or the slaves to turn out and get breakfast.
Half an hour was allowed for this, and at half-past six they were formed
into gangs, and marched off to the fields in charge of the overseers.

George and Walford were handed a hoe apiece, and attached to one of the
gangs detailed for work in the tobacco-fields. The lad Tom was attached
to another gang, and he spent his first day of slave-labour among the
sugar-cane.

The tobacco was fast ripening, and was just then at one of its many
critical stages, the plants requiring individually almost as much care
and attention as a new-born child. Each plant required that the earth
should be hoed up round its stalk with almost mathematical accuracy to a
certain height and no more; and every leaf had to be tenderly and
scrupulously examined twice or thrice daily, to guard against the
ruinous attack of the tobacco-grubs. It was exhausting, back-breaking
labour, particularly for those unaccustomed to it, and the drivers'
whips were freely used to stimulate the sluggards or those who exhibited
any signs of a _tendency_ to shirk the work; but George soon saw--and
congratulated himself upon the circumstance--that the rule was evidently
a mild one on this particular plantation, the whip being rarely used
without provocation. It is scarcely necessary to say that Leicester was
quite resolved to save himself from the indignity of the lash, if hard
work would do it; and he was fortunate enough to return to his hut on
that first day without the whip having once been raised against him.

Thus passed day after day, and week after week; the only variation being
that, when the tobacco was in proper condition, the fields had to be
gone through with the utmost care, and those leaves which were
sufficiently ripe were then picked, and laid in little heaps in the sun
to "sweat" and cure, this process being repeated daily until the entire
crop was gathered in. Then followed the "cleaning" of the fields and
their preparation for another crop, and so on, upon all of which it is
unnecessary to dwell.

George and Tom devoted the whole of their brief leisure after the work
of the day was over to the cultivation of a knowledge of Spanish, being
fortunate enough, in their pursuit of this acquirement, to make the
acquaintance of a young and very intelligent negro, who had been for
many years valet to his master, but, being unlucky enough to incur that
gentleman's displeasure, had been sent in disgrace into