University of Virginia Library

17. CHAPTER XVII.

Gordon was not a little gratified at having
so successfully combatted his sister's prejudices;
for though Isabel was at heart a generous
and right feeling person, she had a certain
pride of family and caste that rendered
her averse to any union by marriage with one
of inferior degree. It was therefore a great
thing for him so far to remove her objections
as to lead her to say that she would receive
Jennette when she came with her father. Besides,
she had some curiosity to see one of
whom, ere her name was known, she had heard
so much. For Gordon had not failed to make
her the confidant of his passion for the lovely
unknown. He had described to her each
meeting and its circumstances, and especially
sought her sympathy and advice after the interview
in the old deaf milliner's shop. The
firmness, propriety and modest dignity which
the unknown had shown had deeply interested
Isabel in her; and from that time both of
them were anxious to discover who she was.

On the day in which we introduce Isabel
in person to our readers, in the balcony
of her house, Gordon had reached home after
taking leave of Jennette and the captain,
and proceeded to describe to her playfully
a poor captain's daughter whom he had met,
in order to ascertain what his sister's views
might be. But he found her so coldly uninterested,
especially when he proceeded warmly
to describe her person and her virtues, that
he resolved for the present to drop the subject.
But ere long, not an hour afterwards,
as we have seen stated, again when he revealed
to her who this captain's daughter was,
as being none other than his unknown.

Isabel's joyful surprise at the intelligence
was qualified on the instant by the knowledge
that Gordon loved her; and so, instead of being

rejoiced to learn that the unknown was
discovered, she trembled at the danger in
which her brother stood of sacrificing himself
to her beauty.

But finding that he was honorably attached
to Jennette, and that her farther opposition
might offend without producing any good
effect she submitted, as we have witnessed,
to treat her with courtesy. As Gordon opened
the door to go out, Isabel laid her hand
upon his arm, and said kindly:

`Would it not be best that I should call
for her in the carraige? It would appear
better than for you to go and bring her
here.'

`You are a most generous girl, Bel. You
always come round right at last. But really
I don't wish you to see how destitute they
live; and I know it would mortify Jennette,
though she might not show it. I will be here
with her by nine o'clock at the latest.'

`Why not earlier?'

`Because I have an engagement which will
occupy me till then.'

`You are very much abroad of late. Last
night you did not come home at all. Do not
stay late to-night. What negro is that waiting
before the house?'

`A sailor with whom I have had some little
business,' answered Gordon, glancing at
Cæsar, who had been waiting on the side-walk
for the last ten minutes. Thus saying
Gordon left the hall, and followed by Cæsar
passed up the street.

`Are the horses ready?' he asked of him,
as they turned into a lane which led to a
stable.

`All ready, massa.'

`You told the hostler you would want them
at seven o'clock?'

`Yiss, massa.'

`Very well. Now, Cæsar,' he added, as
he stopped in an angle of the street, `listen
to your instructions.'

`I hear and 'member ebbery word.'

`At seven o'clock precisely by the Old
South clock you will mount one of the horses
and lead the other from the stable, and proceed
by the way of Tremont and Charles
street round to the narrow street which runs
south of that in which the jail stands.'

`North Allen, massa?'

`I don't know the name, but there is a
narrow and obscure foot way running from
it directly into Leverett street in the front of
the prison.'

`I know dat little foot alley, massa.'

`Stop with your horses at the mouth of
this alley, but do not tie them, but keep the
bridles on your arm. Have them ready to be
mounted at a moment's warning.'

`Yiss, massa, I onderstand.'

`If any one is so curious as to inquire
why you stand there with the horses, you can
answer—'

`Dat I am waiting for de doctor.'

`Very good. Now do you know your
part?'

`Yiss, massa.'

`When you see one or two men running
through the alley hold the horses for them to
mount.'

`Spose dey no right ones, massa?'

