"I know you did, you d——. Get out of my sight."
"Oh, massa," sobbed the woman, falling on her knees, "I'se so sorry; oh, forgib me!"
"Go to ——, you ——, that's the place for you," said the Colonel, striking the kneeling woman with his foot, and felling her to the floor.
Unwilling to see or hear more, I left the master with the slave.
[D] The "North Counties" are the north-eastern portion of North Carolina, and include the towns of Washington and Newbern. They are an old turpentine region, and the trees are nearly exhausted. The finer virgin forests of South Carolina, and other cotton States, have tempted many of the North County farmers to emigrate thither, within the past ten years, and they now own nearly all the trees that are worked in South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. They generally have few slaves of their own, their hands being hired of wealthier men in their native districts. The "hiring" is an annual operation, and is done at Christmas time, when the negroes are frequently allowed to go home. They treat the slaves well, give them an allowance of meat (salt pork or beef), as much corn as they can eat, and a gill of whiskey daily. No class of men at the South are so industrious, energetic, and enterprising. Though not so well informed, they have many of the traits of our New England farmers; in fact, are frequently called "North Carolina Yankees." It was these people the overseer proposed to hang. The reader will doubtless think that "hanging was not good enough for them."
CHAPTER VI.
THE PLANTER'S "FAMILY."
A quarter of a mile through the woods brought me to the cabin of the old negress where Scip lodged. I rapped at the door, and was admitted by the old woman. Scip, nearly asleep, was lying on a pile of blankets in the corner.
"Are you mad?" I said to him. "The Colonel is frantic with rage, and swears he will kill you. You must be off at once."