'Send for him, Alice!' replied my host. 'He's prouder than Lucifer, and would send me word to come to him. I will go. Will you accompany me, Mr. K——? You'll hear what a runaway nigger thinks of slavery: Sam has the gift of speech, and uses it regardless of persons.'
'Yes, sir, I'll go with pleasure.'
Supper being over, we went. It was about an hour after nightfall when we emerged from the door of the mansion and took our way to the negro quarters. The full moon had risen half way above the horizon, and the dark pines cast their shadows around the little collection of negro huts, which straggled about through the woods for the distance of a third of a mile. It was dark, but I could distinguish the figure of a man striding along at a rapid pace a few hundred yards in advance of us.
'Isn't that Moye?' I asked the Colonel, directing his attention to the receding figure.
'I reckon so; that's his gait. He's had a lesson to-day that'll do him good.'
[pg 197]
'I don't like that man's looks,' I replied, carelessly; 'but I've heard of singed cats.'
'He is a sneaking d——l,' said the Colonel; 'but he's very valuable to me. I never had an overseer who got so much work out of the hands.'
'Is he cruel to them?'