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Updated: May 10, 2025
Early on the following morning, Henry Carroll and Uncle Nathan were on board the Chalmetta, ready and eager for a start. But they were doomed to more disappointment. Nearly all day the bell banged and the steam hissed; the captain told a hundred lies, but the boat did not budge an inch from her berth. Still there were certain signs that the hour of departure could not be far distant.
Vernon had arranged the details, and the lawyer's reflections suggested no material alteration. His wounded arm was a hindrance, but time was too precious to admit of delay. The Chalmetta was so tardy in her movements that Jaspar must soon overtake them, and then the opportunity would be lost.
"Well, now, I reckon there is a leetle grain," said Uncle Nathan, stepping forward and producing the will, which had been intrusted to him on board the Chalmetta. "This will set matters about right, I rayther guess." "What mean you, fellow?" said Jaspar. "What is it?" "The genuine will," replied Hatchie, still holding Maxwell. "I gave it into his hands.
The effects of this movement were soon perceptible in every part of the boat, for she creaked and groaned like a ship in a gale. But the Flatfoot, No. 3, had the lead, and seemed to gain upon her rival, a circumstance which seemed to rouse the lethargic firemen of the Chalmetta to the highest pitch of excitement, for they packed the furnaces more closely still.
This boat the Flatfoot, No. 3 seemed, by her straining and puffing, to throw the gauntlet to the Chalmetta; a challenge, real or imaginary, which the latter made haste to accept, or, rather, her sleepy firemen did, for, without leave or license, they crammed her furnaces to their utmost capacity.
"Precisely so!" exclaimed the attorney, as though no shade of doubt or anxiety had crossed him. "The Chalmetta exploded her boiler." "Well!" "Both Miss Dumont and her troublesome lover were lost, were they not?" "Yes." "And, if you had continued on board, you would probably have shared their fate." "Yes; but do you mean to say you blowed the steamer up? asked Jaspar, with a sneer. "Exactly so!"
But how pale and thin you look!" "Good reason for it, my dear sir. I was on board of the Chalmetta." "Were you, indeed! Thank God, you escaped with life! Were you much injured?" "I was, but, thanks to the care of a good physician, I am nearly restored again." "But our poor lady Miss Dumont have you any tidings of her? Report said she was lost in the catastrophe."
"Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell; Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave; Then some leaped overboard with dreadful yell, As eager to anticipate their grave." We left the Chalmetta in a situation which demands explanation. Emily retired to her state-room on that dreadful night entirely relieved from the distressing anticipations which had before oppressed her.
Although the general condition of the negro slaves at the South is the most degraded in which humanity can exist, there are some exceptions to the rule; and among them may well be placed the body-servant of Colonel Dumont, Hatchie, whose sudden and mysterious reäppearance upon the deck of the Chalmetta must be accounted for.
Yet, deep as was the darkness, and perilous as was the navigation of the river, the Chalmetta sluggishly pursued her upward course, shunning sand-bars and snags which the eye could not see, and which the stranger knew not of.
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