other phases of the subject
we must leave to the reader's imagination much that transpired at the rosebrook villa during the night above mentioned, and ask him to accompany us on the following morning, when curious placards may be seen posted here and there at corners of streets and other conspicuous places about the city. mr. pringle blowers has lost a beautiful female slave, whose fair hair, beautiful complexion, deep blue eyes, delicate features, and charming promise, is in large type and blackest printer's ink set forth most glowingly. had mr. pringle blowers been a poet instead of a chivalric rice-planter, he might have emblazoned his loss in sentimental rhyme. but pringle blowers says poets always make fools of themselves; and, although the south is a sweet and sunny land, he is happy indeed that it is troubled with none of the miscreants. he owned niggers innumerable; but they were only common stock, all of whom he could have lost without feeling any more than ordinary disappointment at the loss of their worth in money. for this one, however, he had a kind of undefined love, which moved his heart most indescribably. disappointed in the gratification of his desires, he is mortified and maddened to desperation. why should a slave he had invested so much money in, and felt so like making a lady of, and never would have thought of setting at field labour, run away? he only wanted her for the most aristocratic purpose the south can provide for a beautiful slave. hence mr. pringle blowers, through the medium of his knowledge of letters, puts forward his placard-a copy of which he inserts in all the most respectable morning journals-in which the fair outlines of his lost woman are simply set forth. he will give three hundred dollars for her apprehension, fifty dollars more for proof to convict any person of harbouring her, and an additional sum for lodging her in any gaol in the country. this large reward mr. pringle blowers will pay in hard cash; and he has no doubt the offering will be quite enough to excite the hunting propensities of fashionable young gentlemen, as well as inveterate negro hunters. beside this, negro hunting being rather a democratic sport than otherwise, mr. pringle blowers reconciles his feelings with the fact of these sports being uncommonly successful.
the reader will naturally conclude that the offer of this large reward produced some sensation in and about the city. people stopped along the streets, read the curious hand-bill, smiled, and made various remarks. ladies, always curious to know what is prominent among the current events of the day, sent servants to ascertain what so attractive the posters contained. it was, indeed, a regular bit of self-enjoyed fun for them; for the ladies had all heard of pringle blowers, and that a female slave for whose capture he would give three hundred dollars had run away from him they were heartily glad to learn.
the day-police were equally happy to hear of the loss, and anxious to make the capture. in this position it was doubly necessary to be cautious in proceeding to effect the escape of the fair girl. if discovered in the act the stranger might be subjected to a series of inprisonments that would sacrifice his life. again, he might be assassinated by some disguised hand; or, if an infuriated mob were let loose upon him, no police interference could save his life. as suspicion is ever on the point of giving out its dangerous caprices where a community live fearing one another, so the stranger became sensible of the shafts of suspicion that might at any moment be darted at him. despatching his schooner on her voyage, he continued for several days walking about the city, as if indifferent to what was passing. he read the curious poster in which was offered the goodly reward for the apprehension of a lost slave, affected great coolness, and even ignorance of the mode by which such articles were recovered.
fortunate was it for the stranger that he despatched the schooner without the prize he intended to carry off, for no sooner had she got under way and begun to move down the harbour, than she was boarded by four men, who, producing their authority, searched her from stem to stern. such were their suspicions, that they would not be satisfied until they had opened a few boxes and bales that were stowed away in the hold. this done, the schooner was permitted to continue her voyage, and the stranger, unmolested, continues his walks about the city. a few days pass and the excitement has calmed down. pringle blowers, although chagrined at the loss of his valuable piece of woman property, resolves to wait the issue with patience and forbearance. if she, fool like, has made away with herself, he cannot bring her to life; if she be carried off by villainous kidnappers, they must eventually suffer the consequences. her beauty will expose their plots. he will absorb his usual requirement of spirit, keep the nerve up, and never despond of regaining her while his reward of three hundred dollars stands before a money-loving public. he would rather have lost two dozen common niggers than this one he set so much by, intended to make so much of, and upon whom he had set his very heart, soul, and burning passions. but there is no profit in grief, no use in giving way to disappointment. philosophers bear disappointments with fortitude; he must be a philosopher, keep a sharp look out and not despair.
how different is the scene presented at rosebrook's villa! there, annette is seen, prepared to take her departure. dressed in male attire, with frock coat and trousers setting so neatly, dress boots, white vest, and brightly arranged shirt-bosom, she is the type of perfection of a youthful southron. franconia has expended her skill in completing the fair girl's toilet, when mrs. rosebrook places a pair of green spectacles over her eyes, bids her look in the glass, and tells her she will pass for a planter's son among a million.
