The Sunday Oregonian., May 06, 1900, PART THREE, Page 30, Image 30

30
?HE SUITDAY OBEGONIAN,'" PORTLAND, MAT 6, 1900.
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Five years before the outbreak of the Civil
War, love of adventure, hatred of slavery and
the desire to help my friend, George Wesner.
led me, Charles Bradley, a civil engineer of
Attakapas County, Louisiana, to become an
agent of the underground railroad. Wesner had
been nursed through the smallpox by a young
slave, Lucy, belonging to the Coverley planta
tion. He discovered facts -which proved that
Lucy was -white and of good family. A secret
love match followed, which progressed well
until Coverley proposed to sell Lucy to hU
son and refused to sell her to anyone else.
Wesner became desperate. I agreed to help
him steal Lucy, and went to New York to Ar
range with the anti-slavery society for the care
of any slaves we could bring North.
(Copyright, 1900, by F. A. Cummlngs.)
CHAPTER IX.
The Winter dragged Itself Into Spring
before our preparations for flight -were
complete. March 14 came slowly along;
for two weeks the weather had been
rainy and foggy, the damp air from the
gulf drifting In upon us, varied by an
occasional visit of miasma from the
overflowing swamps and lagoons of th;
mighty waters north. Our prairie roads
were knee deep with the black mud of
Southwestern Louisiana. It was an un
commonly wet and cold Spring for our
climate, where frost Is seldom seen.
Our fugitives In the swamp we had
not seen since George left them; but
we rested secure, believing they were
safe, for If one had strayed out and
been caught, the news would have flown
on the wings of the wind. George had
implicit confidence in Lemuel Mason, and
faith In Lucy's persuasive powers to keep
the little band together, to say nothing
of their own fears, which were In them
selves no inconsiderable factor in keep
ing them quiet.
"We had kept on selling goods, and 1
had been doing some surveying not a
break in our every-day life. Still we felt
that we were living over a mine liable at
any time to explode.
George had told the negroes that about
March 13 he would send a guide to take
them through to the pr?mls.ed land. To
Lucy he explained everything that cir
cumstances might delay him beyond that
date, and to have no fears If they did.
Tet he was very anxious to start, for the
swamps were full and every little bayou a
river, and boat navigation was compara
tively easy.
The night of the 13th was dark and
rainy. The clouds were low set In the
heavens, and inky black. Now and then
a flash of lightning would give a fitful
vivid illumination to the prairie In front
of our store. Nine o'clock, and still the
loafers lingered and droned out the same
stale stories that I had heard so many
times. Old Bob Morris, would speculate
on what had become of Coverly's niggers,
and Skew Bill would relate with many
embellishments now near he came to
catching the whole of them. According
to his story, the backs of the mules were
sweaty where the niggers had just left
them Jus left 'em. gentlemen, as we came
up; left 'em and took to the swamp,
where no dog could foller, 'cause of the
water, and my dorgs Is as likely purps
as there Is In the Turkey-paw kentry, re
mombe?. "Curse them, till they never go?" whis
pered George. "Just th'nk. the liar! The
niggers were 15 miles away when he
found tho mules!"
At length tho last man left, Schneider
bolng the last, as he wanted to get a
little tobacco, to be paid for when he
caught Coverly's niggers. Not being very
certain of the security, I demurred grant
ing his request. Thereupon Mr. Schneider
left, threatening us with a loss of his
custom. As that consisted of about 10
gallons of rum a year and a few groceries,
paid for in venison at about twice Its
worth, delivered when no one else would
buy. the threatened calamity did not
strike either of us as much to be feared.
"Thank heaven the last man Is gone!"
cried I. "and now for the rendezvous!"
George packed a little valise, with a
rubber coat for Lucy, three or four tin
cans of-whisk-, the latter article being
reckoned in Louislani a necessity second
only to a good pair of legs In traversing
tho swamp
On the road at lart. the Spanish moss
on the Hve oaks looking weird and ghot-tly
in tho gloom and murky darkness. Quiet
ly we rode past the few houtcs that bor
dered the main traveled road. The mud
was deep, and It was Impossible to move
faster than a walk. My time was precious,
as I was anxious to get to the rendez
vous, see for myself how the negroes were
situated and go back before morning. I
wanted to be at the store before day
break, and have a gcxl chance to clean
my horse from the mvd stains and wet.
I do not know that I was afraid, but I
had that uneasy fcoJing that Invariably
accompanies deception.
Wo. were pretty effectually disguised,
George as a white overseer and I as the
strange negro, bringing the white guide
to tho wanderers.
