Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue: A Tale of the Mississippi and the South-westOptic, Oliver
General
Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue: A Tale of the Mississippi and the South-west
Optic, Oliver
African Americans -- Fiction; Enslaved persons -- United States -- Fiction
Hatchie, who occupied a room near the boiler deck, had been awakened by
the confusion of making fast the steamer. His watchful vigil over the
safety of his mistress did not permit him to slumber while the
possibility of danger existed. He had, therefore, risen; but scarcely
had he completed his dress, when the door of his room was suddenly
opened, and himself violently seized by two stout men. The attack had
been so sudden, and the movements of the assailants so well directed,
that resistance was hopeless. Before he fully realized the presence of
his foes, his hands were pinioned behind him. In this condition, without
knowing why or by whom he was assailed, he was hurried away to the
calaboose.
At an early hour in the morning carriages and drays began to assemble on
the levee, and all the noise and bustle of landing passengers, baggage
and freight, commenced.
Emily Dumont, as soon as it was fairly light, rose from her couch, and
made her preparations to leave the steamer. Fully equipped for her
journey to Bellevue, she entered the cabin, where De Guy soon presented
himself.
"Where is Hatchie?" was the first question she asked; for Hatchie had
always been on the spot whenever and wherever she needed his services.
"I have taken the liberty to send him up to the St. Charles with your
luggage. You will, of course, breakfast there," said the attorney,
blandly.
"Such was not my intention," replied she, as a cold tremor--she knew not
why--agitated her.
"I am sorry to have mistaken your purpose; the ride to Bellevue is a
long one to take without any refreshment."
"I mind it not; my haste is too great to admit of any delay."
"I sent by your servant to order an early breakfast, and a carriage at
seven o'clock."
"Very well, I will conform to the arrangement you have made," replied
Emily, with a dissatisfied air.
A carriage was called from the mass which had congregated, whose drivers
were not a whit behind those of the metropolitan city in earnest
perseverance; and De Guy assisted her into it, seating himself at a
respectful distance on the forward seat.
Now, the act of engaging a cab or a carriage is of itself quite an easy
matter; but we question whether passengers are generally as well suited
as in the present instance. Without troubling the worthy Mr. De Guy with
any foolish queries as to where he should drive them, the Jehu mounted
his box, and conducted his team apparently to the entire satisfaction of
his fare. It may be that the intelligent driver had a way of divining
the wishes of his customers; or it may be that De Guy, in deference to
any supposed repugnance to business matters on the part of his
companion, had previously discussed this topic. Without any design of
prejudicing the reader's mind in favor of the latter supposition, we
confess our inclination to accept it as correct.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account