"nobody will know me, now," she answers, viewing herself in the mirror. her neat setting suit, panama hat, and green spectacles, give a peculiar air to her lithe figure. and though her emotions are well nigh ready to give forth tears, she cannot suppress a smile at the singular transformation of her person.
"it'll take sharper eyes than policemen's to discover the disguise," says rosebrook, who, having ordered a carriage to the door, enters the room and takes her kindly by the hand. "keep up a good heart; don't despond, my child, and the chances are that you'll be safe-you'll be in wilmington to-morrow morning" he continues: then, turning to franconia, who will accompany her to that place, he awaits her pleasure. "i am ready!" returns that generous woman, as, arrayed in her travelling dress, she takes annette by the hand, and is about to proceed to the gate where the carriage waits. mrs. rosebrook must take one more fond parting. laying her right arm over her shoulder, and pressing her to her bosom, she kisses and kisses her fair cheek, bids her remember that god alone is her protector, her guide to a happy future. in freedom may she live to freedom's god; in slavery, hope ever, and trust in his mercy! with this admonition, the excited girl, trembling, leaves the villa, leaning on franconia's arm. bradshaw has the carriage at the door, piled with sundry boxes and portmanteaus, giving it the appearance of a gentleman's travelling equipage. he has orders to drive to the steam-boat landing, where the young invalid planter will embark for new york via wilmington and the land route. soon they have taken their seats, and with rosebrook's good-natured face shining beside bradshaw, on the front seat, they say their happy adieu! and bound over the road for the steamer.
it is now within fifteen minutes of the starting time. the wharf presents a bustling scene: carriages and coaches are arriving with eager-looking passengers, who, fearing they are a little behind time, stare about as if bewildered, scold heedless drivers, point out heir baggage to awkward porters who run to and fro with trunks and boxes on their heads, and then nervously seek the ticket-office, where they procure the piece of paper that insures them through to new york. albeit, finding they have quite time enough on their hands, they escort their female voyagers on board, and loiter about in the way of every one else, enjoying that excitement in others which they have fortunately passed through. here and there about the wharf, leaning their head carelessly over black piles, are sly-looking policemen, who scan every voyager with a searching eye. they are incog., but the initiated recognise them at a glance. the restless leer of that lynx eye discovers their object; anything, from a runaway nigger to a houseless debtor, is to them acceptable prey. atween decks of the steamer, secured at the end of the wharf, another scene of bustle and confusion presents itself. a passenger is not quite sure his baggage is all on board, and must needs waste his breath in oaths at the dumb porter, who works at his utmost strength, under the direction of mr. mate, whose important figure is poised on the wharf. another wants to "lay over" at richmond, and is using most abusive language to a mulatto waiter, who has put his trunk on one side of the boat and carpet bag on the other. a third, a fussy old lady with two rosy-faced daughters she is, against her southern principles, taking to the north to be educated, is making a piteous lamentation over the remains of two bonnets-just from the hands of the milliner-hopelessly smashed in her bandbox. the careless porter set it on a pile of baggage, from where it tottled over under the feet of an astonished gentleman, who endeavours to soothe the good lady's feelings with courteous apologies. on the upper deck, heeding no one, but now and then affecting to read a newspaper, as passengers pace to and fro, is the stranger, seated on one of the side seats. the engineer moves his valve now and then, the cross-head ascends, the steam hisses below, the condenser rumbles, the steam from the funnel roars furiously forth, spreading its scalding vapour through the air. again, the man, almost imperceptibly touches the iron rod with his finger, the magic monster again moves its piston downward, the wheels make a turn, the massive vessel surges upon her lines, as if eager to press forward on her course. another gentle touch, and, obeying the summons, the motive power is still; the man subjects the monster with his little finger. he has stopped her near the centre, where, with