Manuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South CarolinaAdams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
General
Manuel Pereira; Or, The Sovereign Rule of South Carolina
Adams, F. Colburn (Francis Colburn)
African Americans -- Fiction; Biographical fiction; Pereira, Manuel -- Fiction; South Carolina -- Fiction
Considerable uneasiness had been felt on board of the Janson for Tommy,
and the Captain suggested that he might have got astray among the dark
lanes of the city, and that the mate had better send some of the crew
to look for him. The mate, better acquainted with Tommy's feelings and
attachment for Manuel than he was with the rules of the prison and Mr.
Grimshaw's arbitrary orders, assured the Captain that such a course
would be entirely unnecessary, for he knew when he left that he would
stop all night with Manuel. This quieted the Captain's apprehensions,
and he said no more about it until he sat down to breakfast. “I miss
Tommy amazingly,” said the Captain. “If he stopped all night, he should
be here by this time. I think some one had better be sent to the jail
to inquire for him.” Just as he arose from the table, one of the crew
announced at the companion that a person on deck wished to see the
Captain. On going up, he found a policeman, who informed him that a
little boy had been arrested as a vagrant in the street, last night, and
when brought before the mayor a few minutes ago, stated that he belonged
to his vessel, and the mayor had despatched him to notify the master.
“Circumstances are suspicious; he was seen in company with a negro of
very bad habits; but if you can identify the boy, you had better come
quick, or he'll be sent to jail, and you'll have some trouble to get him
out,” said the messenger, giving the Captain a description of the boy.
“Oh yes!” said the Captain, “that's my Tommy. I verily believe they'll
have us all in jail before we get away from the port.” Numerous
appointments engrossed his time, and he had promised to meet the consul
at an early hour that morning. Notwithstanding this, he gave a few
orders to the mate about getting the hatches ready and receiving
the port-wardens, and then immediately repaired to the all-important
guard-house. He was just in time to receive the mortifying intelligence
that the mayor's court had concluded its sitting, and to see little
Tommy, with a pair of handcuffs on his hand, in the act of being
committed to jail by a Dutch constable. He stopped the constable, and
being told that his honor was yet in the room, put a couple of dollars
into his hand to await his intercession. Another fortunate circumstance
favored him; just as he stopped the constable, he saw his friend,
Colonel S--, approaching. The colonel saw there was trouble, and with
his usual, characteristic kindness, hastened up and volunteered his
services.
We must now return to the arraignment, as it proceeded after the
messenger had been despatched.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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