le Simon a'n't no massa what say I his fo' bacon. I don't woff
nofin' nohow now, 'cos I ole. When Simon young-great time 'go-den massa
say Simon his; woff touzan' dollars; den me do eve' ting fo' massa just
so. I prime nigga den, massa; now I woff nosin', no corn and bacon 'cept
what 'im git from Suke-e. She free; good massa make her free," said he.

"How old are you, old man?" inquired the Captain.

"Ah, Massa Stranger, ye got ole Simon da! If me know dat, den 'im
know somefin' long time ago, what buckra-man don' larn. I con'try-born
nigger, massa, but I know yonder Massa Pringle house fo' he built 'im."
Just at this moment several pieces of cannon and other ordnance were
being drawn past on long, low-wheeled drays. "Ah, massa, ye don'e know
what 'em be," said the old negro, pointing to them. "Dem wa' Massa South
Ca'lina gwan to whip de 'Nited States wid Massa Goberna' order 'em last
year, an 'e jus' come. Good masse gwan' to fight fo' we wid 'em." The
poor old man seemed to take a great interest in the pieces of ordnance
as they passed along, and to have inherited all the pompous ideas of
his master. The negroes about Charleston have a natural inclination for
military tactics, and hundreds of ragged urchins, as well as old daddies
and mammies, may be seen following the fife and drum on parade days.

"Then I suppose you've a home anywhere, and a master nowhere, old man?"
said the Captain, shaking him by the hand, as one who had worn out his
slavery to be disowned in the winter of life.

CHAPTER XXII. COPELAND'S RELEASE, AND MANUEL'S CLOSE CONFINEMENT.

THE Captain of the Janson, finding that no dependence was to be placed
upon the statements of the officials, after returning to his vessel,
gave orders that Tommy should be sent to the jail every day with
provisions for Manuel. The task was a desirable one for Tommy, and
every day about ten o'clock he might be seen trudging to the jail with a
haversack under his arm. There were five stewards confined in the cell,
and for some days previous to this attention on the part of the Captain
they had been reduced to the last stage of necessity. The quantity may
be considered as meagre when divided among so many, but added to the
little things brought in by Jane, and presents from several of the crew
of the Janson, they got along. Still it was a dependence upon chance and
charity, which any casual circumstance might affect. For several days
they made themselves as co