a slight touch, he can turn back or forward. again, he lifts a small key, and the steam, with a deafening roar, issues from the escape: he is venting his chest. simultaneously the second bell sounds forth its clanking medley: two minutes more, and the snake-like craft will be buffeting the waves, on her daily errand. as passengers begin to muster on board, their friends clustering round the capsill of the wharf, obstructing the way, the sturdy figure of mr. pringle blowers may be seen behind a spile near the capsill, his sharp, peering eyes scanning the ship from fore to aft. he is not sure she will get off by this route; common sense tells him that, but there exists a prompting something underneath common sense telling him it's money saved to keep a sharp look-out. and this he does merely to gratify that inert something, knowing at the same time that, having no money, no person will supply her, and she must be concealed in the swamps, where only "niggers" will relieve her necessities. at this moment rosebrook's carriage may be seen driving to the ticket office at the head of the wharf, where rosebrook, with great coolness, gets out, steps within the railing, and procures the tickets in his own name. again taking his seat, the mate, who stands on the capsill of the wharf, now and then casting a glance up, cries out, "another carriage coming!" bradshaw cracks his whip, and the horses dash down the wharf, scatter the people who have gathered to see the boat off, as a dozen black porters, at the mate's command, rush round the carriage, seize the baggage, and hurry it on board. rosebrook, fearing his friends will lose their passage, begs people to clear the gangway, and almost runs on board, his fugitive charge clinging to his arms. the captain stands at the gangway, and recognising the late comer, makes one of his blandest bows: he will send a steward to show them a good state-room. "keep close till the boat leaves, and remember there is a world before you," rosebrook says, shaking annette by the hand, as she returns, "god bless good master!" they are safe in the state-room: he kisses franconia's cheek, shuts the door, and, hurrying back, regains the wharf just as the last bell strikes, and the gangway is being carried on board.
"not going along with us, eh?" ejaculates the captain, as, from the capsill, rosebrook looks round to bid him good-by.
"not to-day" (he returns, laconically). "take good care of my friends; the young invalid from lousiana in particular." just then he catches the stranger's eye, and, with a significant motion of his fingers, says, "all safe!" with a nod of recognition the stranger makes his adieu; the fastenings are cast away, the faint tinkle of a bell is heard amid the roar of steam; the man at the valves touches the throttle bar; up mounts the piston rod-down it surges again; the revolving wheels rustle the water; the huge craft moves backward easy, and then ahead; a clanking noise denotes the connections are "hooked on," and onward she bounds over the sea. how leaps with joy that heart yearning for freedom, as the words "she's away!" gladden annette's very soul! her enraptured feelings gush forth in prayer to her deliverers; it is as a new spring of life, infusing its refreshing waters into desert sands. she seems a new being, with hope, joy, and happiness brightening the future for her. but, alas! how vain are hopes,--how uncertain the future!
rosebrook watched the steaming craft as she crosses the bar, and dwindles out of sight. "thou art safe, poor slave," he says to himself, as she passes from view behind the distant peak.
something touches him on the shoulder as he returns to his carriage. "ah! this you, pringle blowers?" he exclaims, turning round suddenly, as the full face of that important personage presented itself. "been seeing some friends off to--?"
"no," replies blowers, with seeming indifference. he is just shying round,--keeping an eye out for a smart kind of "a gal," lost last week.
"quite a misfortune, that, blowers! god bless me, i'm sorry," returns rosebrook, dryly. rosebrook invites him to get in and ride a short distance. blowers has not the slightest objection; seats his square frame on the left side of the carriage. "those were clever posters you put out for the apprehension of that girl, blowers!"
"took some genius, i reckon," interrupts blowers, with broad laugh.
"they say she was very handsome, and, if it be true, i hope you may get her, blowers," continues rosebrook, naively.
the disappointed man shakes his head, touches the other on the arm, and says, "nothing is more sure!"
