Soon the slave who was kept on the “look-out,” shouted to the listeners the single word “patrol!” and then the tumult that followed that announcement, is beyond the power of language to describe!  Many a poor slave who had stolen from his cabin, to join in the dance, now remembered that they had no pass!  Many screamed in affright, as if they already felt the lash and heard the crack of the overseer’s whip; others clenched their hands, and assumed an attitude of bold defiance, while a savage frown contracted the brow of all.  Their unrestrained merriment and delicious fare, seemed to arouse in them the natural feelings of self-defence and defiance of their oppressors.  But what could be done?  The patrol was nearing the building, when an athletic, powerful slave, who had been but a short time from his “fatherland,” whose spirit the cowardly overseer had labored in vain to quell, said in a calm, clear voice, that we had better stand our ground, and advised the females to lose no time in useless wailing, but get their things and repair immediately to a cabin at a short distance, and there remain quiet, without a light, which they did with all possible haste.  The men were terrified at this bold act of their leader; and many with dismay at the thought of resistance, began to skulk behind fences and old buildings, when he opened the door and requested every slave to leave who felt unwilling to fight.  None were urged to remain, and those who stood by him did so voluntarily.

Their number was now reduced to twenty-five men, but the leader, a gigantic African, with a massive, compact frame, and an arm of great strength, looked competent to put ten common men to flight.  He clenched his powerful fist, and declared that he would resist unto death, before he would be arrested by those savage men, even if they promised not to flog him.  They closed the door, and agreed not to open it; and then the leader cried, “Extinguish the lights and let them come! we will meet them hand to hand!” Five of the number he stationed near the door, with orders to rush out, if the patrol entered, and seize their horses, cut the bridles, or otherwise unfit them for use.  This would prevent them from giving an alarm and getting a reinforcement from surrounding plantations.  In silence they awaited the approach of the enemy, and soon the tramping of horses’ feet announced their approach, but when within a few yards of the house they halted, and were overheard by one of the skulking slaves, maturing their plans and mode of attack.  There was great hesitancy expressed by a part of the company to engage in the affair at all.

  “Coming events cast their shadow before.”

The majority, however, seemed to think it safe enough, and uttered expressions of triumph that they had got the rascals at last.

“Are you not afraid that they will resist?” said the weaker party.

“Resist?” was the astonished answer.  “This old fellow, the Colonel, has pampered and indulged his slaves, it is true, and they have slipped through our fingers whenever we have attempted to chastise them; but they are not such fools as to dare resistance!  Those niggers know as well as we, that it is death, by the law of the State, for a slave to strike a white man.”