It was pacJt midnight when we reached
tho vicinity of the rendezvous. All was
as quiet as the homes of the dead. Not
a sound could we bear as we drew near.
Whatraer they were dead or we off the
track we were unaWc to conjecture.
Through the Inky blackness of the night
no eye could penetrate, and we hed kept
our way thus fair by compass, turning
our dark lanterns upor u every few rode.
The water was ankle deep, in some pktccn
above our knees. Through this we waded,
stumbling now and then over a fallen log,
but luckily keeping our feet. George, who
was some distanco ahead, halted until 1
came up.
"1 think," said he. "from the shoaling
of the water we must be near them. On
this side the hummock Is rather flat and
slope gradually, the other sWe. where
the cabin ie, bring steeper. T don't wan
to pass it. for it wiH bo disagreeable wan
dering around in the water until morning."
"I spotted a few trecp at the edge of
the hummock," he continued, after we left
our horses, "and if wc can fortunately
find one of thetn we are all right. FinsSi
your light to the right and see if you see
anything."
I did so: there was nothing.
"To the left" nothing.
"Lot us keep together." I said, "for this
place is fearfully lonesome."
George laughed qiriely. and again turned
his light forward. We waded perhaps two
or three rods farther, the water stioaltag
fast.
"We ore on th hummock." cried George.
Jus then, but a fixset dtetsace away.
I saw slowly rMng a ttay spark. It was
gone in an instunt. but it was enough.
"StralfSha ahead, my bay, turn on your
bull's eye."
It ohane straight agairwt the walls of
the cabin.
"Here we ar I see the cabin." I crle
Lucy had net ret'red. Gcorgo wMel-d
softly. At the signal she flew to the dor,
unbarred and opened it. and. dripping
with rain, we entered.
In the mud fireplace a few embsrs pave
a tremulous lteht. dim and- uncertain.
Lucy gazed at us a ntomentr and pave her
had to "Wesner. "You are the guide." she
said, "and." (turning to me with a smile),
you are the strange negro."
In the lltt'o "o't the men were slumber
ing; back ef the I:w partition slept the
, women and children. The rain beating
1 against the low roof, and the wind sweep
ing through the forest, drowned the noise
created by our entrance, ana thsy slept as
only negroes can sleep. It was now nearly
1 o'clock. I could stop but a few mo
ments, for I had three miles to go In a
heavy, rainstorm, through swamp and for
est, and alone. The night was black as
Ethiopia itself, and I was tired and hun
gry. "Do you know this gentleman, Lucy?"
asked Wesner. ,
She nodded assent. In 10 minutes there
was a table set and a steaming cup ot
coffee for us what a luxury at that mo
ment. Few words were exchanged.
"I must return before daylight," said I,
and rising from the table, threw on my
wet coat and left the cabin. George and
Lucy accompanied me to the edge of the
water, and. wishing each other a mutual
"godspeed," with one hearty hand-grip
for success, I was alone.
Holding my compass In my hand, and
opening the slide of my lantern, I mada
the best possible time toward the horses,
which I bad left on an old abandoned
road, unused for years. In fact, I think
It was never used excopt to haul out ship
timber one Winter by some Northern ship
builders. This road ran nearly at right
angles with my course, and shaping that
so as to be sure and strike it between the
horses and tho stream, I kept on. and In
less than an hour reached it about one
fourth of a mile below the horses. At 4
o'clock both horses were stabled at the
store and well rubbed down. Then I lay
down for a few hours' rest, and when the
first customers for the day appeared was
ready for business.
Many inquiries were made during the
day for George, but my Invariable an
swer was: "Gone north after goods."
"Various surmises were made as to tho
fate of "Coverly's niggers," none ot
them worth repeating. The old man
had been watching Perry's swamp, con
stantly, and as the negroes were never
wlthrn 15 miles of there, I concluded it
was no particular harm to let. them
watch.
One day Skew Bill came tearing: up
to .the store, wild; bounced off his pony
and rushed in.
"Mr. Bradley," cried he.
"Well. Bill?"
"Old Coverly hasigot track of his nig
gers." "Where?"
"Just where I told 'em. They was in
Perry's swamp."
"What makes you think he has found
them. Bill?"
"Well, 'cause, you see, I saw two nig
gers night afore last come out of the
swamp, and skulk off. I follered em a
spell, but they caught sight of me and
h!d. There la going to be a big hunt to
morrer, all the fellers are to meet here
at S o'clock In the morning, and, by
hokey, we'll Just scour the ole swamp
and see if they are there. They must
be on this side of the bayou."
The next morning the boys com
menced to gather. There were about 23
or CO of what George called "Turkey
paw bucks," young dare-devils, wild
as bucks, and full of fun. To them a
nigger bunt meant plenty of cornjulce
and a good time generally.
