utiful land, if
man would not blot it with his cruelties and evil deeds."

I saw that his eyes were fixed upon the corner of the enclosure, where
the blacks were gathered.

"Then we may go, father?" I said.

"If the General approves. No one can stir outside the gates without his
orders now."

He turned and walked to the central part where the General's furniture
was piled up, and he had been living as humbly as the rest; and in less
than half an hour he was back, just in fact as Morgan was saying,
grumblingly--

"It's all over, my lad; the governor won't let us go."

"The General gives his consent," said my father, "provided that you are
very careful; so the next thing is, how do you propose to go?"

"Walk across," I said.

"No; decidedly not. You will take the boat. There she lies safe enough
with the others. You can have Hannibal and Pompey to row, and Morgan
and the black can be both well-armed, for that man is very trustworthy.
But of course you will all be very cautious. You can send out that boy
in different directions to scout; not that there is any danger, but we
must treat this as an enemy's country, and be prepared."

"Yes, father, we'll be very careful; and we may go soon in the morning?"

"As soon as you like. Get your bag of provisions ready to-night.
Morgan, you can be passed through the gates now. Have the boy with you,
and see that the boat is baled out and cleaned."

"Yes, sir," said Morgan; and as soon as my father had gone we two shook
hands in our delight, for Morgan was as excited as I.

"Hurrah, Master George!" he cried. "What a day we will have! I'm off
to find Pomp. You go and tell old Han. Won't they be just pleased
too!"

We parted on the instant, and five minutes later I found father and son
together, and told them my news, with the result that Hannibal smiled
with pleasure, and Pomp threw himself down on the ground to writhe and
twist and worm about till he heard Morgan's voice summoning him to go
and help to bale out the boat.

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT.

I lay down to sleep that night quite satisfied of my ability to wake up
in good time; but it was still dark when Pomp was shaking my arm.

"Make hase, Mass' George," he cried, with his lips to my ear, "um
gettin' so dreffle late."

"Eh? Now, no tricks," I said, in that irritable state of sleepiness
when one wants just an hour longer. "Why, I have only just lain down."

"Why, you've been seep all de night.