Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
Copyright. 1900, by s. g Mcclure Coy
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.


Copyright, 1900, by s. g. Mcclure Co.)
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters.
Five years before the outbreak of the civil
love OF adventure. hatred Of slavery
and the desire to help my friend George
WesHer led me Charles Bradley, a civil
engineer. OF Attakapas country. La, to be-
agent OF the underground railroad
wesncr had been nursed through the small
pox by young slave, Incy. belonging to
the CoverIy plantation. He discovered
facts which proved that Lucy white
and Of good family. A secret love match
followed which progressed well until Cover
ly proposed sell Lucy to his and
refused to sell her TO any one else. Wesner
became desperate. / agreed to help him
steal Lucy. and went to New York to ar
with the ti-Slavery Society for the
of any slaves could bring north
Returning home secured a boat and sup
plies. engaged man. Moore. end located
refuge station nj my wood camp several
miles up the river. Moore assists me In
securing a safe and secret route from the
mouth Of the White river to yard. Wes
ner and l make the trip to the wood camp
and find that Moore has the U. c. railroad
completed. We return and put up store
building where avoid all suspicion. we
carry general merchandise business.
In a few days Wesuer starts the first batch
of Coverly's slaves. including Lucy. for the
north. and Immediately searching party is
ont. Under clever DISCUSSES Wesner
and Moore evade the pursuers. In all Of
which Lucy renders great assistance.
On the road at last, the Spanish moss on
the live oaks looking weird and ghostly in
the gloom and murky darkness. Quietly
we rode past the few houses that bordered
the main Travelled road The mud was deep
and 1t was impossible to move faster than
walk. My time was precious, as l was
anxious to get to the rendezvous. see for
myself how the negroes were situated, and
go back before morning. / wanted TO be
at the store before daybreak. and have a
good chance to clean my horse from the
mud stains and wet l do not know that l
was afraid. but had that uneasy feeling
that invariably accompanies deception.
We were pretty effectually disguised,
George as white overseer and / the
strange negro. bringing the white guide to
the wanderers
II past midnight when we reached
the vicinity Of the rendezvous. All was as
quiet the hom5s OF the dead. Not sound
could hear drew near. Whether
they were dead or we off the track we were
unable to conjecture Through the inky
blackness of the night no eye could pene-
trate. and had kept way thus far
by compass. turning our dark lanterns
mon it every few rods. The water
ankle deep. in some places above our knees.
Through this we waded, stumbling
and then over fallen log, but luckily keep
ing our feet George. who was some dis
tance ahead. halted until came up.
Il think" said be. from the shoaling Of
the water. We must be near them. On this
side the hummock is rather fiat and slopes
gradually. the other side. where the cabin
is, being sleeper | don't want to pass it,
10 d.
around in the water until morning.
81 spotted few trees al the edge of the
hummoCk'' he continued after we left our
horses. "and if We can fortunately find one
of them We are all right Flash your light
to the right and see if You see anything
l did so-there was nothing.
ITO the left'-nothing.
Let US keep together I said, 'for this
place is fearful1y lonesome"
George laughed quietly, and again turned
his light forward We waded perhaps two
or three rods farther, the water shoaling
fast
we are on the hummock"' cried George
just then. but short distance away, /
saw slowly rising a tiny spark. 1t was
gone in an instant, but it was enough.
Straight ahead, my boy. Turn ON your
bull s-eye.'
1t shone straight against the walls of the
cabin.
Here we are: I see the cabin cried.
Lucy had not retired. George whistied
softly. At the signal she flew to the door,
unbarred and opened it, and, dripping with
rain, entered.
In the mud fireplace a few ernbers gave a
tremulous light, dim and uncertain. Lucy
gazed a US A moment, and gave her hand
to Wes1er. y ou are the guide" said she
and turning TO me with smiIeJ you
are the strange negro
In the little loft the men were slumbering:
back OF the low partition slept the women
and children The rain beating against the
low roof. and the wind sweeping through
the forest, drowned the noise created by our
entrance. and they slept only negroes
can sleep. IT was now nearly l o'clock. l
could stop but a few moments, for l had
three miles to go in a heavy rain Storm
through swamp and forest and alone. The
night was black as Ethiopia Itself and /
was tired and hungry.
DO YOU know this gentleman l.ucy?''
asked Wesner.
She nodded assent. in ten minutes there
was table set and a steaming cup of coffee
for us-what luxury at that moment
Few words were exchanged.
Il must return before daylight said l.
and rising from the table. threw on my wet
coat and left the cabin. George and Lucy
accompanied me to the edge of the water
and. wishing each other a mutual god.
speed" with one hearty hand-grip for sue
cess. i was alone
Holding my compass in my hand and
opening the slide of my lantern. / made
the best possible time toward the horses
which had left on an old abandoned road,
unused for years. In fact, / think il was
never used except to haul out ship timber
one winter by some northern shipbuilders.
This road ran nearly at right angles with
my course, and shaping that as to be
sure and strike ii between the horses and
the stream. / kept on and in less than an
hour reached 1t about one-fourth of mile
below the horses. AT o'clock both horses
were stabbed at the store and well rubbed
down Then i lay down for few hours
rest. and when the first customer for the
day appeared was ready for business.
Many inquiries were made during the day
for George. but my invariable answer was:
Gone north after goods"
Various surmises were made as to the
fate Of "Coveriy's niggers,' none of them
worth repeating. The old man had men
watching Perry's swamp constantly. and
as the negroes were never within fifteen
miles of there. ] concluded ii was no par
ticular harm to let them watch
one day Skew Bill came tearing up TO the
store. wild; bounced off his pony and rushed
in.
Mr. Bradley cried he.
We'll BiH.'
odd Coverly has got track of his mig
gers"
''Where?"
Just where told EN-. They was in Par
rvs swamp
What makes you think he has found
them, Bil?'