“I will if you ever say so again,” I cried.
“Oh!”
“When were you ever flogged? Did I ever flog you?”
“No, Mass’ George.”
“Then why did you say that?”
“Mass’ George often look going flog lil nigger.”
“Then don’t say it again, and you shall soon have something to eat. We are close to the wharf.”
For there in full view was the flag flying on its pine-tree staff, and the boats lay off anchored in the river. But the place looked singularly deserted, and it seemed very strange for there to be no one visible idling about, boating, or at work in the plantations; not a single person being in sight till we got some distance farther on, and the block-house and palisade seemed to come out from behind the trees, when the sentries could be plainly seen, and the group by the open gates, while the interior of the enclosure looked like a busy camp, so crowded was it with people and their household goods.
We left the two blacks to moor the boat, after telling Pomp to make haste up and have some dinner, and Morgan and I hurried up to my father’s quarters. He was not there, and we learned that he was with the General.
Under the circumstances we did not hesitate to go to the latter’s tent, where we found that a little council was being held, and that Colonel Preston and the principal part of the other gentlemen of the expedition were there.