I hear, brother Richard, said Colonel Parker, that Simms brought up a lot of servants from Yorktown.
Yes, said Mr. Parker, there were about twenty altogether, I believe. And that brings a matter into my mind. There was one young fellow I would like very much to have if you can spare him to me a boy of about sixteen or seventeen. I have no house-servant since Tim died, and so, if you have a mind to part with this lad, sir, Id like mightily well to have him.
Why, brother Richard, said Colonel Parker, if Simms hath no use for the boy I see no reason why you should not have him. What hath Simms done with him?
He is with the other servants over at the old store-house, I believe, sir; Simms had them sent there last night. May I send for the lad, that you may see him?
I should be glad to see him, said Colonel Parker.
Jack had come up from Yorktown packed with the other servants in the hold of the schooner. The hatch was tilted to admit some light and air, but he could see nothing of whither he was being taken, and his only sense of motion was in the slant of the vessel, the wind, and the rippling gurgle of the water alongside.
He had been wakened from a deep sleep to be marched past a clustering group of darkly black trees, across a grassy stretch of lawn, in the silent and profoundly starry night, to a brick building into which he and his companions were locked, as they had been locked in the old warehouse at Yorktown.
Now, as he followed the negro through the warm, bright sunlight, he gazed about him, half bewildered with the newness of everything, yet with an intense and vivid interest. He had seen really nothing of Marlborough as he had been marched up from the landing place at midnight with his companions the night before. As the negro led him around the end of the building, he gazed up curiously at the wide brick front. Then he saw that there was a party of ladies and gentlemen sitting in the shade across the lawn. He followed the negro as the other led him straight toward the group, and then he halted at a little distance, not knowing just what was expected of him.
Mr. Richard Parker beckoned to him. Come hither, boy, said he, this gentleman wants to see you. Jack obeyed, trying not to appear ungainly or uncouth in his movements, and feeling that he did not know just how to succeed.
Look up, boy; hold up your head, said a gentleman whom he at once knew to be the great Colonel Parker of whom he had heard a large, stout, noble-looking gentleman, with a broad, smooth chin and a diamond solitaire pinned in the cravat at his throat. As Jack obeyed he felt rather than saw that a pretty young lady was standing behind the gentlemans chair, looking at him with large, dark eyes. Where did you come from? asked the gentleman.
Jack, with the gaze of everybody upon him, felt shy of the sound of his own voice. I came from Southampton, said he.
Speak up, boy, speak up, said the gentleman.
I came from Southampton, said Jack again, and this time it seemed to him that his voice was very loud indeed.
From Southampton, hey? said the gentleman. He looked at Jack very critically for a while in silence. Well, brother Richard, said he at last, tis indeed a well-looking lad, and if Simms hath no special use for him I will let you have him. How long is he bound for?
Five years, said Mr. Parker. They were all bound for five years. I spoke to Simms about him yesterday, and he said he could spare him. Simms gave twenty pounds for him, and I will be willing and glad enough to pay you that for him.
Tut, tut, brother Richard, said Colonel Parker, dont speak to me of paying for him; indeed, I give him to you very willingly.
Then, indeed, sir, I am very much obliged to you. You may go now, boy. Jack hesitated for a moment, not knowing clearly if he understood. You may go, I said, said Mr. Richard Parker again. And then Jack went away, still accompanied by the negro.
The gloomy interior of the store-house struck chill upon him as he reëntered it from the brightness and heat outside, and once more he was conscious of the dampness and all-pervading earthy smell. The transports, huddled together, were dull and silent. One or two of them were smoking, others lay sleeping heavily, others sat crouching or leaning against the wall doing nothing perfectly inert. They hardly looked up as Jack entered.
CHAPTER XII
DOWN THE RIVER
IT was the next morning that the door of the store-house in which Jack and his companions were confined was suddenly opened by a white man. He was a roughly-dressed fellow, with a shaggy beard and with silver ear-rings in his ears. Wheres that there boy of Mr. Richard Parkers? said he.
D ye mean me? said Jack, I am the only boy here.
Why, then, if you are the only boy here, you must be the one, said the man with a grin. Come along with me, he added, and be quick about it.
Am I going for good and all? asked Jack.
I reckon ye be.
The other redemptioners had roused themselves somewhat at the coming of the man and were listening. Good-by, Jack, said one of them, as he was about to go, and the others took up the words: Good-by good-by, Jack. Good-by, said Jack. He shook hands with them all, and then he and the man went out into the bright sunlight.
His conductor led the way down back of the great house, and past a clustered group of cabins, in front of which a number of negro children played like monkeys, half naked and bareheaded, who stopped their antics and stood in the sun, and watched Jack as he passed, while some negro women came to the doors and stood also watching him.
Wont you tell me where Im going to be taken? said Jack, quickening his steps so as to come up alongside of his conductor.
Youre going with Mr. Richard Parker, said the man. I reckon hell be taking you down to the Roost with him.
The Roost? said Jack, and where is the Roost?
Why, the Roost is Mr. Parkers house. Its some thirty or forty mile down the river.
As they were speaking they had come out past a group of trees at the end of the great house, and upon the edge of the slope. From where they were they looked down to the shore of the river, and upon a large flat-boat with a great square sail that lay at the landing place, a rod or so away. There was a pile of bags, and a lot of boxes and bundles of various sorts lying upon the wharf in the sun. Three or four negro men were slowly and indolently carrying the bags aboard the flat-boat.
Are we going down the river in that boat? asked Jack, as he descended the slope at the heels of the other.
Yes, said the man briefly.
On the bank at the end of the wharf was a square brick building, in the shade of which stood Mr. Simms and Mr. Parker, the latter smoking a cigarro. Mr. Simms held in his hand a slip of paper, upon which he kept the tally of the bags as they were carried aboard. Jack went out along the wharf, watching the negro men at work, until Mr. Simms called out: Get aboard the boat, young man. Thereupon he stepped into the boat, climbing over the seats to the bow, where he settled himself easily upon some bags of meal, and whence he watched the slow loading of the boat.
At last everything was taken aboard. Were all ready now, Mr. Simms, called out the man who had brought Jack down from the storehouse.
Mr. Parker and Mr. Simms came down the wharf together. Mr. Parker stepped aboard the scow, and immediately it was cast loose and pushed off from the landing.