"Dar," he said, waving his hand toward the slope; "dar is whar I wants my house, right "longside ob dat ar spring, wid a good terbacker barn up on de hill dar."
"Why, what do yer want ter lib dar fer?" asked the other in surprise, as he peered over the side of the wagon, in which he sat upon a thick bed of fodder which Nimbus had spread over the bottom for his comfort.
"Kase dat ar side-hill am twenty-five acres ob de best terbacker groun" in Ho"sford County."
"Yer don"t say so, Nimbus?"
"Dat"s jes what I do say, "Liab, an" dat"s de main reason what"s made me so stubborn "bout buyin" dis berry track of lan". Pears ter me it"s jes made fer us. It"s all good terbacker lan", most on"t de berry best. It"s easy clar"d off an" easy wukked. De "backer growed on dis yer lan" an" cured wid coal made outen dem ar pines will be jes es yaller ez gold an" as fine ez silk, "Liab. I knows; I"se been a watchin" right smart, an" long ago, when I used ter pa.s.s by here, when dey fust begun ter vally de yaller terbacker, I used ter wonder dat some pore white man like Ma.r.s.e War", dat knowed how ter raise an" cure terbacker, didn"t buy de ole place an" wuk for demselves, "stead ob overseein" fer somebody else. It"s quar dey nebber t"ought on"t. It allers seemed ter me dat I wouldn"t ax fer nothin" better."
"But what yer gwine ter do wid de ole house?" asked Eliab.
"Wal, Bre"er Liab," said Nimbus with a queer grimace, "I kinder "llowed dat I"d ler you hab dat ar ter do wid jes "bout ez yer like."
"Oh, Bre"er Nimbus, yer don"t mean dat now?"
"Don"t I? wal, you jes see ef I don"t. I"se gwine ter lib right h"yer, an" ef yer don"t occupy dat ole Red Wing Or"nery I"m durned ef it don"t rot down. Yer heah dat man? Dar don"t n.o.body else lib in it, shuah."
Eliab was very thoughtful and silent, listening to Nimbus" comments and plans until finally, as they sat on the porch of the old house eating their "snack," he said,
"Nimbus, dar"s a heap ob cullud folks libbin" jes one way an"
anudder from dis yer Red Wing cross-roads."
"Co"se dey is, an" dat"s de berry reason I"se sot my heart on yer habbin" a shop right h"yer. Yer sh.o.r.e ter git de wuk ob de whole country roun", an" der"s mo" cullud folks right up an" down de creek an" de ribber h"yer dan ennywhar hereabouts dat I knows on."
"But, Nimbus--" said he, hesitatingly.
"Yis, "Liab, I hears ye."
"Couldn"t we hab a church here?"
"Now yer"s _talkin"_," exclaimed Nimbus. "Swar ter G.o.d, it"s quare I nebber tink ob dat, now. An" you de minister? Now yer _is_ talkin", shuah! Why de debble I nebber tink ob dat afo"?
Yer see dem big pines dar, straight ez a arrer an" nigh "bout de same size from top ter bottom? What yer s"pose dem fer, "Liab?
Dunno? I should tink not. House logs fer de church, "Liab. Make it jes ez big ez yer wants. Dar "tis. Only gib me some few shingles an" a flo", an" dar yer hev jes ez good a church ez de "postles ebber hed ter preach in."
"An" de school, Nimbus?" timidly.
"Shuah "nough. Why I nebber tink ob dat afo"? An" you de teacher!
Now you is talkin", "Liab, _certain_ shuah! Dat"s jes de ting, jes what we wants an" hez got ter hev. Plenty o" scholars h"yer-abouts, an" de church fer a school-house an" Bre"er "Liab fer de teacher! "Clar fer it, Bre"er"Liab, you hez got ahead-piece, dat"s a fac". Now I nebber tink of all dat togedder. Mout hev come bimeby, little to a time, but not all to wonst like, as "tis wid you. Lord, how plain I sees it all now! De church an" school-house up dar on de knoll; Nimbus" house jes about a hundred yards furder on, "cross de road; an" on de side ob de hill de "backer-barn; you a teachin" an" a preachin" an" Nimbus makin" terbacker, an" Gena a-takin" comfort on de porch, an" de young uns gittin" larnin"!
Wh-o-o-p! Bre"er "Liab, yer"s a great man, shuah!"