As for negroes. If found, all right; If
not, they had the fun all the same.
There was Bill Slmonds. from St. Mary's,
young, lithe as a panther, cool as Ice, a
dead shot and a Comanche on horse
back: the Smythe brothers from New
Iberia, both able men, who afterward
proved their bravery; the Dubois broth
ers, three of them, fun-loving French
men, either one would risk his life for
a Joke. These are all of the names I
remember, except Charlton, the deputy
sheriff, a thick-headed old blunderer, an
Inveterate stammerer and invariably
drunk by 12 o'clock every secular day,
but plumb sober on the Sabbath, when
he endeavored to make up for a week's
scoundrellsm by praying the greater
part of the day. This was a sheriff's
posse, and had what Charlton called,
"Tne 1-law an' con-st-st-t-t-tu-tutlon,
gentlemen, to back it up."'
Out on the prairie in front of the
store, the boys were gathering waiting
Coverly's arrival. He and Dick were
bdth expected and the hunt would not
begin until they came. He had eent word
to Dick that George had gone, or he
would not have put In an appearance,
for he had a wholesome dread, of niy
partner's anger, and avoided meeting
him.
Dick and myself were personally on
good terms. I never admlrd him, but
had never quarreled with him, and as
the negroes to bo hunted for were In
part his property, I really wanted him
to take part in the sport. He came won
derfully arrayed with a pair of Mex
ican spurs on his heels, a brace of Colt's
38 calibre in his holster, uid tho ever
present Shotgun in his hand. He was a
mounted arsenal under a sombrero hat.
His weapons ami rlet sash wound
around his waist gave him the appear
ance of a formidable antagonist; but he
was not over courageous, and though
something of a bully, had an uncom
mon aversion for the email end of a
gun. He dashed up to the boys like a
warrior. I wlsned him a cheerful
'good morning,' and away rode the
crowd for Perry's. Dick on the big roan,
lending at a gallop.
I was somewhat interested to know
tho result of their hunt, and kept a
sharp lookout for the return of the
hunter. I saw nothing of them until
about 5 o'clock In the afternoon, when
one of the Smythe boys rode up to the
platform, dismounted, and, tying his
hcrse to the hitching rail In front,
walked Into the store.
"Well. Charley, did you find the run
aways?" "Not one." he answered.
"What caused all the excitement?"
"A couple of .free niggers In there
splitting rails. They had their women
with them, a couple of little huts built
and were at work. They went In a mile
or more on account of rift, as they ex
plained to mo. They wanted good
straight rifted trees. Lord, man! how
Dick Coverly's lip dropped when he saw
them! There Isn't a slave in this whole
swamp: they're gone somewhere, eure;
they are not here," and he turned for
home.
This was the end of Mr. Coverly's
"nigger hunt."
Time passed, and the first of May
came without news from George. I
took a New Orleans dally paper, and
thoroughly examined every isrue. Had
the fugitives been apprehended, the first
new wculd have been in the New Or
leans papers. Coverly had a standing
advertisement In them offering $1W0 for
any information that would lead to thlr
capture, and 53CO0 for their detention,
so he could get them before August. wth
a ojparate reward of 5M$ for Lucy, dead
or alive
T'ntll I had enlisted as a practical abo
litionist I had never especially noticed
tho "runaway department of the news
papers, nor had I cared about them, but
now every Item I carefully eyed, and it
became apparent to me that the system
was not co pleasant as its supporters
represented. I was not much given to
moralizing In those days (I had seen the
negro in his native country), and did not
waste much time philosophizing upon the
morality of American slavery. My am-
I bitlon was to get my partner and myself
wen uui ui me auair.ana weu into an- i
other.
May 15 came the first news from George.
The letter was very brief, but enough.
Here it is:
"Cairo. 111., May 3. 1835. Friend Bradley:
Arrived here all right today. Have sold
our cotton to Eastern parties. Shall see
them personally, and not trust to bro
kers. WESNER."
That was enough, for it told me they
were at Cairo, and that he should ac
company them himself until they were
safe. A few days later I received an
other letter from some Interior town In
Illinois, relating to other business. There
was quite a crowd In our store when
my mall came, and as this was from
George, some of his friends began asking
questions about him. I read the letter,
and" as there was nothing about the fugi
tives In it, I could not understand its im
port The last sentence read like this: '
P. S. Have been drained by sickness;
had to see a physician. I am better, and
will resume my Journey. ,
This I did not quite understand, and I
was doubly anxious.
