where their oath was nothing, even if supported by testimony of their own color; but the guardman’s word was taken as positive proof.  Thus the laws of South Carolina forced them to be what their feelings revolted at.  And I want to see another making it a penal offence for those men holding slaves for breeding purposes.  Another, which humanity calls for louder than any other, is one to regulate their food, punish these grievous cases of starvation, and make the offender suffer for withholding proper rations.”

“Well-pretty well!” said Grimshaw, snapping his fingers very significantly.  “You seem to enjoy the independence of your own opinion, colonel.  Just prove this nigger’s a white, and I’ll give you a release for him, after paying the fees.  You better move to Massachusetts, and preach that doctrine to William Lloyd Garrison and Abby Kelly.”

“Give me none of your impudence, or your low insults.  You may protect yourself from personal danger by your own consciousness that you are beneath the laws of honor; but that will not save you from what you deserve, if you repeat your language.  Our moderation is our protection, while such unwise restrictions as you would enforce, fan the flame of danger to our own households,” said the colonel, evidently yielding to his impulses; while Mr. Grimshaw sat trembling, and began to make a slender apology, saying that the language was forced upon him, because the colonel had overstepped the bounds of propriety in his demands.

“I’m somewhat astonished at your demand, colonel, for you don’t seem to comprehend the law, and the imperative manner in which I’m bound to carry it out.  Shipowners should get white stewards, if they want to avoid all this difficulty.  I know the nature of the case, but we can’t be accountable for storms, shipwrecks, old vessels, and all these things.  I’ll go and see the fellow to-morrow, and tell the jailer-he’s a pattern of kindness, and that’s why I got him for jailer-to give him good rations and keep his room clean,” said Grimshaw, getting up and looking among some old books that lay on a dusty shelf.  At length he found the one, and drawing it forth, commenced brushing the dust from it with a dust-brush, and turning his tobacco-quid.  After brushing the old book for a length of time, he gave it a scientific wipe with his coat-sleeve, again sat down, and commenced turning over its pages.

“It’s in here, somewhere,” said he, wetting his finger and thumb at every turn.

“What’s in there, pray?  You don’t think I’ve practised at the Charleston bar all my life without knowing a law which has called up so many questions?” inquired the colonel.

“Why, the act and the amendments.  I believe this is the right one.  I a’n’t practised so long, that I reckon I’ve lost the run of the appendix and everything else,” adding another stream of tobacco-spit to the puddle on the floor.

“That’s better thought than said.  Perhaps you’d better get a schoolboy to keep his finger on it,” continued the colonel, laconically.