`They will be likely to be the right ones if
any, but if they say “shallop,” as they approach
you—'

`I may know dey are de right men. I
onderstand, massa Gordon, all 'bout it.'

`Very well. Now I leave you, and remember,
Cæsar, all may rest with you at last.'

`Yiss, massa; but whar am I to go when
dey takes de hosses?'

`You are to make the best of your way to
the pier where I met you last night, where,
if you are in time, you will go on board the
shallop.'

`If not, massa?'

`You must be in time.'

`Yiss, massa.'

`Now be faithful, Cæsar, and recollect you
will be well rewarded.'

Thus speaking Gordon took leave of the
faithful black and passed into Washington
street. Cæsar stood a moment looking after

him, and then shook his head gravely, as he
said, while he approached the stable door:

`Dis berry 'tickler peas ob business. I
berry much 'fraid Cæsar or somebody get into
mischief. But dat notin', so I pleases massa
Gordon and missy Jenny, coz dey is sweethearts.
Bress my soul, how dey does love
each odder, sure nuff. It am de happiest circumstans
in de world I happens to see massa
Gordon on de wharf, coz I tells him 'bout
missy Jenny, and when he sees her he falls
dead ober head and ears in love wid her.
And now she gwine to be married to massa
Gordon and ride in um coach, and massa
cap'n'll have a pocket full ob dimes ebbery
day. Oh, arnt dis nigger de happiest brack
gemman in dis 'public ob de Union. But I
must look arter my hosses, coz dey are to
hab a run to-night, though it be a short one,
it be one for life or def. What ho, you brack
colored gemman as keeps dis stable and waits
on de hosses, hab you gib de two hosses my
massa hire here to-day, four quart oat?'

`Yah, dey habs 'em, Mister Cæsar,' politely
answered a short, bow-backed, shuffle-footed
negro, who acted as valet to the steeds.

`Dat berry well. Now I want you to rub
'em down till dey shine like a dollar dipped
in 'lasses.'

`Dey shines dat way now.'

`Dey doos, doos dem? Dat am jist as it
should be, nigger Pete.'

`Whar you massa gwine, to hab two hosses
saddled to ride off at dark?'

`You berry 'quisitive, nigger. My massa
come here and hire de hosses of your massa,
and tell him I come for 'em at dark. Dat
nuff for you and de likes ob you to know, nigger.
All you hab to do is to feed 'em and
rub 'em. Don' gemman nebber get hosses
out ob your stable after dark?'

`Oh yiss, Mister Cæsar, to be sure. I ony
axed for informashun,'

`Well, I hab gib it to you. Now let me
see de saddles and bridles dese hosses is to
hab; coz I wants to hab ebbery ting sure.'

`The hostler led Cæsar to a rack where he
selected two saddles, and then proceeded to
superintend the rubbing down of the two
horses, which were fine looking bays, spirited
and full of fire.

After Gordon left Cæsar to superintend
the horses he took his way in the direction
of Leverett street, and after traversing it
some distance he stopped at a hack stand, and
said a few words to the hackman, and then
passed on slowly until he came near the jail.
He then walked carelessly past the office of
the keeper, and was gratified at finding him
seated there and the bunch of keys hanging
above his head; but while Gordon was lookin
he saw him rise, take down the keys, and
go towards the court of the cells.

`All is right so far. In two hours more
the issue will be manifest,' he said thoughtfully.
Now to the wharf, and a happy meeting
with dearest Jennette.'

He then returned past the jail, and stopped
at the coach, the door of which the driver
opened for him unasked, as if he had been
previously engaged.

`Where to, sir?' he asked, as he shut to
the carriage door.

`To — wharf,' answered Gordon, as he
dropped the blinds and curtains of his hack,
which went at a rapid pace in the direction
of the harbor.

