Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives

ndemned. Though he hoped to escape, the doubt was heavy enough to weigh down his spirits, and make him feel sadder than he had ever felt before in his life. It w

tertained a reasonable hope that he should escape the terrible shame and degradation which menaced

He had accomplished but half the distance, when he was met by one of the house servants, who directed him to repair to the "dead oak" beyond the negro vi

the latter the whipping-post. The trunk of the decaying tree had been adapted to the purpose for which it was now used, and t

he necessities of the iniquitous system upon which he had lived and thrived would permit him to be. If he had lived beyond the reach of the influence of this Upas tree he might have been

d been summoned to witness the punishment were already assembled. By the side of them stood Long T

d these terrible preparations. The hope which had thus far animated him received a heavy shock

at!" said Colonel

hen directed, in the same cold and determined tones, to remove his shirt. His teet

am I to be whipped for?" sa

question?" replied Colonel Raybone, angrily. "You know

ly, a black eye which he had i

" added Dandy, in soft and subdued tones, which contained a pow

think I will let one of my niggers strike my

all. I didn't want to take off t

?" roared the planter. "Do you expect

ke?" continued Dandy, tu

like a madman," replied Archy, coldly, as he

rd, master. Forgive me this time,

rike, but not to ge

s time, master,

rgive you. I'll teach you to strik

debauched his soul, and he was a willing servant, ready, for a smile from his master, to perform with barbarous fide

ing in prospect. He cringed not at the pain, he rebelled not at proper and wholesome punishment. This whipping was the scourging of the slave; it was the emblem of his servitude. Th

upon his spirit, and overwhelmed him. He resolved not to be whipped, and, when Long Tom turned away to adjust the strap,

m. He ran, and desperation gave him the wings of the wind; but he had miscalculated his chances, if he had considered them at all, for the swift horse of the planter was

the planter overtook him. He rode the horse directly upon him, and if the intelligent beast had not been kinder than his rider, the story of poor Dandy mig

erson of his master did not occur to him. If he had dared to fight, as he had the strength and the energy to fight, he might st

blood, and struck him several smart blows with his ridi

said Colonel Raybone, as

to the scaffold. He had advanced but a short distance before he met the other spectators to his doom

one. "It has been more work to flog this y

through a band around the tree, about ten feet from the ground. He

well," said the pl

asked Tom, as he unrolled

AT THE DEAD

till I s

back, as white as that of any who read this page. The blood gushed from the wound which the cruel lash inflicted, but not a word or a groan escaped fro

aid Colon

there was no sign of joy or sorrow in his countenance from first to last. If he felt at all,

on the torn and excoriated flesh of the victim, seemed

the sixth blow he had asked his father, in a whisper, to stay the hand of the negro. He had several times rep

lprit dropped to the ground, as though the vital spa

ed, Massa Raybone

otion in his tones, as he bent over the prostrate form of the

compelled to punish a dear child. He did not believe that he had done wrong, even accepting as true the statement of the culprit; for the safety of the master and his family m

ts, who were present, to do every thing that his condition required. He