The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24
TALES OF THE BORDERS.
THE SLAVE


We scarcely ever slept when we lay down
our torments were 80 great that We woult
start up In state Of stupefaction, anC
wander over the deck like ghosts, until ",
sank down again, exhausted. The eyes 0
all we're dim, some glarlng bloodshod, rec
as raw beef. Several Of the crew leaped
overheard IN a state Of wild arrangement
others would be walking or con,erslng il
their usual way, and suddenly drop down
dead, expiring without groan. Thus did
We lnger out eighteen weeks, when The
captain took to bis cabin, and died through
the night Deaths progress was feartu
until the end Of the nineteenth week, when
slI that renamed alive out OF such a mum
Der, we're, Of the Europeans. only myself
and two boys, who kept up better than the
men, and two young slaves. But by this
time, there Was no distinction between black
and white We lay side by side, looking
over the bulwarks of the vessel upon the
CLASSY expanse of water I; then to our sails
mat hung upon our masts like sere cloths
hen at each otheT-and our hearts felt a.
It they had ceased to beat The heat was
lntolerabie. We had only halt barrel Of
ashore would have allowed to remain in the
DOuse It was putrld, vet we were grleved
al the smaIlness of the quantity for In our
present. cond ton Il was more precious than
gold Or diamonds, and was 10 US most
sweet. There was still as little appenr-
auce Of a wind sprInglng up as on the
nrst day Of the calm. | was thus IN po-
session VI the vessel, without the means OF
working her, should a breeze spring up.
Inc fear OF this made me enlarge The al
( luwance OF water TO tile two slaves aud
Toys, as on their lives my only chance Of es-
cape depended for, were they to die, |
must, ike all my fellows, also die in the
cain, or become the sport Of tile winds and
waves, when their appalling stiffness IN ma
cure snoul1 cease TO cham me TO thus fatal
,poJ. How could | express wha: We felt
"ntn We trst beheld the ripple upon the
distant waters, % he long-louk9d TOR wind
come gently along We stretched Out
our arms, We wepL like children, ana toe
burning drops smarted upon our choppe
ana bllsIeTtd taces-the breeze reached our
decks, We telt as if our thirst hal fled and
we were bathsd 10 pure water 50 baImy dit
i feel. Tie sails that had hung loose up
On the yards for twenty weeks began u I'LL.
Inc vessel moved through the water |
stood at the helm and We soon left tnIs
fatal latitude far behind. | never lst the
deck until We arrived al BaTbadoes. W ben
overcome By sleep, one Ut the boys steered
by she directions | gave, unui 1 awOke
again, and We took tue helm aud when
the pilot cane on bC.rd, aud We ncared the
island, We had not one gill Ut v ater III tnt
ship
\ My heart sank within me, continue
v the captain, at TINS recital. We were II
the same place, and mad every prospect Q
| sharing a similar tate. We we're on shor
allowan and II Is the remembrance Q
these few fearful days that, as | walk alone
Viii at times even YET come over my mind
aud v hIle their horror is upon me, vivid a
It was al tie time, ii see water reckless
" wasted, feel angry, until the lilusloI
uas fled, and then bless God that l au
ia tie middle Of green helds, and not IN"
watery waste that gowed like turnac
from the intense rays OF tie suH, and Wher
nothing met the ANXIOUS gaze Of the suiier
Or but All expanse OF Wa er and SKY, Dot
equally bright and unvared, without ou'
ID tie one Or swell 10 the other, All still a
death, save any noise 10 the vessel, which
aal..- art III
acute To our ears. On the afternoon OF %
eleventh day, fortunately for the mate, an
equally 70 tUr US all, breeze came rust
IIng along the waters, our sails hlle1, an
we glded along with joyful hearts. Urea
was tue deliyerance - Us all, but creates
ID that threatened victim for, had We cen
unued many days in the same slttatlon
tbe ships crew would have made a Jona'
u him and thrown him overheard, a. 10
man himself did not hesitate 70 cay our Da
) fortune WAS solely On bis account.
On our arrival at st. Vincent, the slave
became very dull AID low spirited, esPec
ially when they saw from our decks 70
uanus of negroes at work IN the helds,
Ne passed up along the shores OF the u
lands We were Low all busy preParlli
item for the maTkot-that j.. giving the'
frocks and trowsers, aud making lheI
clean while the captain sent On shore y
the black decoys, 10 raise their prits an
give them confidence. These decoys al
black women, who are some Of them ire'
. and others slaves. They make trade
., a All ,.an1 tha n The
are free, being their own-f slaves the
masters receive il. They come on boar
gaiy dressed, covered with tinsel and Loaf
"a with baublcs, Of which they heve gre
many to give away 10 the slaves As soo
a, they come on board, under pre,ense
looking for relations or former friends, III
DECAYS are a Of the different nations th
come ON the coISt,) they address eaC
other ip their own tongue ; tell them nun
Der Of coo k and bull stories point 10 theu
\ selves profess all manner OF Joy !" :
III them 10 this land Of wealth and hapPint
\. where they will soon be as gay AMI haPE
!, a. they are and. % show their riches ~
friendship for them distribute the baubl
N amono them before thev leave the vesst
4 This has al the desired effect. The po
]. creatures Immediately become full Of spl
its, and anxious to get on shore. ! he bu
+ mess Of the voyage was now accomPlishot @
" for they were all sold by the agents
u shore, and we knew no more OF them
soon as the ship was cleared OF the say
the carpenters commenced to take down
barcades, and we to prepare for RETURN