Nimbus caught him in his strong arms and whirled him about in a frenzy of joy. When he sat him down Eliab said quietly:
"We must get somebody else to teach for a while. "Liab don"t know "nough ter do dat ar. I"ll go to school wid de chillen an" learn "nough ter do it bimeby. P"raps dis what dey call de "Bureau" mout start a school here ef you should ax "em, Nimbus. Yer know dey"d be mighty willin" ter "blige a soldier, who"d been a fightin" fer "em, ez you hev."
"I don"t a know about dat ar, Bre"er"Liab, but leastaways we can"t do no more"n make de trial, anyhow."
After this visit, Eliab withdrew all opposition, not without doubt, but hoping for the best, and trusting, prayerfully, that his friend"s sanguine expectations might be justified by the result. So it was determined that Nimbus should make the purchase, if possible, and that the old Ordinary, which had been abandoned as a hostel on the highway to the Eastern market, be made a New Inn upon the road which the Freedman must now take, and which should lead to liberty and light.
CHAPTER XII.
ON THE WAY TO JERICHO.
Colonel Desmit"s devotion to the idea that slave property was more profitable than any other, and the system by which he had counted on almost limitless gain thereby, was not only overthrown by the universal emanc.i.p.ation which attended the issue of the war, but certain unlocked for contingencies placed him upon the very verge of bankruptcy. The location of his interests in different places, which he had been accustomed, during the struggle, to look upon as a most fortunate prevision, resulted most disastrously. As the war progressed, it came about that those regions which were at first generally regarded as the most secure from hostile invasion became the scene of the most devastating operations.
The military foresight of the Confederate leaders long before led them to believe that the struggle would be concluded, or would at least reach its climax, in the Piedmont region. From the coast to the mountains the Confederacy spanned, at this point, only two hundred miles. The country was open, accessible from three points upon the coast, at which lodgment was early made or might have been obtained, and only one flank of the forces marching thence toward the heart of the Confederacy could be a.s.sailed. It was early apprehended by them that armies marching from the coast of North Carolina, one column along the course of the Cape Fear and another from Newberne, within fair supporting distance and converging toward the center of the State, would const.i.tute the most dangerous movement that could be made against the Confederacy, since it would cut it in twain if successful; and, in order to defeat it, the Army of Virginia would have to be withdrawn from its field of operations and a force advancing in its track from the James would be enabled to co-operate with the columns previously mentioned. It is instructive to note that, upon the other side, the untrained instinct of President Lincoln was always turning in the same direction.
In perusing the field of operations his finger would always stray to the eastern coast of North Carolina as the vital point, and no persuasions could induce him to give up the apparently useless foothold which we kept there for more than three years without material advantage. It was a matter of constant surprise to the Confederate military authorities that this course was not adopted, and the final result showed the wisdom of their premonition.
Among others, Colonel Desmit had obtained an inkling of this idea, and instead of concentrating all his destructible property in the region of his home, where, as it resulted, it would have been comparatively secure, he pitched upon the "piney-woods" region to the south-eastward, as the place of greatest safety.
He had rightly estimated that cotton and naval stores would, on account of the rigorous blockade and their limited production in other countries, be the most valuable products to hold when the period of war should end. With these ideas he had invested largely in both, and in and about a great factory at the falls of a chief tributary of the Pedee, he had stored his cotton; and in the heart of that sombre-shadowed stretch of soughing pines which lies between the Cape Fear and the Yadkin he had hidden his vast acc.u.mulation of pitch, turpentine, and resin. Both were in the very track of Sherman"s ruthless legions. First the factory and the thousands of bales carefully placed in store near by were given to the flames.
Potestatem Desmit had heard of their danger, and had ridden post-haste across the rugged region to the northward in the vain hope that his presence might somehow avert disaster. From the top of a rocky mountain twenty miles away he had witnessed the conflagration, and needed not to be told of his loss. Turning his horse"s head to the eastward, at a country-crossing near at hand, he struck out with unabated resolution to reach the depot of his naval stores before the arrival of the troops, in order that he might interpose for their preservation. He had quite determined to risk the consequences of capture in their behalf, being now fully convinced of the downfall of the Confederacy.
During the ensuing night he arrived at his destination, where he found everything in confusion and affright. It was a vast collection of most valuable stores. For two years they had been acc.u.mulating.