One day not long after I received a
telegraph dispatch forwarded by mail
from New Orleans. Tlr was:
"Cotton sold, epot cash, no discount."
I breathed free: we were safe for this
time. I anxiously awaited my partner's j
return, oeing very lmpauent to near me
particulars of his adventure. Where
every day was fraught with peril and I
any hour might bring the hunter or .
Sheriff upon him, 'the mental strain muK !
have been very wearing, and I felt that '
LUCY GAZED AT
I was not doing my share of the work.
I had been comparatively idle, although,
of course, I was to share in the spoils.
The 2tet of June I had business at the
town of Franklin, and was at the steam
boat landing when the boat arrived. There
were but few passengere upon the upper
deck, but as I g"aivd about, my eyes
rested on my friend Wesner, leaning over
the guards, smoking the never-absent
cigarette. His eyes sparkled, and a quiet
smile of triumph rested on his face as he
nodded to me.
"Got your buggy. Brad?"
"Ycf," I replied.
"Then I will ride with you and let
my bagtrage go to New Town with the
goods. There is a heavy Invoice ' billed
there."
On the ride home, George refused to
talk.
"The story," said he, "Is a long one.
I kept a brief diary of every important
occurrence as we went along, and also
where we were at the time. I am tired
and pretty well fagged out, and all I
will say Is that I received from the Anti
Slavery Society Just JS03 for the venture
and $400 more for expenses."
"I thought, George, you took 10 eight
grown men and women and two children."
"So I did. but I preferred to bear Lucy's
expenses myeelf."
"Where Is she?"
"I placed her In a school at Andover,
Maes., deporftcd JSX) to her credit, paid a
year's board In advance and left her deep
In books and study. Bmd. you would
have been pleased, rould you have seen
the expression on the faces of thcee
Tonkeo schoolmnnrf' when I introduced
Lucy to them. But there, let us talk ot
sd-nihlng else uiytll I get rested. I have
a whole library of adventuro to relate."
Adjoining our store vr? had a little cot
tage built, containing two rooms, where
one ard sometimes both of us ccaslonally
'slept. When Gccrge w at horae he usu
ally stopped here, as we did not feel safe"
to leave our rtore ar.d stock alone. It be
ing a. cros-rcad store, and no buildings
very near.
CHAPTER X.
It was late that night before we got
to bed, and the next day was a very busy
one, our goods coming from tSie steamer
had to be taken care of. and K wa-s Surdey
before we were sottlcd for George' narra
tive. "Now," said George, as he took out his
tobacco and commenced to roll his cigar
ette, "wo will begin."
"You remember. Brad, when you left
mo in the little hut It was raining heav
ily. I am willing to admit that I wan
a little homesick." he 'continued, "but
the stream was crossed, the bridges
burned, and there was no retreat. I
wrapped a blanket around me. lay down
on the floor ard tried to lcep. b
so nervous and excited that I tMd not
succeed verv weH, although a little drowsy
before morning. Impatiently I waited for
tiv light. Before Funrleo I was on my
feet. Lucy aroused the sleepers, arid soon
breakfast was ready.
"I was a whke man now. and break
fasted by myrelf. About S o'clock the jun
came out bright and elear. -causing the
steam to arise from tho wet foliage In
such dtr5 mass? that it would conceal
the smoke, and thore was perfect safety
in our having a fire. I directed the boys
to make a big one out of doors to dry our
clothing and cheer the people, fcr there Is
nothing so cheers and ealivens one In the
woods as a big. briclnt. crackling fire., and
our spirits row with the sparks.
"A dozen people cannot move so quietly
and expeditiously as two men, and I
concluded that it would take at least four
hours for the party to accomplish the
same dtetocco you and I did In two.
"Tho little brook leading Into the Teche
was more than bank full and was now
merely a deep ditch in the overflowed
swamp. Our canoes were quite a distance
up the brook, but we had no difficulty In
finding them, aUhouen there wa3 seme
trouble In arranging the passengers. The
sun was low In the west before we began
to make our way toward the bayou.
"In the flirt canoo wis Lucy, together
with Pharo rather a thick-headed, blun
dering darky, afraid of bis own shadow
Tom, Jack and myself. I took the bow,
to Jack, who was quite c water man, I
gave the stern, telling the others to keep
still and watch, but nt move.
"I had my rifle and revolvers: none
of the others were armed, as I dared not
trust them. In the other canoe were the
remainder of the partv. n charge of
Lemuel Mason, wh old Mo-e in the n'em.
I cave Lemuel ono of my pistol1; ?nd
asked Mm If he could use It. He looked
me straight Jn the eye.
