Mass' George

"Well, George," said my father, coming up. "Ah, Morgan. Want to speak to me?"

"Well, sir, I--er--that is, I think Master George does."

"No, father; it's Morgan, only he's afraid."

"Nay, nay, not afraid, Master George. Don't say that. On'y a bit okkard over it. But I will speak if you're afraid to."

"What is it?" said my father.

"Well, father, it's this; Morgan--"

"Oh, Master George!"

"--And I think we should like to go over to the old place and see what it looks like."

"And take a tool or two, sir; and go early and tidy up the garden a bit."

"Well," said my father, thoughtfully, "I don't see why you should not.

I was thinking of something of the kind, now that the Indians seem to be gone for good."

"Then when may we go, father?"

"I'll speak to the General, and if he sees no objection you shall go to-morrow morning, first thing, if you feel well enough."

"Oh, father!" I exclaimed, with a thrill of delight running through me, for it was as if I was to be freed from prison.

"You will not be able to do much, Morgan," said my father, thoughtfully; "but you might take a billhook and cut back a little of the overgrowth, for we must not be beaten. George, my boy, we must go back and make the place more beautiful than it was before; for it is a beautiful land, if man would not blot it with his cruelties and evil deeds."

I saw that his eyes were fixed upon the corner of the enclosure, where the blacks were gathered.

"Then we may go, father?" I said.

"If the General approves. No one can stir outside the gates without his orders now."

He turned and walked to the central part where the General's furniture was piled up, and he had been living as humbly as the rest; and in less than half an hour he was back, just in fact as Morgan was saying, grumblingly--

"It's all over, my lad; the governor won't let us go."

"The General gives his consent," said my father, "provided that you are very careful; so the next thing is, how do you propose to go?"

"Walk across," I said.

"No; decidedly not. You will take the boat. There she lies safe enough with the others. You can have Hannibal and Pompey to row, and Morgan and the black can be both well-armed, for that man is very trustworthy.

But

"Yes, father, we'll be very careful; and we may go soon in the morning?"

"As soon as you like. Get your bag of provisions ready to-night.

Morgan, you can be pa.s.sed through the gates now. Have the boy with you, and see that the boat is baled out and cleaned."

"Yes, sir," said Morgan; and as soon as my father had gone we two shook hands in our delight, for Morgan was as excited as I.

"Hurrah, Master George!" he cried. "What a day we will have! I'm off to find Pomp. You go and tell old Han. Won't they be just pleased too!"

We parted on the instant, and five minutes later I found father and son together, and told them my news, with the result that Hannibal smiled with pleasure, and Pomp threw himself down on the ground to writhe and twist and worm about till he heard Morgan's voice summoning him to go and help to bale out the boat.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

I lay down to sleep that night quite satisfied of my ability to wake up in good time; but it was still dark when Pomp was shaking my arm.

"Make hase, Ma.s.s' George," he cried, with his lips to my ear, "um gettin' so dreffle late."

"Eh? Now, no tricks," I said, in that irritable state of sleepiness when one wants just an hour longer. "Why, I have only just lain down."

"Why, you've been seep all de night. You call me laze lil n.i.g.g.e.r if I say dat. Get up!"

"But is it nearly morning, Pomp?" I said, with my eyes closely shut.

"Ah, you do dat 'gain! You roll ober de oder side for? You tink um dis week when it morrow morning."

"But it isn't really morning."

"Yes; bror daylight. Able see dreckly."

"It isn't," I said, opening my eyes and looking from under the boat-sail that made our tent, and seeing the stars burning brightly.

"I neb see such dreffle man," whispered Pomp, for fear of rousing my father. "Get late. Sun get up soon 'fore we get dah. Ma.s.s' Morgan an'

Pomp fader gone down to de boat, and carry big bag somefin to eat. Pomp got de fishum-line, and dey say you'n me bring free guns and de powder shot."

"Eh! Gone down to the boat?" I said, rising hurriedly, for this was suggestive of being left behind; and hurrying my preparations--my dressing-room being outside the tent--I was soon ready, took the pouches and the three guns I had undertaken to have ready, and in a very few minutes we two were marching toward the gate, I carrying one firelock under my arm, and Pomp stepping out proudly with one on each shoulder.

"How long is it since Morgan and our man Hannibal went through?" I said to the guard at the gate.

"'Bout half an hour," said the man, rather sourly. "Nice to be you, young gentleman, going out like that instead of keeping watch here."

"Oh, that will soon be over," I said. "Come along, Pomp."

It was for the sake of saying something, for Pomp was already outside, waiting. But I wanted to get down to the boat, and not stop to be questioned by the guard as to what we were going to do.

As we went on down toward the wharf, the stars were still making their reflections glimmer in the smooth water of the big river, and a sculling sound and the rattle of an oar being heard, told me where the boat lay.

"That you, Master George?" said a familiar voice.

"Yes; but isn't it too early?"

"Not a bit, sir. But it'll be daybreak directly, to be sure. See there?"