g to the middle of the channel, the
boat came on. Upon the long low deck men were preparing to lower the
sail, and a portly gentleman standing in the bow was vigorously waving
his handkerchief. The sail came down with a rush, the anchor swung
overboard, and half a dozen canoes and dugouts shot from under the
shadow of the wharf and across the strip of water between it and the
sloop. The gentleman with the handkerchief, followed by a man plainly
dressed in brown, sprang into the foremost; the others waited for their
lading of merchandise.

Before the boat had touched the steps the master of the plantation began
to call out greetings to his expectant family.

"Patricia, my darling, are you in health? Charles, I am happy to see you
again! Sister Lettice, Mr. Frederick Jones sends you his humble
services."

"La, brother! and how is the dear man?" screamed Mistress Lettice.

"As well as 'tis in nature to be, with his heart at Verney Manor and his
body at Flowerdieu Hundred."

The boat jarred against the piles and the planter stepped out, grasping
Sir Charles's extended hand.

"Again, I am happy to see you, Charles," he cried in a round and jovial
voice. "I have been telling my up-river good friends that I have the
most topping fellow in all London for my guest, and you will have
company enough anon."

Sir Charles smiled and bowed. "I hope, sir, that you were successful in
the business that took you to Jamestown?"

"Fairly so, fairly so. Haines here," with a wave of the hand towards the
man in brown, "had a lot picked out for me to choose from. I have six
negroes and three of those blackguards from Newgate--mighty poor policy
to shoulder ourselves with such gaol sweepings. I doubt we'll repent it
some day. The blacks come by way of Boston, which means that they will
have to be cockered up considerably before they are fit for work. Is
that you, Woodson? How have things gone on?"

The overseer took his pipe from between his teeth and made an awkward
bow.

"Glad to see your Honor back," he said deferentially. "Everything's all
right, sir. The last rain helped the corn amazingly, and the tobacco's
prime. The lightning struck a shed, but we got the flames out before
they reached the hogsheads. The Nancy got caught in a squall; lost both
masts and ran aground on Gull Marsh. The tide will take her off at the
full of the moon. Sambo 's been playing 'possum again. Said he'd cut his
foot with his hoe so badly that he could