It was one of the sheet-anchors which the prudent and far-seeing Potestatem Desmit had thrown out to windward in antic.i.p.ation of a coming storm. For half a mile along the bank of the little stream which was just wide enough to float a loaded batteau, the barrels of resin and pitch and turpentine were piled, tier upon tier, hundreds and thousands upon thousands of them. Potestatem Desmit looked at them and shuddered at the desolation which a single torch would produce in an instant. He felt that the chances were desperate, and he had half a mind to apply the torch himself and at least deprive the approaching horde of the savage pleasure of destroying his substance. But he had great confidence in himself, his own powers of persuasion and diplomacy. He would try them once more, and would not fail to make them serve for all they might be worth, to save this h.o.a.rded treasure.
It was barely daylight the next morning when he was awakened by the cry, "The Yanks are coming!" He had but a moment to question the frightened messenger, who pressed on, terror-stricken, in the very road which he might have known would be the path of the advancing enemy, instead of riding two miles into the heart of the boundless pine forest which stretched on either hand, where he would have been as safe from capture as if he had been in the center of the pyramid of Cheops.
Potestatem Desmit had his carriage geared up, and went coolly forth to meet the invaders. He had heard much of their savage ferocity, and was by no means ignorant of the danger which he ran in thus going voluntarily into their clutches. Nevertheless he did not falter.
He had great reliance in his personal presence. So he dressed with care, and arrayed in clean linen and a suit of the finest broadcloth, then exceedingly rare in the Confederacy, and with his snowy hair and beard, his high hat, his hands crossed over a gold-headed cane, and gold-mounted gla.s.ses upon his nose, he set out upon his mission. The night before he had prudently removed from the place every drop of spirits except a small demi-john of old peach-brandy, which he put under the seat of his carriage, intending therewith to regale the highest official whom he should succeed in approaching, even though it should be the dreaded Sherman himself.
He had proceeded perhaps half a mile, when his carriage was all at once surrounded by a motley crew of curiously dressed but well-armed ruffians, whose very appearance disgusted and alarmed him. With oaths and threats the lumbering chariot, which represented in itself no little of respectability, was stopped. The appearance of such a vehicle upon the sandy road of the pine woods coming directly toward the advancing column struck the "b.u.mmers" with surprise. They made a thousand inquiries of the frightened driver, and were about to remove and appropriate the sleek span of carriage-horses when the occupant of the carriage, opening the window, thrust out his head, and with a face flaming with indignation ordered them to desist, bestowing upon them a volley of epithets, beginning with "rascals"
and running as far into the language of abuse as his somewhat heated imagination could carry him.
"h.e.l.lo, Bill," said the b.u.mmer who was unfastening the right-wheeler, as he looked back and saw the red face framed in a circlet of white hair and beard. "Just look at this old sunflower, will you?
I guess the old bird must think he commands this brigade. Ha! ha!
ha! I say, old fellow, when did you leave the ark?"
"And was Noah and his family well when you bid "em good-by?" queried another.
This levity and ridicule were too much for Colonel P. Desmit to endure. He leaned out of the carriage window, and shaking his gold-headed cane at the mirthful marauders denounced them in language fearful in its impotent wrath.
"Take me to General Sherman, you rascals! I want to see the general!"
he yelled over and over again.
"The h.e.l.l you do! Well, now, mister, don"t you know that the General is too nervous to see company to-day? He"s just sent us on ahead a bit to say to strangers that he"s compelled to refuse all visitors to-day. He gits that way sometimes, does "Old Bill," so ye mustn"t think hard of him, at all."
"Take me to the general, you plundering pirates!" vociferated the enraged Colonel. "I"ll see if a country gentleman travelling in his own carriage along the highway is to be robbed and abused in this manner!" "Robbed, did he say?" queried one, with the unmistakable brogue of an Irishman. "Faith, it must be the gintleman has somethin"
very important along wid him in the carriage, that he"s gittin" so excited about; and its meself that"ll not see the gintleman imposed upon, sure." This with a wink at his comrades. Then to the occupant of the carriage: "What did yer honor say might be yer name, now?
It"s very partickler the General is about insthructin" us ter ax the names of thim that"s wantin" an" inthroduction to him, ye know?"
The solemnity of this address half deceived the irate Southron, and he answered with dignity, "Desmit--Colonel Potestatem Desmit, of Horsford County, sir."
"Ah, d"ye hear that, b"ys? Faith, it"s a kurnel it is ye"ve been a shtoppin" here upon the highway! Shure it may be he"s a goin" to the Gineral wid a flag of thruce, belike."
"I do wish to treat with the General," said Desmit, thinking he saw a chance to put in a favorable word.