Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 69: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

60 THE ARGOSY, made with no other weapons than the tools used by the slaves in their ordmary labors. Really, it all looked easy. When the four separated that night it is doubt- ful if one of them had the slightest doubt that within a few days he would be at liberty. So, at all events, it was with Crenshawe. Whereas he had been able to sleep soundly when his mind was beset with apparently unsolvable problems, he was now so excited by confident hope that it was well towards ' morning before slumber came upon him. All through the next day he was in a fever of exasperation because of his inability to promote the uprising. He could not say a word in the language that the blacks understood, and he could not help a profound anxiety lest his three comrades were not utilizing their opportunities to the utmost. There was a little relief from this oppressing feeling towards the middle of the afternoon. Tony found some excuse or other for strolling over to the gang in which.Crenshawe was at work, and he had not been there long before the American observed that one and another of the blacks turned their eyes eagerly towards him. “ Mischief is afoot,” he thought triumphantly, and whenever he caught a black man’s eye he nodded encouragingly. Tony said nothing to him on that occasion, and Crenshawe regarded the boy’s silence as a bit of well timed shrewdness. Nevertheless, he was so eager to know how the affair was moving that he almost wished the lad had risked arousing suspicion in the mind of the overseer by making a report. In this, too, he was destined ta have relief before the day was over, for Edwardes made opportunity to leave his work and come up to his friend. ‘“Ttis going well,” said Edwardes quietly. ‘“ The blacks are ripe for revolt, and on my word it looks as if the only danger is their great eagerness to over- whelm the Don. We must hold them in check if we want to succeed.” ‘Well, they understand, don’t they,” asked Crenshawe, “ that you and I are to be their leaders in this?” “ The idea is put before them on that basis.” “Well, if they grasp the idea, can’t we trust them to await our com- mands? ” “ Oh, I think so. I am not worrying. - You can judge for yourself what their temper is tonight.” The night came at last, and with it a mecing of the conspirators, and a considerable number of the blacks, who had been approached. This was held at the border of a grove about a mile from the mansion towards the east. A mile or so further on was the seacoast, and between them and the mansion were no buildings save the huts occupied by the slaves themselves. There- fore, they were secure from interruption. As the assembling was not until late at night, the moon had risen and gave sufficient light for them to distinguish one another. Crenshawe believed that he was calm when he approached the place and saw fifty or more black men awaiting him. His outward appearance certainly was that of confident mastery. But his teart beat high, in sympathy, doubtless, with the general atmosphere of intense excitement that prevailed. COMIC OO@ CO