'He'll be disappointed in that. I allowed him the plantation and furniture, because I've no use for them; but I made him pay more than they are worth. The avails will help me through with father's debts; but not a single hand shall go into his clutches, I shall buy them myself.' 'What will you do with them?' 'I have bought a plantation near Mobile. I shall put them upon it. Joe will manage them, and I'll live there with Selly.' 'You're a splendid fellow, Joe. But it seems a pity that woman should profane your father's house.' 'Oh! there's no danger of that. I've engaged 'furnished apartments' for her elsewhere.' 'What do you mean?' 'The sheriff is asleep up stairs. He has a warrant against her for the murder of Phyllis. When she comes here in the morning, it will be served!' CHAPTER XXV. The next morning I rose early, and strolled out to the negro quarters. At the distance of about a hundred yards from the mansion, the sun was touching the tops of about thirty canvas camps, and, near them, large numbers of horses, 'all saddled and bridled,' were picketed among the trees. Some dozens of 'natives' were littered around, asleep on the ground; and here and there a barelegged, barefooted woman was lying beside a man on a 'spring' mattress, of the kind that is supposed to have been patented in Paradise. It was a beautiful morning in May, and one would have thought, from the appearance of the motley collection, that the whole people had 'come up to worship the Lord in their tents,' after the manner of the Israelites. The rich planter, the small farmer, the 'white trash'--all classes, had gathered to the negro sale, like crows to a feast of carrion. A few half-awake, half-sober, russet-clad, bewhiskered 'gentry' were lighting fires under huge iron pots; but the larger portion of the 'congregation' was still wrapped in slumber. Passing them, I knocked at the door of Ally's cabin. The family was already astir, and the various members gave me a greeting that cannot be _bought_ now anywhere with a handful of 'greenbacks.' Boss Joe, Aggy, and old Deborah had arrived, and were quartered with Ally. 'An' 'ou wusn't a gwine ter leff massa Preston's own chile be sole widout bein' yere; wus 'ou, massa Kirke?' cried Dinah, her face beaming all over with pleasurable emotion. 'No, Dinah; and I've come here so early to tell you how much I think of _you_. A woman that can handle four white men as you did is fit to head an army.' 'Lor' bress 'ou, massa! dat wusn't nuffin'. I could handle a whole meetin'-house full ob sech as dem.' 'Joe, you know your master's plans, I suppose?' 'Yas, massa Kirke; he mean ter buy all de folks.' 'But can he raise money enough for the whole?' 'I reckon so. Massa Joe got a heap.' 'But don't you want to borrow some to help out your pile?' 'I'se 'bliged ter you, sar; but I reckon I doan't. I'se got nigh on ter free thousan', an' nary one'll pay more'n dat fur a ole man an' two ole wimmin.' 'I hope not.'