" 'Ten fir. and to kill. I am a free man.
row: maybe I'll soon, be a dead one, but
Til never, again live as another man's
property.'
"tn each boat were the provision needed
for Its occupant. Cautioning Lemuel not
to rtnrt until our boat was a few rod
ahead. I pushed Into the sluggish current,
heading the canoe toward the bayou.
" 'Now for the north.' I wh'spered to
Lucy, as I dlnped m'v paddle and sent the
canoe over the water. On. on we went,
among the cVirk cypress and cottonwoorfF.
their overhanging branche."! touching the
water and brushing our canoe. The dip
of the paddle and the swish of tho
branches ee we d'sturbert them in our pass
age was all that broke the'awful silence.
"It was quite dark before we reached the
waters of the Tech-, and tied up clos
Jmder the bank, waiting for Lemuel and
Wf caroe. I was tired with waiting before
thy Joined u.
"As we should now have to paddle
against the current, nnd must mnVc a
roe. I thought K bert to wait until 10
o'clock -where we were, for a short dis
tance r-'TOve u. on the hanks of the biyou.
was Litirert's rtinntitirm. Hs negro
quarters were quite near the water's ed?.
and as the rtream was narrow s rh
place. It wa with no Httle anxiety that I
"rw netr. Althought the nleht wrf? iVirk.
yet there rafeM be fome one around, or
wre arky ffihlnsr. I pokr vry softly
to LemucJ, an.d h rangM alongside. With
a light cord I fastened both canoes to
gether. ""Now, my bov, strong but easy: and
wo moved slowly on pat the house by
the quaricn unheard and unseen.
" Ah, what's that?
"Lemuel stopped his paddle.
" 'Hist! hist! It was the dip of a paddle
from up the river, and before we could
TJS A MOMENT AND GAVE HER HAND
make a movement, crash came a canoe,
containing two darkies returning from a
chicken steal.
" 'Hi, what disr one cried.
"A sweep of my paddle, and he lay In
the bottom of his dugout: another mo
ment and I had sprung into his boat and
had my Tiand upon h!a partner's throat.
" 'A word, a llrp, and you are a dead
man!
" 'Jack, I whispered, move on, and you
to the darky I had by the windpipe
'take that paddle and follow. Not a lisp!
"He obeyed. I examined the one to
whom I nad introduced the paddle. He
was Just coining to hl3 senses. His head
was bleeding pretty badly, and his face
showed white spote even In the darkness.
"Their canoe was a small dugout about
15 feet long. Stepping back toward the
fJtern. I motioned to tho fellow who was
paddling to go forward and then ordered
Jiim'to drag his companion Into the center
of the canoe and let him lay there until
he recovered Ws senses. He wa fright
ened clear through, but had the gocd
eense to obey.
" 'Now. my boy, go forward: paddle for
your life, and don't let the dip of your
paddle be heard two feet from tho canoe,
I ordered. He was glad to obey, and the
three canoes went speeding by the planta
tion, and In a few minutes were safe for
tho night.
"I had interded to reach the little run
around before daylight. If you recollect,
thai was a few miles above Lochon's, and
wae the only place that offered a safe
haven, as the barrks of the baycu were too
thickly settled for us to attempt to pass
them by daylight.
"I was hampered with my two pris
oners, and. hugglnt the east bank of the
stream, made redoubled exertions to urge
th r-anoc forward.
The' bank was dimly outlined, and I
.could tell very nearly where we were.
We had mado seven or eight miles, when,
to my grat Joy. our canoe ran over
the buoy we had placed below the out
let, and in a few moments we were push
ing our way through reeds and bushes
of the run-around, I did not try to go
far. but halted both canoes a few rods
from the bayou, and waited for day
light. "Th sky had begun to redden in the
East before we moved again. At sun
rise we were a mile up the stream and
secure from observation. The two ca
noes were fastened to the bank, and I
remained alone with the prisoners In
the captured canoe. The boys on shore
built a llttlo fire, and soon the smell of
hot coffee and fried ba'con told me that
they were well employed.
"This branch, you will remember, was
more of a natural ditch than a stream,
as It was not more than eight feet wide
but quite deep perhaps four feet or more.
I sat in the stern of the cance. looking
at the prisoners and thinking what I could
do with them. Finally, I drew my re
volver. At the sight of It they turned a
clear pigeon blue, and shook like an ague
chill. 'Well, boys, said I. 'It will be
my unpleasant duty to shoot you both.
