The interior was dark, and it was some time before I could distinguish
any object. Presently my eyes became accustomed to the sombre light,
and I was enabled to trace the outlines of this singular tree-cavern.
Its dimensions somewhat astonished me. A dozen men could have been
accommodated in it, and there was ample room for that number either
sitting or standing. In fact, the whole pyramidal mass which supported
the tree was nothing more than a thin shell, all the heart having
perished by decay. The floor, by the falling of this _debris_ of rotten
wood, was raised above the level of the water, and felt firm and dry
underfoot. Near its centre I could perceive the ashes and half-burnt
embers of an extinct fire; and along one side was strewed a thick
covering of dry _tillandsia_, that had evidently been used as a bed. An
old blanket lying upon the moss gave further testimony that this was its
purpose.
There was no furniture. A rude block,--a cypress knee that had been
carried there--formed, the only substitute for a chair, and there was
nothing to serve for a table. He who had made this singular cave his
residence required no luxuries to sustain him. Necessaries, however, he
had provided. As my eyes grew more accustomed to the light, I could
make out a number of objects I had not at first seen. An earthen
cooking-pot, a large water gourd, a tin cup, an old axe, some
fishing-tackle, and one or two coarse rags of clothing. What interested
me more than all these was the sight of several articles that were
_eatable_. There was a good-sized "chunk" of cooked pork, a gigantic
"pone" of corn-bread, several boiled ears of maize, and the better half
of a roast fowl. All these lay together upon a large wooden dish,
rudely carved from the wood of the tulip-tree--of such a fashion as I
had often observed about the cabins of the negro quarter. Beside this
dish lay several immense egg-shaped bodies of dark-green colour, with
other smaller ones of a yellow hue. These were water and musk melons,--
not a bad prospect for a dessert.
I had made this reconnoissance while my companion was engaged in
fastening his pirogue to the tree. I had finished my survey as he
entered.
"Now, mass'," said he, "dis am ole Gabe's nest; de dam man-hunter no
found 'im yeer."
"Why, you are quite at home here, Gabriel! How did you ever find such a
place?"
"Lor', mass', knowd it long time. He not de fust darkie who hid in dis
old cypress,--nor de fust time for Gabr'l neider. He runaway afore,--
dat war when he libbed with Mass' Hicks, 'fore ole mass' bought him. He
nebber had 'casion to run away from old Mass 'Sancon. He good to de
brack folks, and so war Mass Antoine--he good too, but now de poor nigga
can't stan no longer; de new oberseer, he flog hard,--he flog till do
blood come,--he use de cobbin board, an dat pump, an de red cowhide, an
de wagon whip,--ebberything he use,--dam! I nebber go back,--nebber!"
"But how do you intend to live? you can't always exist in this way.
Where will you get your provisions?"
"Nebber fear, mass' Edwad, always get nuff to eat; no fear for dat. Da
poor runaway hab some friend on de plantations. Beside he steal nuff to
keep 'im 'live--hya! hya!"
"Oh!"
"Gabr'l no need steal now, 'ceptin' de roasting yeers and de millyuns.
See! what Zip fetch im! Zip come las night to de edge ob de woods an'
fetch all dat plunder. But, mass', you 'skoose me. Forgot you am
hungry. Hab some pork some chicken. Chloe cook 'em--is good--you eat."
So saying he set the wooden platter with its contents before me; and the
conversation was now interrupted, as both myself and my companion
attacked the viands with right good-will.
The "millyuns" constituted a delicious dessert, and for a full half-hour
we continued to fight against the appetite of hunger. We conquered it
at length, but not until the store of the runaway had been greatly
reduced in bulk.
After dinner we sat conversing for a long time. We were not without the
soothing nicotian weed. My companion had several bunches of dry
tobacco-leaf among his stores; and a corn-cob with a piece of cane-joint
served for a pipe, through which the smoke was inhaled with all the
aromatic fragrance of the costliest Havanna.
Partly from gratitude for the saving of my life, I had grown to feel a
strong interest in the runaway, and his future prospects became the
subject of our converse. He had formed no plan of escape--though some
thoughts of an attempt to reach Canada or Mexico, or to get off in a
ship by New Orleans, had passed through his mind.
A plan occurred to me, though I did not communicate it to him, as I
might never be able to carry it out. I begged of him, however, not to
leave his present abode until I could see him again, promising that I
should do what I could to find him a kinder master.
He readily agreed to my proposal; and as it was now sunset, I made
preparations for my departure from the lake.
A signal was agreed upon, so that when I should return to visit him, he
could bring the pirogue to ferry me across; and this being arranged, we
once more entered the canoe, and set out for the plantations.
We soon recrossed the lake; and, leaving the little boat safely moored
by the fallen tree, started off through the woods. The path, with
Gabriel for my guide, was now easy; and at intervals, as we went along,
he directed my attention to certain blazes upon the trees, and other
marks by which I should know it again.
In less than an hour after, we parted on the edge of the clearings--he
going to some rendezvous already appointed--whilst I kept on to the
village, the road to which now ran between parallel fences that rendered
it impossible for me to go astray.