the back of another, and chewing tobacco as if for a
wager; "it stinks enough to kill or cure twenty men. Away with it, or
I reckon I will throw it overboard!"

It was by this time warm enough, so I took it to my master's berth,
remained there a little while, and then went on deck and asked the
steward where I was to sleep. He said there was no place provided for
coloured passengers, whether slave or free. So I paced the deck till a
late hour, then mounted some cotton bags, in a warm place near the
funnel, sat there till morning, and then went and assisted my master to
get ready for breakfast.

He was seated at the right hand of the captain, who, together with all
the passengers, inquired very kindly after his health. As my master
had one hand in a sling, it was my duty to carve his food. But when I
went out the captain said, "You have a very attentive boy, sir; but you
had better watch him like a hawk when you get on to the North. He
seems all very well here, but he may act quite differently there. I
know several gentlemen who have lost their valuable niggers among them
d----d cut-throat abolitionists."

Before my master could speak, a rough slave-dealer, who was sitting
opposite, with both elbows on the table, and with a large piece of
broiled fowl in his fingers, shook his head with emphasis, and in a
deep Yankee tone, forced through his crowded mouth the words, "Sound
doctrine, captain, very sound." He then dropped the chicken into the
plate, leant back, placed his thumbs in the armholes of his fancy
waistcoat, and continued, "I would not take a nigger to the North under
no consideration. I have had a deal to do with niggers in my time, but
I never saw one who ever had his heel upon free soil that was worth a
d----n." "Now stranger," addressing my master, "if you have made up
your mind to sell that ere nigger, I am your man; just mention your
price, and if it isn't out of the way, I will pay for him on this board
with hard silver dollars." This hard-featured, bristly-bearded,
wire-headed, red-eyed monster, staring at my master as the serpent did
at Eve, said, "What do you say, stranger?" He replied, "I don't wish
to sell, sir; I cannot get on well without him."

"You will have to get on without him if you take him to the North,"
continued this man; "for I can tell ye, stranger, as a friend, I am an
older cove than you, I have seen lots of this ere world, and I reckon I
have had more dealings with nig