I don't really like to do It. but I know
of no other way. I am going to the free
states with these folks, and don't want
to have you go back and set the whole
country after us. as you would If we let
you go. Say, you chap with the cracked
head, drop your hand from sour "skull,
will you? I want a fair shot, for I don't
want you to be a long time dying, and
again, you would upset the canoe if you
kicked much. "
" 'O, massa: let us go norf, too! Let us
go! We'll work for you and pay our way
and will stick forever, 'deed an we will,
sir; 'deed we will!'
"I called old Mose down. 'Mose, said
I; 'Is it best to shoot these fellows or take
them along?
"Mose did not know me. and felt rather
inclined to be frightened himself, but
finally he stammered out: 'I wouldn't
shoot 'em, massa; let's take 'em along;
there's room enough in my canoe for one.
"So I concludedknot to kill them, much
to their satisfaction. On further question
ing I found out to whom they belonged.
They were Lanman's boys, and had been
up the bayou Ashing, probably for chick
ens, as there were two then in the canoe.
I did not like to deprive Lanman ot a
couple of his hands or rob him of J 00,
but. having left my conscience at home.
I certainly could not send them back. The
only other resource waa murder, and 1
thought on the whole I would be justified
in committing the theft. I therefore or
dered the men 6hore to get their break
fast. "After breakfast, more trouble. Jim,
the youngest, had a wife at Lanman's,
and had told his story to the party. Lucy
had heard it, and her heart was touched.
She followed me to the boat. 'Only one
more, just one; wo can crowd her In
somewhere. Just think, suppose I were
her, would you leave me?
" 'He must leave her,' said I. for I
know enough about plantation negroes to
know that It would be posting a hand
Jblll to allow him to return.
" Hls wife's at Stephenson's, she re
plied, 'and cannot know of her husband's
absence, and laying here a day he could
get her.
" 'Lucy, I replied, you and Jim must
bear with disappointment this time. If
Jim goes for his wife and gets her, the
whole country will be scoured, for it will
be known at once that they have run
away. We shall run great risk of being
caught, and then what would become of
you and the rest? I shall run the canoe
into the bayou, upset it, and then Mr.
Lanman will think he has lost a couple
of niggers In the bayou. Next trip I will
take Jim's wife!'
"She said no more. Jim felt bad to
think he was to be kidnaped, but he was
determined to make the best of every
thing, and did not make much demon
stration. I do not think he was quite
! heartbroken. The canoe I took down to
J the bayou that afternoon and upset her.
and let her float to tell the tale to Lan
man that he was out a couple of niggers.
I reckon we may as well take our next
Invoice from there. Obed, the other one,
was 40 years old. He had left a wife
and two little ones 10 years ago, in Louis
ville, Ky. He had no loves to leave be
hind. He is tho devil's own. It was he
whom I paddled. I talked to him as I
TO WESXER.
tied up his head. In a few minutes I
was" satisfied that he would be my right
hand man, next to Lemuel Mason, and
without these two, I should have had
great difficulty in succeeding.
"Obed I left at the woodyard, and Lem
uel Mason is at New Orleans now. I
have been with them for weeks, and
neither of them suspect who I am. To
Lemuel I gave free papers as a protec
tion If arrested. Him you can trust. He
is brave and cool.
"Let's see I was tying up Obed's head,
I believe. After I had washed off the
blood so he could eat his breakfast, I
sent him up to the Are, and .after he
had finished his coffee and bacon talked
to him awhile. He was rather reticent
at first about his past life, but I finally
drew from him the fact that he had at
tempted to run away from Kentucky,
been caught and brought back, whipped
nearly to death, and finally had killed
another negro set to watch him, and had
again escaped, but was retaken and final
ly sold into Louisiana as a punishment.
He was very anxious to get back to Ken
tucky, not for any love of his former
home, but in order that he might punish
his persecutors. His wife was a free
woman, as were his children. He had
heard nothing from them for years, and
old recollections had about faded from
his mind, but he was Intelligent enough
to hate a slaveholder, and cared nothing
for his own life if he could Injure him.
"I sat down and explained my plan to
take this party through. ' He was, of
course, willing, for he had no other al
ternative. The day wore slowly away,
and about C P. M. we ate our supper, and
at dark left our little camp and moved
slowly up the branch. It was 3 o'clock
and quite dark, when pushing aside the
intervening bushes, we again entered the
bayou and headed up the stream. This
was to be a night of extreme caution
and care, as we had three plantations and
one village to pass. We must travel 30
miles before we could make our next
haven. Luck was ours the second night,
for we met neither man nor steamer, a
boat was what we dreaded most on the
bayou and it was sunrise before we
made our landing. The canoes were
scarcely out of sight when around the
bend above us shot a steamer. She passed
so near that the swish from her wheels
half filled one of our canoes as It lay
close under the banks. No fire that day
cold water, hard bread and raw bat.cn.
