He was roused by the sound of approaching footsteps upon the shell path leading to the back of the house, and by the harsh voice of the overseer. "Here come your hopeful purchases, sir," he said lazily. The overseer turned the corner of the house and came forward with the three convicts at his heels. He doffed his hat to the two gentlemen, then turned to his charges. "Fall into line, you dogs, and salute his Honor!" The first man, he of the long nose and the twitching lip, smiled sweetly, and bent so low that his fell of greasy hair well-nigh swept the steps; the second, with a brow like a thunder cloud, gave a vicious nod; the third, with as impassive a countenance as Sir Charles’s own, bowed gravely, and stood with folded arms and a quietly attentive mien. The planter gathered himself up from his chair and came forward to the top of the steps, his tall, corpulent figure towering above the men below much as his fortunes towered above theirs. "Now, men," he said, speaking sternly and with slow emphasis. "I have just one word to say to you. Listen well to it. I am your master; you are my servants. I reckon myself a good master, it not being my way to treat those belonging to me, whether white or black, like dumb beasts. Give me obedience and the faithful work of your hands, and you shall find me kind. But if you are stubborn or rebellious, by the Lord, you will rue the day you left Newgate! Whipping-post and branding-irons are at hand, and death is something closer to a felon in Virginia than in England. Be careful! Now, Woodson, what have you put these men to?" "They ’ll go into the three-mile field to-morrow morning, your honor, unless you wish other disposition made of them." "No, that will do. Take them away." The overseer faced about and was marching off with the recruits for the three-mile field when his master’s voice arrested him. "Take those two in front on with you, Woodson, and send me back the brown-haired one." The "brown-haired one" turned as his companions disappeared around a hedge of privet and came slowly back to the steps. "You wished to speak to me, sir?" he said quietly. "Yes. You are the man who was tolerably helpful in the squall last night?" "I was so fortunate as to be of some small service, sir." "You understand the handling of a boat?" "Yes, sir." "Hum. I will tell Woodson to try you with a sloop when the press of work in the fields is past. What is your name?" "Godfrey Landless."