Watch and Wait; or, The Young Fugitives

Dandy joined her on the lawn; "I

her by the hand to restore her confidence. "The wind is quite fresh,

ned, and I ca

t. You shall have a nice cabin, and you can lie down a

should not be able to join you, for Miss Edith had the head

is as favorable as it can be. We have n

h all her soul, and when he said there was no danger, her fluttering heart was calmed down. Before they reached the pier she ha

en tremendously agitated at the announcement of the idea, and when he decided to form one of the party; but he was one of that class to whom excitin

ch was to serve as the Isabel's tende

d," said the leader, i

bear a hand to

and paddle off

? Says I, 'Cyd,' says I, 'you's a free

, or I will leave you h

, who had nothing to do but amuse themselves and order the negroes round the place. They were very crude ideas, and he w

e," said the skipper, as he p

d. "Wha-wha-what you gw

arply. "If you spend the night in talki

ing a word occasionally, when he felt the need of a strong expression. "Dis nigger tink he was free,

, you needn't. I will put you

ike to know what you g

ithout him. Shall I put

ndy; I'se gwine w

d me!" added the s

ne do

dith alongs

haul de Edif alongside, but di

ut you on shore!" c

tepped into the tender, and paddled off to the

, for he could not see why they should take the Edith with them. He was very anxious to argue the point with Dandy, who, it seemed to him, had never b

and hoisted the mainsail. It was large, and the fresh breeze caused it to flap and b

your jib halyards ready!" said Dandy

I'm dar, Ma

'massa' me,

gs, or stop?" demanded Cyd, whose ivories were

teau, and bring the wherry

you gwine to d

n shore!" said th

makes two boats apiece

qui

'se only swapped off Mass

other boats. The bewildered boy was not in the habit of doing his own thinking, and his faculties were not, t

rds ready, and stand by t

ng a wicked emphasis on the co

shouted Dandy, as he ha

, as the heavy rope by which the boa

he same loud tones, that he might be hea

" responded C

ze, and the voyage of the young fugitives was commenced

yd, as he walked aft, when

in the direction of the planter's great house, to assure h

was difficult and dangerous. The bayou was filled with snags and stumps, and to strike one of them was to dash the boat in pieces, and wreck all the hopes which hung upon the success of the ent

esail, Cyd," s

e fas enough," answered Cyd, "but I'se gw

it t

s were questioned, and the boat was liable to go to the bottom in an emergency, because his commands were not promptly obeyed. He was not a little astonished a

e on the cushioned seats in the standing-room, a luxury, by the way, in which he had never before attempted to indulge himself; but when it i

t ahead," said Dandy, as soon as the "cre

still," said he. "Dis chile tinks

are,

e hard deck, and you

you, if you wish to; but go for

e gw

, t

e dis kind ob freedom," grow

ore, for they had stimulated him to the daring enterprise in which he was now engaged. It was there he had resolved to watch and wait in patience and submission for a less perilous opportunity to effect his escape than that

Cyd!" said he, as the Isa

mes assisted in working the boat, that he was perfect

put the helm down, and brought

es was up the large bayou, of which the Crosscut was a tributary. It was lined on both sides with large trees, which sheltered the water, to some extent, from the f

ipper in the standing room. The hurry and excitement of the departure ha

nto the light of freedom. The first difficulties of the enterprise had been overcome, and though there were month