The mistress, as I shall in future call her, then put down her musket and left the cabin. During her absence I entered into conversation with the man called James, for the other had gone out. To my inquiry how far it was to James Town, he replied that he really did not know; that he was sent out a convict, and sold for ten years to the husband of the mistress, who had died two years ago; that this man had a small vessel, in which he went to James Town by water, and that he had returned with him in his vessel; that the distance by water, he considered about one hundred and fifty miles, but by land it was not half that distance; that he did not know the way, nor did he believe that there was any road as yet made to James Town, as this plantation was quite by itself, and a long way from any other. He understood that the nearest plantation was twenty miles off, and he knew there was no road to it, as no one ever went or came except by water. "But," said I, "are not the settlers at war with the Indian tribes that surround them?" "Yes; and have been now for three or four years; and the Indians have done great mischief to the plantations, and killed a great many people; but the settlers have punished them severely." "Then how is it that this plantation, which is so solitary, has not been attacked?" "Because the mistress's husband was a great friend of the Indians, and it is said used to bring them cargoes of muskets and ammunition from James Town, contrary to all law and regulation. But if he was friendly with them, the mistress is not; for she has quarrelled with the principal chief, and I should not be surprised if we were attacked some day, and all scalped." "And what does the mistress say to that?" "Oh, she don't care; she'd fight a hundred Indians, or white men either. I never saw such a creature--she's afraid of nothing." "Who is the other man I saw here?" "Oh, he's another like myself. There were three of us, but one was drowned by falling overboard from the sloop." "Well, but my good fellow, how shall I get to James Town?" "I'm sure I can't tell; but my idea is that you will never get there unless mistress chooses." "Why, surely she won't detain me by force?" "Won't she?--you don't know her. Why, she'd stop an army," replied the man. "I don't think that she will let you go--I don't know; but that's my opinion. She wants another hand." "What, do you mean to say that she'll make me work?" "I mean to say that, according to the laws of the settlement, she has a right to detain you. Any person found roving here, who cannot give a satisfactory account of himself, may be detained till something is heard about him; for he may be a runaway convict, or a runaway apprentice, which is much the same, after all. Now, she may say that your account of yourself is not satisfactory, and therefore she detained you; and if you won't work, she won't give you to eat; so there you are." "Well, we will see if she is able."