PART I

CHAPTER I

THE STRANGER AT THE BROCK HOUSE

The steamer “Hatty” which plied between Jacksonville and Enterprise was late, and the people who had come down from the Brock House to the landing had waited half an hour before a puff of smoke in the distance told that she was coming.  There had been many conjectures as to the cause of the delay, for she was usually on time, and those who had friends on the boat were growing nervous, fearing an accident, and all were getting tired, when she appeared in the distance, the puffs of smoke increasing in volume as she drew nearer, and the sound of her whistle echoing across the water, which at Enterprise spreads out into a lake.  She had not met with an accident, but had been detained at Palatka waiting for a passenger of whom the captain had been apprised.

“He may be a trifle late, but if he is, wait.  He must take your boat,” Tom Hardy had said to the captain when engaging passage for his friend, and Tom Hardy was not one whose wishes were often disregarded.  “Them Hardys does more business with me in one year than ten other families and I can’t go agin Tom, and if he says wait for his friend, why, there’s nothing to do but wait,” the captain said, as he walked up and down in front of his boat, growing more and more impatient, until at last as he was beginning to swear he’d wait no longer for all the Hardys in Christendom, two men came slowly towards the landing, talking earnestly and not seeming to be in the least hurry, although the “Hatty” began to scream herself hoarse as if frantic to be gone.

“How d’ye, Cap,” Tom said, in his easy, off-hand way.  “Hope we haven’t kept you long.  This is my friend I told you about.  I suppose his berth is ready?”

He did not tell the name of his friend, who, as if loath to cross the plank, held back for a few more words.  Tom gave him a little push at last, and said, “Good-bye, you really must go.  Success to you, but don’t for a moment think of carrying out that quixotic plan you first mentioned.  Better jump into the river.  Good-bye!”

The plank was crossed and pulled in, and a mulatto boy came forward to take the stranger’s bag and pilot him to his stateroom, which opened from what was called the ladies’ parlor.  Coiled up in a corner on the deck was a bundle of something which stirred as they came near to it, and began to turn over, making the stranger start with a slight exclamation.

“Doan you be skeert, sar,” the boy said, “dat’s nottin’ but Mandy Ann, an onery nigger what b’longs to ole Miss Harris in de clarin’ up ter Ent’prise.  She’s been hired out a spell in Jacksonville,—­nuss to a little gal, and now she’s gwine home.  Miss Dory done sent for her, ’case Jake is gone and ole Miss is wus,—­never was very peart,” and turning to the girl the boy Ted continued:  “You Mandy Ann, doan you know more manners not to skeer a gemman, rollin’ round like a punkin?  Get back wid yer.”