"It would be a poor result of a freedman's labor experiment."
The Doctor went to the back door and shouted for Major Scott.
"Major," said he, "you must take all the people down to the fort as soon as they can get ready."
"They's all ready, Marsr. They's only a waitin' for the word."
"Very well, bring them along. I'll write a note to the commandant, asking him to take you in for the night. You can come back in the morning if all is quiet."
"What's a gwine to come of you an' Miss Lillie?"
"Never mind that now. I will see to that presently. Bring the people along."
In five minutes fifteen men, six women and four pickaninnies, the whole laboring force of the plantation, were in the road before the house, each loaded with a portion of his or her property, such as blankets, food, and cooking utensils. The men looked anxious; the women cried loudly with fright and grief; the pickaninnies cried because their mothers did.
"Oh, Mars Ravenel! you'll be cotched suah," sobbed the old mamma who did the family cooking. "Miss Lillie, do come 'long with us."