There were two of them, both negroes, but one, addressed by Fairfax as Sam, was much the lighter in color, and far more intelligent of face.  A few words of instruction dispatched these back to the Romping Betsy for the luggage yet remaining on board, while our own party continued to advance along the water front toward where Sam had designated the Fairfax boat would be found awaiting us, fully prepared to depart up the Chesapeake.  When finally attained this vessel proved to be a goodly sized sloop, of a type familiar to those waters, containing a comfortable small cabin forward, a staunch, broad-beamed craft, but with lines indicating sailing qualities, while requiring only a small crew.  Several similar vessels—­doubtless owned and operated by planters residing along the shore of the Bay—­were anchored in the basin, or fastened at the dock, but the Adele had been warped in against the bank, which at this point was high enough to enable us easily to step aboard over the low rail.  A dingy looking white man, quite evidently from his appearance an indentured servant, was in charge, He greeted us rather surlily, staring at me with almost open hostility, yet responded swiftly enough to Fairfax’s orders.

“Here, Carr, stow these packages away.  Yes, you better help with them, Carlyle.  The other bags will be along directly—­Sam and John have gone after them.  Put these forward, under cover.  Has everything been seen to, so we can start at once?”

“Ay, ay, sorr,” was the gruff response, in a strong Irish brogue.  “Lord knows we’ve hid toime enough, fer we’ve bin waitin’ here fer yer a wake, er more.  It’s a month since the lether came.”

“We have had a slow voyage, Carr.  So all I ordered is aboard?”

“She’s full oop ter the hatches; bedad I hope thar ain’t no more.”

“Good; we ought to get as far as Travers’ by dark then.  Hurry along, and stow that stuff away; here come the others now.”

The three found comfortable seats along the opposite rail, and sat there watching us hastily bring aboard the various articles which the two negroes, assisted by a boy and a cart, had transported from the brig.  I worked along with the others, under the orders of Sam, who seemed to be in charge, already feeling somewhat deeply the humiliation of my position, but nevertheless realizing the necessity of prompt obedience.  The knowledge that I was now a slave, on a level with these others, compelled to perform menial labor under the very eyes of Dorothy Fairfax and that sneering Spaniard, cut my pride to the quick.  In my trips back and forth I kept my eyes averted, never once venturing to glance toward them, until this work had been accomplished.  But when we stood idle, while Sam went aft for instructions, I had recovered sufficient nerve to turn my eyes in that direction, only to observe that the young woman sat with head turned away, gazing out over the rail at the shore, her chin cupped in