nd that I would wait
a short time, and then make my escape, if she still persisted in
detaining me by force; but this I could not venture upon until I was in
possession of fire-arms, and I could not obtain them while she had any
suspicion. I therefore replied--"Well, since you are determined I shall
not go, I have nothing more to say, except that I will wait your
pleasure, and, in the mean time, let me make myself as useful as I can,
for I don't want to eat the bread of idleness."

"You're a very sensible young man," replied she; "and now you shall have
a shirt to put on, which will improve your appearance a great deal."

She then went into the inner room, which I presumed was her bed-room, as
there were but two rooms in the cabin. As she went out, I could not
help wondering at her. On examination, I felt assured that she was more
than six feet high, and her shoulders as broad and her arms as nervous
as a man's of that stature. Her chest was very expanded, but bosom she
had none. In fact, she was a man in woman's clothing, and I began to
doubt her sex. Her features were not bad, had they been of smaller
dimensions, but her nose was too large, although it was straight; her
eyes were grand, but they were surmounted with such coarse eyebrows; her
mouth was well shaped, and her teeth were good and regular, but it was
the mouth of an ogress; her walk was commanding and firm; every action
denoted energy and muscle; and certainly, from the conversation I have
already made known, her mind was quite as masculine as her body--she was
a splendid monster. In a minute she returned, bringing me a good check
shirt and a pair of duck trousers, which I thankfully accepted.

"I've plenty more for those who please me," said she, carelessly; "when
you've put them on, come out to me, and I'll show you the plantation."

In a minute or two I joined her, and she led me round the
tobacco-fields, then to the maize or Indian corn grounds, pointing out
and explaining everything. She also showed me the cows, store pigs, and
poultry. Wishing to please her, I asked many questions, and pretended
to take an interest in all I saw. This pleased her much, and once or
twice she smiled--but such a smile! After an hour's ramble we returned,
and found the two servants very busy, one husking maize, and the other
in the shed where the tobacco was dried. I asked some questions of her
about the tobacco--how many casks or bales she made a year? She