The sun was warm, however, and we slept
and watched by turns. At dark we were
off. Above Vermllllonville there was no
steamer. I kept a sharp lookout for the
mouth of the passage that led to the
Atchafalaya waters, but passed It in the
dark and had to lay by the next day.
Thus one was was lost,
"I dared not put one of our canvas
canoes on the bayou, so we waded and
floundered alongside, hunting for the pas
sage, and found it about three miles be
low. 'As soon as night shut down we entered
it. and after numerous difficulties and two
or three wettings, were on the upper wat
ers of the Atchafalaya.
"We had made but a mile or two when,
rounding a short bend In the river, we
almost ran into a canoe containing four
men. They took no notice of us. Prob
ably they had no suspicion of meeting
runaway niggers at night on the Atchafa
laya. I held my breath in suspense as
they glided by. and my hand clutched the
stock of my revolver. I did not want
to shoot, but as I was northward-bound.
should have sent four shots home, if In
terfered with. They seemed as anxious
to, avoid us as we were them, and in a
few seconds they passed into the dark
ness. " 'What are they, Obed. do you think T
" 'Hoss thleve3, I reckon, massa; dey Is
powerful plenty 'roun de Teche. Dey
steal canoe up country, run down 40 or CO
miles and steal -hesa or mule, dtn run
back again. Dat's de way dem peoples
work. Big lot ob munny a feller'd go: to
take 'em. Sheriff, he after 'em nebber
catch 'era. Dem chaps Is too smart for
de Sheriff. One day, ole man, next day
some Oder body.
"I was not particular as to who they
wero; but If they were horse thieves,
w6 were not liable to be followed by
them. Brad, It Is hard work paddling a
heavily loaded canoe against even a slow
current. I was fast getting tired and
my hands were blistered so they bted. It
was a relief to me to know that Obed was
good at that sort of engineering. I set
tled down then and concluded that my
particular forte lay In commanding the
expedition, and as commander, of course,
I could not well be engineer. Therefore,
I sat resignedly in the stern of the canoe
and kept a good lookout. By hard work
we made four miles an hour against the
current. At midnight we pulled up for a
short time, ate a luncheon, and got well
rested. Twelve miles further would taka
us to the mouth of a chute, the course of
which was up the river. As it was too
small for steamers, and no person had
settled there, I felt saie In attemptlns
to make the passage by daylight. We
must enter before morning light, how
ever, or go ashore and lay In tho woods
all day. We made every exertion and
before daylight had the good fortune to
enter the mouth of the chute. A couple
of miles up and we felt safe.
'" "Unload, boys,' said L 'and we will
rest and have our breakfast, for here we
stay until 4 o'clock. Three short hours
will take us into the bayou again, and
then look for trouble, for you will And
plenty of danger and scores of steamers.'
"We landed and breakfast was soon un
der way. Coffee, fresh fish and bacon,
with a few cakes of pilot bread it was
a good, square meal, and ravenously de
voured by as hungry a set of runaways
as ever left tho sunny South. After
breakfast we lay down and slept soundly
untll 3 o'clock, when I aroused all hands.
Hard bread and coffee, then off again en
our uncertain Journey.
"I had calculated to strike the bayou
again about dark and as It was quite wids
at the mouth of the chute, we would have
no difficulty. The chances of any notice
being taken of us by passing steamers
were well In our favor. Usually they had
enough of their own business to attend to
and would not suspect us of being a lot,
of runaways unless news had been spread'
abroad that we wero off for the North.
Of this there was no great danger unless,
as there is no telegraph in the region, Tne
news had Just reached thare. In that in
stance, even, it would be very unlikely
that we were canoeing our way to Canada,
but if we were overhauled, we could not
answer, as the very fact of traveling by
canoe and without baggage in that steam
boat country would be a dead giveaway.
"Three hundred miles of water Journey
lay before us. Six days and nights car
ried us ISO miles, without sign of danger.
At last I became careless, and did not take
the extra precautions needed, and this
carelessness came very near costing us
dear, and ruining the whole expedition.
"One Sunday night I was sitting in the
stern of the canoe, perhaps 20 rods in
advance of the other one. Obed was in
the bow, doing most of the labor. The
night was warm, and very pleasant, and
perhaps I got a little drowsy myself. I
know the rest were, for all hands were
nodding. I took the steering of the canoe
after dark, for by that means I was sure
to be awake. We were close to the bank;
in fact, quite under the overhanging
branches of the trees, when the largest al
ligator I ever saw raised his head within
a foot of the gunwale of our canoe, and
snapped my paddle with his ponderous
Jaw. I was awake enough then. Two of
my passengers screamed, and sprang to
the further side of the canoe. Tne craft,
never too stanch, careened to the water's
edge.
