Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: May 9, 2025
He did not care to run up the lake any farther than was necessary, and he did not think it prudent to beat down the lake in the face of his pursuers. No more anxious skipper than he of the Isabel ever paced a deck. Colonel Raybone was as energetic as he was remorseless, and would leave no means untried to capture the fugitives.
The Isabel remained at anchor for three days, under the lea of the land, during which time Colonel Raybone was carefully nursed by Dan and Lily; but his wound was still very painful, and the patient, fearful of mortification, or some other unfavorable turn in his condition, declared himself willing to do any thing rather than remain any longer in this place.
"I hope not," added Lily, with a shudder. "If we do, it will not alter any thing." "What would you do, Dan?" "I will never become a slave again. We have guns and powder, bullets and shot." "Would you kill him?" "No man shall stand between me and freedom. I would shoot him or any other man, if it were necessary to secure our safety." "Gossifus! Shoot Massa Raybone!" exclaimed Cyd.
"Now, back to the tree," said Colonel Raybone, as he mounted his horse again. Dandy had given up all hope now, and he marched to the whipping-post, as the condemned criminal walks to the scaffold. He had advanced but a short distance before he met the other spectators to his doom, and Long Tom seized him by the wrist, and held him with an iron gripe till they reached the dead oak.
"What for, you young villain? How dare you ask such a question?" replied Colonel Raybone, angrily. "You know what you are to be whipped for. Look in Archy's face!" He did look; it was, undoubtedly, a black eye which he had inflicted upon his young master.
"How many, Massa Raybone?" asked Tom, as he unrolled the long lash of his whip. "Lay on till I say stop." Dandy's flesh quivered, but his spirit shrunk more than his body from the contamination of the slave-master's scourge. The lash fell across his back his back, as white as that of any who read this page.
The information of the leader of the expedition in regard to the swamp was exceedingly limited. All he knew had been derived from Colonel Raybone, who, in conversation with some of his friends, had mentioned the region, and given a partial description of it.
Suppose he should be there, and we should happen to go near his plantation?" "Hossifus!" groaned Cyd. "Massa Raybone down dar! Dis chile gubs it all up den." "Don't give up yet, Cyd," laughed Dan. "Mossifus! If dis nigger see ole massa, he done sink into de ground, like a catfish in de mud." "You haven't seen him yet, Cyd; and what is more, I don't believe you will see him."
Only one of the boats that which contained Colonel Raybone was near enough to board the Isabel as she dashed through the passage. It was evidently the intention of the planter to spring on board as she passed through the channel; for he stood in the bow of his boat with the painter in his hand.
They were fugitives and wanderers from the far south-west; and the story which they told to Mr. Grant and his happy family will form the substance of this volume. The plantation of Colonel Baylie Raybone was situated on one of the numerous bayous which form a complete network of water communications in the western part of the parish of Iberville, in the State of Louisiana.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking