ncle Alek's
Mule," and if possible to define him, that there could be no
reasonable doubt but that it was the same mule rode by Nat Turner, and
that he was driven by the young mother in her flight with her infant
to the Dismal Swamp, and if what G. P. R. James said in his Old
Dominion be true, we must believe that Uncle Alek and Nat Turner rode
the same mule. No other account was ever given that ever came to our
knowledge, but it will make no difference as everybody knew that Uncle
Alek had a mule. But as we have stated before, looking over the
fourteenth volume of Col. Godfrey's work on Important Discoveries,
many years ago we read in it an account of his first visit to the
county of Southampton, Virginia, and the many important discoveries
therein made. His visit to that county was on very important business,
and being a man of great observation, he was careful and cautious. He
was tracing some titles, and it was necessary that he should make many
inquiries. The country was wild and sparsely settled at that time; it
was extremely difficult for one to get accommodation for man and
horse. He was fearful at times that he would not be able to reach a
shelter for the night. He had crossed at the South Quay Ferry at an
early hour, and had been in the saddle all day and was very much
fatigued and exhausted, besides he had ate nothing. Night was fast
approaching and he in a strange country. He reined up his horse,
which caused him to increase his gait. He had not ridden many miles
further when he thought he heard a cock crow. He listened and soon he
heard the sound repeated. He was then satisfied that he was near some
human habitation. What must have been his feelings, when he knew that
he would soon reach a place where he probably would be able to stay
for the night to rest and refresh himself. He rode on and in a short
time came in sight of a very neat and comfortable looking house not
many rods from the road. He arrived in front of it and found that
everything about the house had the appearance of neatness and comfort,
and that he would probably be accommodated for the night. So he
dismounted from his horse and opened the gate and proceeded to the
house. The proprietor must have been very fond of fox hunting from the
number of hounds that made an attack on him as he rode up the avenue,
and which was so sudden that it brought out the entire household. It
was getting dark, but sufficiently light to see one approaching on
hor