" Don't move!" cried I; 'for if we over
set you are 'gator meat, every one of
you'
"In less than a minute a dozen ug!y
heads broke the muddy water, and it
seemed as if every alligator In the bayou
had gathered around the boat. I ordered
Lemuel to close his canoe up quick, and he
did, but I dare not attempt to transfer
for fear of sinking his canoe. Obed. un
derstanding the situation, kept beating
the water with his paddle to frighten them
and keep them at bay; thus we got our
boat ashore, landed our wet and scared
passengers, then bailed the water out of
our drowned craft.
"I can't say that I was frightened, but
I afterward thought perhaps I might have
been, I did not relish having my career
cut short by an alligator, for I wanted
to again see some lively work in the At
takapas country.
"This affair consumed an hour, and
about daylight we landed; hauled up our
canoes and prepared to pass another day
watching passing steamers, and waiting
for night.
"Twenty-one days from our first em
barking, without further mishap, we
hauled our canoes ashore at the entrance
of a little bayou. In sight of the great
Red River. You recollect when we were
that way planning the route we pushed
boldly out. It was different now.
"I was too Ignorant of the river to make
my debut on it by night, as quantities of
driftwood were liable to be running at
this stage ot the water. Next morning,
thorefore, while yet dark, we moved aloni?
to the river, and as daylight approached
pushed our canoes Into the swiftly moving
currents. As I had anticipated, the sur
face was thickly sprinkled with driftwood.
This was with great difficulty avoided.
Although doing our best, the current car
ried us a mile below our starting point,
and it was a relief when, without acci
dent, our canoes were close under the op
posite bank of tho river.
"There were so many steamers moving
that I did not feel quite easy, and about
9 o'clock, hearing the threshing of an upward-bound
one, we ran the canoes Into a
little cove, where we were secure from
observation. Here the banks of the rlvr
were well wooded, the foliage thick and
overhanging.
"The swift rolling river eddied and
sparkled In the bright sunlight, as. loaded
with drift, is rushed past. From our
secure place In the cove I closely watched
It. and reluctantly concluded we must
continue our voyage to the mouth of the
Black mostly by daylight. The risk from
the curiosity of people on passing steamers
being much less than the danger from
collision with the floa-tlng debris, and It
would not be an unusual sight fcr a couple
of canoes to be seen paddling up the Rpd
River, I therefore determined to remain
here the balance of the day and the com
ing night.
"As this was to be onr first all-night
rest, we made quite an extensive nrepa
ration, putting up a light frame of poles
and stretching our tent over It as a pro
tection from the heavy dew and fog. I
was a little wary about fire, but by dig
ging a hole a few feet deep and making
our fire In that, we had quite a llve'y
blaze, that could not be seen a dozen
yards away. Hot coffee, fried bacon and
catfish, with hardtack for a relish, made
an excellent repast, and as the epicurean
tastes of my passengers had never been
extensively cultivated, they found no
fault. As for me. I was so confounded
hungry that I was not particular and
would have relished the food equally as
well had it been raw.
"After supper we lay down, and in a
few minutes all but myself were asleep.
I was too tired and anxious to sleep
soundly, and perhaps I was a trifle nerv
ous. I lay thinking and planning until
almost midnight.
"From here to the White River was a
long distance. I had bccom& accustomed
to the danger, and thought chiefly of the
fatigue.
"In the morning we were off again. For
10 days we voyaged, sleeping at night and
resting our tired limbs. The strain ard
fatigue were -rery wearing. The wna;n
and children were mere shadows. Lucy
could walk but a few steps when ashore,
and from sharing my care and anxiety,
together with the self-restraint imposed
to conceal her previous knowledge of
from the rest, she had become so nervot
aa to be almost hysterical. In view of
these facts, I determined to rest at least
one week, and on the evening of the 31st
day from the rendezvous, then being about
70 or SO miles from the mouth of the
Tensas. I reluctantly gave orders to haul
up the boats. We landed about 1 o'clock
P. M. on the west bank of the bayou. The
shores were very low, but I Judged, and
rightly, that a little way Inland there waa
dry ground enough for a safe and pleas
ant camp. After much labor we dragged )
our heavy canoes, perhaps a quarter of a
mile, through mud ana water, and lett?
uiciu secure i.rum ODservanon.
w y w..v4&uc.
THE PALATIAL
KHi BUILDING
ANDERSON. GTTSTAV. Attcrney-at-Law...61S
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BINSWANGER, DR. O. S.. Phys. & Sur.410-41J
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