In the meanwhile Hugh Ogilvie had remained
on board his shallop waiting impatiently
for the long day to pass. Fearing he
would excite attention by remaining in the
cove, he ran down the harbor a few miles,
and returned towards the middle of the afternoon.
The sun was two hours high when he
once more reached the island. Here he
waited for it to descend within a quarter of
an hour of the horizon, when he gave the
stirring order to his crew to hoist the sails
and stretch away for the town. The wind
though light was fair, and just as the sun disappeared
he saw a moving light twinkling on
the end of the pier towards which he was
steering. In a few minutes more he came so
near as to discern two persons, one of whom

he soon recognized to be Gordon. He felt
now that all was ready, and it was with a
throbbing heart he steered his little vessel
broadside to the end of the lonely pier;
while the men secured her to the iron rings
he leaped to the land.

`What news? Is all favorable?' he asked,
with emotion, and in an excited manner.

`All is as we could desire so far, dear
Hugh,' repiled Gordon as he grasped his hand.

`The young girl, too?'

`Yes, she has consented to take the part
of the strawberry girl. But you shall see
her for yourself as she is in this house.'

`And I? What am I to do?'

`You are to take the part of carpenter
with a box of tools, which, with a carpenter's
apron and a green frieze jacket I have ready
for you in this dwelling.'

`A thousand thanks, my kind Gordon.'

`Do not stop now to thank me, Hugh.
When you have attired yourself as a carpenter,
which you must do at once, we shall take
a coach which I have engaged and which
awaits us at the head of the wharf. In the
coach I will unfold our plans farther. Now
come in; but first you must give orders to
your men to have the shallop in readiness
to cast off at a moment's notice.'

`They are instructed. The sails will not
even be lowered. She will lay there where
she is like a courser ready bitted and bridled
awaiting his rider.'

`And this reminds me of the horses I have
engaged for you and the colonel. You remember
the narrow pathway between the
houses opposite the jail that leads from one
street into the other?'

`Yes, well. I have stood in it looking
over towards the jail when I have been planning
for my father's escape.'

`At the southern extremity of that narrow
thoroughfare, Cæsar, the negro I spoke to
you of, will be found waiting with a pair of
saddle horses, one for you and one for your
father. Horses cannot be so easily pursued,
if pursuit instantly follows, as a carriage.'

`How thoughtful you are, Gordon. You
speak, too, with so much confidence that one
of the horses is for my father, that I almost
realise that he is at liberty.'

`Do not despair. It is a bold attempt, but
I do not doubt but that, if you are cool and
self-possessed at the most trying time, it will
be successful.'

`I most earnestly pray that it may be.
Then if I succeed in getting my father out
of prison, I am to hasten with him through
the alley opposite and take horse?'

`Yes, and ride at a round trot for this
pier. You will find a man here who will take
the horses, while you will get on board the
shallop, and steer for the British Provinces.'

`I now see clearly my way, if it is prospered.
Where is my disguise?'

`Come in this house with me. Do not
hesitate to enter, they are my friends, both
father and daughter.'

`I am thankful for it,' answered Hugh, as
he followed Gordon into the front room,
where sat the old captain, and near him stood,
dressed as a strawberry girl, the faithful Jennette.
Gordon, although he had been in the
house before and seen her, could not help
gazing upon her with fresh admiration; for
he thought her now more beautiful than ever.
Ogilvie on beholding her started with surprise
and said aside:

`Heavens, how charming. Is this the one
who is to take part with us?'

`Yes, and afterwards with me for life, Hugh.'

`What! are you lovers?'

`Without question.'

`I wish you joy, Gordon. I will ask some
other time how this came about.'

`This is my friend, Hugh Ogilvie, for whom
we are to-night to do service,' said Gordon.

`We will do all in our power for you, sir,'
said Jennette, taking his hand, and speaking
with a frankness that almost won his heart.

`Thanks, thanks, all of you kind friends,'
answered Hugh, with emotion; for his heart
swelled with the deepest gratitude towards
those who at such an hour stood fast by him.