The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-20
CNAPIER XVI


The time passed very quickly. bur we were
anxious 70 get our refugees way. There was
No place known ~ rs vher" they. would IA
as safe as where they were. one day We re-
Coived a note from Capt. Harris, saying that
he should he delayed a day or TWO longer.
This was had IN: ,people w@re almost
Thai afternoon | rode down 10 the brig. Capt.
Harris was a. impatient IA /, hut very cool.
He had engaged a 'ug and would start IN"
following morning. calking his decks, while
he lay AT the AtChafalava.
said no. Il mean 20 make that tug. bring
the niggers alongside. $500 will do II. and. once
done, a million will not prrchas" the secret
from the man who j. fool enough 70 risk his
life for the money
Are You or your partner going with the
nigger-9" he asked.
My partner. | answered.
Tell him he need not take them IN the lake.
] will have th"m on board This brig within
ten miles Of Franklin. let US take the yawl
and visit them. II is too dark 10 10 seen by
We took N" boat, quietly dropped down
into the bayou and sculled across, " was
some distance below Franklin, and ouf Of the
way NJ patrols whore We landed. As We went
M over the bank | stopped the captain. for
was ,lspicious that my colrred friends might
confidence that Mason would no cool enough
in an emergency ! went forward alone.
"Who's DAT" came in n hoar,e whisper,
T n.r '" and ' Called jT? for Mason Hs. s aS came me forWnrd.
We'll. Lem. how + everything"
Al smooth. -ar "
I told him We could not take them until the
next night. he wa- a little disappointed.
bur there was no remedy.
We landed n quantity ,of, hard bread and
the night. Everything was az SIN a, death
in the camp the i'rrflles were flashing over
the BAYOU and the owls hooting shrill and nm
concerned IA If Their" wer" not n hundred
negroes living within as many yards Of the
shore Of BAYOU TAche
went on board the brig again, the boat
was dropped into her accustomed place. and
Capt Harris and myself retired TO the cabin
totalk and specuIat" on the affair,
No man knew negro character better than the
captain Of the Fillmore, Edwin Harris, He
was about ~ years Of age. thirty wears had he
spent AZ sea, and ten vears rs an African SLAYER
lie assured me. and | have no reason 10 doubt
his word. that h" had helped run fifteen cargoes
Of negroes into the nitod States. and had
many cargoeS he had landed in tho West In
dies he did not know. nor could h" toll with
than twenty. MANY times had he been chased
10y a man-of-war, ono" captured. twice tried.
once sent 10 prison and made his escaIe he
had been 2 two nr thre" iigHls with boats
and bullet. As for i"ar. he Ind none, and was
therefore Just the man 10 engage in such an
expedition as ms, u his pIratcal notions did
not lmpel him 10 run his cargo into Havana
and sell II. ! did not think he would do that
albeit conscience would not struggle very
hard TO prevent hun, vet he had n logged sense
81 ll'll'' .'NhIA Us 'IIIlhNPT~, nlfnGllEl a
SLAYER, ana perhaps a pirate, he would always
be true to ms trust
Mr.. Bradley, this Is a difficult place .or q
man to be In, he said 4 cant fight, neither
can ! run Th"m planters will make short
work Of me- ! am Caughf. In This little stream
fight IS impossible \ mistake on nv part
will cost Us our vestel and cargo. besides Tho
lives Of all hands But, sir, shall fight if
found out, and mark my words the illmora
will make those Freuchmsn howl before We
60 alOft on any Of these live oaks"
captain. replied. this afalr calls for
strategy, and | have sufficient confidence in
Your tact 10 believe that Won will succeed
II the worst comes take 10 the bush and make
for nv place can hide Won 50 all The de-
tectlves south Of Washington cant find Won "
Capt Harris a~sent"d ~ he replied Trust
me-, ana tomorrow morning return to your
store. viii -lgn the bills Of ladng IN blank,
leav" them A. M" store aud trust YOU IL All
them ont correctly and forward mine
Thought this excellent advice. and did
leave for HON" Two DAYS later went to
Franklin on other business Tho brig was
zone" heard nothing from the negroes
and as thor" was no excitement about the
Ealing Of N" vessel came 10 believe that she
was al right The search and patrol con
tlnIed n few DAYS longer and thnn DIV ndled
down 10 the particular planters Interested Nes-
Nor and myself that for n few months va would
CIV" VI" "WauClpA'ion business a rest.
our supply # good vas running quite low.
and a. W" could purchase to better advantage
in New. YORK than New Orleans. thought I
'olld do No h"'tcr than 10 visit the former
place
When N" brig had been gone a couple oi
] weeks started north, via New Orleans and