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cruelty to his slaves； we will make it so hot for him that he will
have to leave the state。 I don't say that we could do anything； but
as we should represent most of the large estates round here； I don't
think old Jackson and his son would like being sent to Coventry。
The feeling is very strong at present against ill…treatment of the
slaves。 If these troubles lead to war almost all of us will go into
the army； and we do not like the thought of the possibility of
troubles among the hands when the whites are all away。〃
〃I will find out all about it for you to…night； sah。 I don't suspect dat
dey will do nuffin to…day。 Andrew Jackson too sick after dat
knock against de tump。 He keep quiet a day or two。〃
〃Well； Dan； you go over to…night and find out all about it。 I expect
I had better have left things alone； but now I have interfered I shall
go on with it。〃
Mrs。 Wingfield was much displeased when Vincent told her at
dinner of his incident at Jackson's plantation and even his sisters
were shocked at this interference between a master and his slave。
〃You will get yourself into serious trouble with these fanciful
notions of yours；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield said angrily。 〃You know as well
as I do how easy it is to get up a cry against any one as an
Abolitionist and how difficult to disprove the accusation； and just
at present； when the passions of every man in the South are
inflamed to the utmost； such an accusation will be most serious。
In the present instance there does not seem that there is a shadow
of excuse for your conduct。 You simply heard cries of a slave
being flogged。 You deliberately leave the road and enter these
people's plantation and interfere without； so far as I can see； the
least reason for doing so。 You did not inquire what the man's
offense was； and he may for aught you know have half murdered
his master。 You simply see a slave being flogged and you assault
his owner。 lf the Jacksons lay complaints against you it is quite
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 b