ow is your experiment succeeding?" said the planter, with a little
smile of amused scorn as he saw the lonely figure.

"Not very well," replied David.

He paused and looked up earnestly into the planter's face. Here was a
man who had lived among the blacks all his life, and knew them: if he
would but give honest advice! The schoolmaster was sorely troubled that
afternoon. Should he speak? He would at least try.

"Mr. Ammerton," he said, "do you intend to vote at the approaching
election?"

"No," replied the planter; "nor any person of my acquaintance."

"Then incompetent, and, I fear, evil-minded men will be put into
office."

"Of course--the certain result of negro voting."

"But if you, sir, and the class to which you belong, would exert
yourselves, I am inclined to think much might be done. The breach will
only grow broader every year; act now, while you have still influence
left."

"Then you think that we have influence?" said the planter.

He was curious concerning the ideas of this man, who, although not like
the typical Yankee exactly, was yet plainly a fanatic; while as to dress
and air--why, Zip, his old valet, had more polish.

"I know at least that I have none," said David. Then he came a step
nearer. "Do you think, sir," he began slowly, "that I have gone to work
in the wrong way? Would it have been wiser to have obtained some post of
authority over them--the office of justice of the peace, for instance,
with power of arrest?"

"I know nothing about it," said the planter curtly, touching his horse
with his whip and riding on. He had no intention of stopping to discuss
ways and means with an abolition schoolmaster!

Things grew from bad to worse at Jubilee. Most of the men had been
field-hands; there was but little intelligence among them. The few
bright minds among David's pupils caught the specious arguments of the
Captain, and repeated them to the others. The Captain explained how much
power they held; the Captain laid before them glittering plans; the
Captain said that by good rights each family ought to have a plantation
to repay them for their years of enforced labor; the Captain promised
them a four-story brick college for their boys, which was more than King
David had ever promised, teacher though he was. They found out that they
were tired of King David and his narrow talk; and they went over to
Hildore Corners, where a new store had been opened, which contained,
among other novelties,