle-aged, dignified Negro, who consented to render assistance to us for the coming twenty-four hours. But he could not proceed at once, on account of an important engagement. In fact, he was in full dress to attend a grand ball, to be given on a neighboring plantation.

Yet his charge must be disposed of, in some way; and the result was, that we also went to the ball. Not that we participated in the festivities of the evening, but in the deserted mansion of the plantation, (which we occupied for the time) we were quite near enough to hear the wild shouts, and music, not to mention shuffling and dancing.

Soon after the ball broke up, and Isaac (our guide) appeared, slightly warmed with good cheer, but sober enough for all practical purposes.

We were particularly entertained by his peculiar knowledge of the stars, that to him indicated the hours of the night. "Daylight," he said, "in three hours; for that star," pointing to one as he spoke, "is in such a position."

Isaac conducted us to the plantation, of which he was part of the live - stock and property, and bolted us into his sanctum —an old shed, used at once as chicken-house, lumber-room, tool-shop, and receptacle of properties in general.

In the centre of the apartment, there was an old, air-tight stove, without a sign of a chimney-pipe, in which, to our great astonishment, our deliverer proceeded to kindle a fire. 'De smoke," he said, "would kinder go promiscus out ob de ruff, and nobody would notice it." We found the heat not uncomfortable, while through the gaping "ruff" the smoke found its way so readily that our heavy slumbers were not disturbed.

For matins, next morning, (being Sunday) we had a choral service from a dozen fowls, that had discovered us, and

were, accordingly, in great tribulation Relieved, at last, of their company, the hours passed slowly away, their monotony being broken by the opportune arrival of Isaac, with breakfast.

On corn-meal cake (underdone) and fat bacon we fared sumptuously, composing ourselves subsequently to a dyspeptic nap, by way of killingtime. Inthe afternoon, two men (White) approached the shed, and, seating themselves at one corner, held first an animated discussion as to whether the place was occupied or not.

Having decided, to our great relief, that it did not conceal any thing of the human kind, they gave us the benefit of a political wrangle, from a Southern point of view. The only notes taken were when the disputants left, at which we again drew ordinary breaths.

Down dropped the night, and in came our guide, in haste to rid himself of such dangerous friends. He led the way over the open country, and brought us, at midnight, without incident of any kind, to a plantation very like the one we had just left, and conducted us, as usual, to the "quarters." Ephraim— the foreman of the place—became our host, and we entered his modest cabin. He was quite a character in his way —very black, very neat, very oracular, and very pious. Although quite a young man, he was a widower, and lived alone. When he was at home, the bolt of his door was invariably drawn back, for (he proudly said) no one would dare enter without asking permission—not even the overseer himself.

We did not doubt his word, but preferred having the door at least—closed.

In the morning, after many solemn injunctions against making undue noise, kindling smoky fires, etc., Eph. left us for the field, having made an arrangement with an old "auntie" for supplying us with dinner. At noon-time, a very nervous rattling at the door (the