voyage of the paper canoe-第41节
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to their owners； or else bury them out of the sight of your children； that they may not be led to believe that the war for the preservation of the Great Republic was a war for plunder； else did brave men fight； and good women pray in vain。 Away with stolen pianos； 〃captured〃 sideboards； and purloined silver！ What but this petty plundering could be expected of men who robbed by wholesale the poor negro； to protect whose rights they were sent south？
The great political party of the north became the pledged conservator of the black man's rights； and established a Freedman's Bureau； and Freedman's banks to guard his humble earnings。 All know something of the workings of those banks； and to everlasting infamy must be consigned the names of many of those conducting them； men who robbed every one of these depositories of negro savings； and left the poor； child…like freedman in a physical state of destitution； and in a perfect bewilderment of mind as to who his true friend really was。
A faithful negro of Jehossee Island was but one among thousands of such cases。 While the tumult of war vexed the land； the faithful negro overseer remained at his post to guard his late master's property； supporting himself by the manufacture of salt； and living in the most frugal manner to be able to 〃lay by〃 a sum for his old age。 Having saved five hundred dollars； he deposited them in the nearest Freedman's bank； which； though fathered by the United States government； failed； and the now destitute negro found himself stripped in the same moment of his hard…earned savings； and his confidence in his new protectors。
As the war of the rebellion was slowly drawing to its close； Mr。 Lincoln's kind heart was drawn towards his erring countrymen； and he made a list of the names of the wisest and best men of the south； who； not having taken an active part in the strife； might be intrusted with the task of bringing back the unruly states to their constitutional relations with the national government。 Governor Aiken was informed that his name was upon that list； and he would gladly have accepted the onerous position； and labored in the true interests of the whole people； but the pistol of an assassin closed the life of the President； whose generous plans of reconstruction were never realized。
In the birth of our new Centennial let us eschew the political charlatan； and bring forward our statesmen to serve and govern a people； who； to become a unit of strength； must ever bear in mind the words of the great southern statesman； who said he knew 〃no north； no south； no east； no west； but one undivided country。〃
On Monday； at ten A。 M。； two negroes assisted me to launch my craft from the river's bank at the mouth of the canal； for the tide was very low。 As I settled myself for a long pull at the oars； the face of one of the blacks was seemingly rent in twain； as a huge mouth opened； and a pair of strong lungs sent forth these parting words： 〃Bully for Massachusetts！〃
〃How did you know I came from Massachusetts？〃 I called out from the river。
〃I knows de cuts ob dem。 I suffered at Fort Wagner。 Dis chile knows Massachusetts。〃
Two miles further on； Bull Creek served me as a 〃cut…off；〃 and half an hour after entering it the tide was flooding against me。 When Goat Island Creek was passed on the left hand； knots of pine forests rose picturesquely in places out of the bottom…lands； and an hour later； at Bennett's Point； on the right； I found the watercourse a quarter of a mile in width。
The surroundings were of a lovely nature during this day's journey。 Here marshes； diversified by occasional hammocks of timber dotting their uninteresting wastes； there humble habitations of whites and blacks appearing at intervals in the forest growth。 As I was destitute of a finished chart of the Coast Survey； after rowing along one side of Hutchinson's Island I became bewildered in the maze of creeks which penetrate the marshes that lie between Bennett's Point and the coast。
Making a rough topographical sketch of the country as I descended Hutchinson's Creek； or Big River； the latter appellation being the most appropriate； as it is a very wide watercourse； I came upon a group of low islands； and found upon one of them a plantation which had been abandoned to the negroes； and the little bluff upon which two or three rickety buildings were situated was the last land which remained unsubmerged during a high tide between the plantation and the sea。
I was now in a quandary。 I had left the hospitable residence of Governor Aiken at ten o'clock A。 M。； when I should have departed at sunrise in order to have had time to enter and pass through St。 Helena Sound before night came on。 The prospect of obtaining shelter was indeed dismal。 Just at this time a loud shout from the negroes on shore attracted my attention； and I rested upon my oars； while a boat…load of women and children paddled out to me。
〃Is dat de little boat？〃 they asked； viewing my craft with curious eyes。 〃And is dat boat made of paper？〃 they continued； showing that negro runners had posted the people； even in these solitary regions； of the approach of the paper canoe。 I questioned these negro women about the route； but each gave a different answer as to the passage through the Horns to St。 Helena Sound。 Hurrying on through tortuous creeks； the deserted tract called 〃the Horns〃 was entered； and until sunset I followed one short stream after another； to its source in the reedy plain； constantly retracing the route； with the tide not yet ebbing strong enough to show me a course to the sound。 Presently it ebbed more rapidly； and I followed the tide from one intricacy to another； but never found the principal thoroughfare。
While I was enveloped in reeds； and at a loss which way to go； the soft ripple of breaking waves struck my ear like sweet music。 The sea was telling me of its proximity。 Carefully balancing myself； I stood up in the cranky canoe； and peering over the grassy thickets； saw before me the broad waters of Helena Sound。 The fresh salt breeze from the ocean struck upon my forehead； and nerved me to a renewal of my efforts to get within a region of higher land； and to a place of shelter。
The ebbing tide was yet high； and through the forest of vegetation； and over the submerged coast； I pushed the canoe into the sound。 Now I rowed as though for my life； closely skirting the marshes； and soon entered waters covered by a chart in my possession。 My course was to skirt the coast of the sound from where I had entered it； and cross the mouths of the Combahee and Bull rivers to the entrance of the broad Coosaw。 This last river I would ascend seven miles to the first upland； and camp thereon until morning。 The tide was now against me； and the night was growing darker； as the faithful craft was forced along the marshes four miles to the mouth of the Combahee River； which I had to ascend half a mile to get rid of a shoal of frisky porpoises； who were fishing in the current。
Then descending it on the opposite shore； I rowed two miles further in the dark； but for half an hour previous to my reaching the wide debouchure of Bull River； some enormous blackfish surged about me in the tideway and sounded their nasal calls； while their more demonstrative porpoise neighbors leaped from the water in the misty atmosphere； and so alarmed me and occupied my attention； that instead of crossing to the Coosaw River； I unwittingly ascended the Bull； and was soon lost in the contours of the river。 As I hugged the marshy borders of the stream to escape the strong current of its channel； and rowed on and on in the gloom； eagerly scanning the high； sedge…fringed flats to find one little spot of firm upland upon which I might land my canoe and obtain a resting…spot for myself for the night； the feeling that I was lost was not the most cheerful to be imagined。 In the thin fog which arose from the warm water into the cool night air； objects on the marshes assumed fantastical shapes。 A few reeds； taller than the rest； had the appearance of trees twenty feet high。 So real did these unreal images seem； that I drove my canoe against the soft； muddy bank； repeatedly prompted to land in what seemed a copse of low trees； but in every instance I was deceived。 Still I pulled up that mysterious river； ignorant at the time of even its name； praying only for one little spot of upland where I might camp。
While thus employed； I peered over my shoulder into the gloom； and beheld what seemed to be a vision； for； out of a cloud of mist rose the skeleton lines of a large ship； with all its sails furled to the yards。 〃A ship at anchor； and in this out…of…the…way place！〃 I ejaculated； scarcely believing my eyes； but when I pointed the canoe towards it； and again looked over my shoulder； the vision of hope was gone。
Again I saw tall masts cutting through the mists； but the ship's hull could not be distinguished； and as I rowed towards the objects； first the lower masts disappeared； then the topmasts dissolved； and later； the topgallant and royal masts faded away。 For half an hour I rowed and rowed for that mysterious vessel； which was veiled and unveiled to my sight。 Never did so spectral
