I was conscious of nothing more until Ned's voice sounded in my ears. I
had ordered him to waken me at ten o'clock, no matter how soundly I was
sleeping or how much I might expostulate with him at the time. I guess
the poor fellow did have a rather hard time awakening me. Being on a
civilized bed seemed to have obliterated the feeling of caution which
had kept me on the _qui vive_ since the beginning of my trip, and his
voice in my ears at first roused me only to a semi-consciousness and
faint impression of my surroundings, so accustomed was I to Ned's
lingering awakenings. Not until his "Mars, you done said I wuz ter get
you up, acaus' dis yer wa'" finally penetrated my dull ears did he rouse
me effectually to present circumstances.
While thinking over my arrangements as I was dressing, I determined on
taking Ned with me. It was the one additional item needed to perfect the
plan I had originated, and I wondered that I had not thought of it
before.
Ned belonged to our family, but during one of our long visits at S----
he had married a girl on a neighboring place and on our return home had
been left behind. A high price had been offered for the girl,
considerable more than she was worth, but her master would not part with
her, so Ned had staid on at S---- from year to year. I doubt if he would
have been willing to remain had we not been there so often, for he was
deeply and honestly attached to our family.
He was a particularly shrewd and intelligent old negro, and I well knew
that I could trust him to any extent. He would die rather than betray me
or any secret information I might find necessary to entrust to him. His
intelligence, quickness of wit and caution would likely enable him to
get out of any ordinary danger or emergency that presented itself. To
have him along would somewhat lessen my chances of escaping observation
on the way, but he would add much to my disguise when among the
Confederates.
Few, if any, outside the two families knew but what he belonged to the
S---- plantation. He had made several trips with my aunt and cousin
during the past two years and had been with them at the Springs. I knew
that Captain DeLacy would recognize him again and that it would seem
quite proper to him, or any person whom we should meet, that he had
accompanied his young mistress.
I did justice to the dinner which Ned, with great pride in his
exhibition of culinary skill, had ready for me when I went down. I then
told him where I was going and for what. He was horror struck at first
and went off into lamentations, bemoaning these troublous times and
prophesying that I would never get there and back alive. But he
gradually became used to the idea and was soon begging me to take him
along. As I had already decided to do so, I was glad to have him get
around to the proposition himself, and readily gave my consent.
I gave him a minute account of all that had occurred since I left the
Capital. I thought wise to do this in order to make him familiar with
what he would be likely to meet with after we started, and I explained
fully to him what I wanted to do, how I wanted to do it, and how I might
have to do it, going into full details. I was much pleased at the
correct grasp he seemed to get of the matter and felt I could dismiss
all apprehension on his score.
We were to go on horseback. If possible we were to keep together, but if
necessary we were to separate at any time without any delay and neither
was to pay any attention whatever to the safety of the other. I
explained to him that, except when I was personating Salome, any
display of concern on his part about me would only increase my danger,
and that in case we unexpectedly fell in with any troops on the road, he
must act as if I were a total stranger whom he had just met, unless he
first heard me make a direct statement to the contrary.
Ned knew, as well as I, that he run but slight risks of being interfered
with. At that time the Confederates paid but little attention to the
coming and going of the negroes. They were allowed to move from place to
place, and run in and out the lines without question or detention, and
their queries made from curiosity excited no distrust. Ned also was
aware that he would have no trouble in getting a pass on any slight
pretext if he should need one.
I gave him a number of places along the way, where we were to meet after
any enforced separation if we could, but if by so doing either of us
incurred the slightest risk or delay, we were each to make our way
separately to a point which I named and which I felt confident was
beyond the invading troops. I was to wait there until as late as nine
o'clock that night for Ned, but in case he reached there first he was to
stay until I came, unless I did not get there for three days, thus
allowing for my possible capture, detention and escape. I also told him
on what points I wanted him to get information, by observation or in any
other way possible.
From my entertainer of the night before, I had learned enough about the
movements of Luce's army to enable me to block out my plans with a
considerable degree of confidence. If I did not know exactly where the
particular division I wanted to strike was, I knew where it was not, and
that was a good deal.
Events sometimes follow each other with startling rapidity, but if no
unusual hurry had occurred I felt quite sure my destination would be
between two points, and not more than twenty miles back from the river.
More explicit information as to their precise location must be obtained
on the way, also exact knowledge as to Captain DeLacy's whereabouts.
All the preparation Ned made was to hide his few valuables and securely
close the house. This done, he was ready to follow me to the ends of the
earth if need be.
It was barely twelve o'clock when we started on our way. Ned rode the
horse he had provided in anticipation of coming to me. The clothes had
been done up into a compact roll, with the cloak outside, in order to
look as much like a rolled-up blanket as possible, and I carried them
like a huge rag baby on the saddle in front of me. I did not dare either
trust them to Ned or fasten them to my saddle. I might have to part with
either, or both negro and horse on any sudden emergency, but I was
determined to hold onto and make use of my disguise unless death or
capture prevented me.
For obvious reasons we avoided all well-traveled roads and made our way
through fields, along lanes, and as much as possible in the shelter of
the timber. Our route was through a well-settled country until we neared
the river. We crossed it by a ford that was little known and seldom
used, but at that time, I, like the illustrious Susan, did not care for
a crowd.