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legal powers and backed by the force of the law。 In the first place；
I will draw up an affidavit and sign it myself； to the effect that a
female slave； the property of Vincent Wingfield； has； with her
male child； been kidnaped and stolen by Jonas Pearson and others
acting in association with him； and that we have reason to know
that she hasbeen conveyed into South Carolina。 This I will get
witnessed by ajustice of the peace； and will then take it up to
Government House。 There I wifl get the usual official request to
the governor of South Carolina to issue orders that the aid of the
law shall be given to you in recovering the said Dinah Morris and
her child and arresting her abductors。 You will obtain an order to
this effect from the governor； and armed with it you will； as soon
as you have discovered where the woman is； call upon the sheriff
of the county to aid you in recovering her； and in arresting Pearson
and his associates。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 That will certainly be the best way。 I run plenty of
risk in doing my duty as an officer of the state； and I have no
desire whatever to throw my life away at the hands of ruffians such
as Pearson and his allies。〃
Two hours later Vincent received from Mr。 Renfrew the official
letter to the governor of South Carolina； and at six o'clock next
morning started for Florence。 On the platform of the station at
Hicks Ford Dan was waiting for him。
〃Jump into the car at the end； Dan； I will come to you there； and
you can tell me all the news。 We are going straight on to
Columbia。 Now； Dan；〃 Vincent went on when he joined him…for
in no part of the United States were negroes allowed to travel in
any but the cars set apart for them…〃 what is your news？ The chief
constable telegraphed that they had； as we expected； been joined
by Pearson here。〃
〃Yes； sah； dey war here for sure。 When I get here I go straight to
de constable and tell him dat I was in search of two men who had
kidnaped Captain Wingfield's slave。 De head constable he
Richmond man； and oh course knew all about de family； so he
take de matter up at once and send constable wid me to seberal
places where it likely dat the fellows had put up； but we couldn't
find nuffin about dem。 Den next morning we go out again to
village four mile out of de town on de north road； and dere we
found sure 'nough dat two men； wid negro wench and chile； had
stopped dere。 She seem bery unhappy and cry all do time。 De men
say dey bought her at Richmond； and show do constable of de
village do paper dat dey had bought a female slabe Sally Moore
and her chile。 Do constable speak to woman； but she seem fright
cued out of her life and no say anything。 Dey drive off wid her
early in do morning。 Den we make inquiries again at do town and
at do station。 We find dat a man like Pearson get out。 He had only
little hand…bag with him。 He ask one of do men at do station
which was do way to do norf road。 Den we find dat one of do
constables hab seen a horse and cart wid two men in it； with negro
woman and child。 One of do men look like Yankee…dat what make
him take notice of it。 We s'pose dat odor man went back to
Richmond again。〃
〃That is all right； Dan； and you have done capitally。 Now at
Florence we will take up the hunt。 It is a long way down there；
and if they drive all the way； as I hope they will； it will take them a
fortnight； so that we shall have gained a good deal of time on
them。 The people at the station are sure to remember the three
boxes that lay there for so long without being claimed。 Of course
they may have driven only till they got fairly out of reach。 Then
they may either have sold the horse and trap； or the fellow Pearson
has with him may have driven it back。 But I should think they
would most likely sell it。 In that case they would not be more than
a week from the time they left Richmond to the time they took
train again for the south。 However； whether they have got a
fort…night or three weeks' start of us will not make much
difference。 With the description we can give of Pearson； and the
fact that there was a negress and child； and those three boxes； we
ought to be able to trace him。〃
It was twelve at night when the train arrived at Florence。 As
nothing could be done until next morning Vincent went to an
hotel。 As soon as the railway officials were likely to be at their
offices he was at the station again。 The tip of a dollar secured the
attention of the man in the baggage…room。
〃Three boxes and a black bag came on here a month ago； you say；
and lay here certainly four or five days perhaps a good deal
longer。 Of course I remember them。 Stood up in that corner there。
They had been checked right through。 I will look at the hooks and
see what day they went。 I don't remember what sort of men
fetched them away。 Maybe I was busy at the time； and my mate
gave them out。 However； I will look first and see when they went。
What day do you say they got here？〃
〃They came by the train that left Richmond at six o'clock on the
morning of the 20th。〃
〃Then they got in late that night or early next morning。 Ah； the
train was on time that day； and got in at half…past nine at night。
Here they are…three boxes and a bag； numbers 15020； went out on
the 28th。 Yes； that's right enough。 Now I will just ask my mate if
he remembers about their going out。〃
The other man was called。 Oh； yes； he remembered quite well the
three boxes standing in the corner。 They went out some time in
the afternoon。 It was just after the train came in from Richmond。
He noticed the man that asked for them。 He got him to help carry
out the boxes and put them into a cart。 Yes； he remembered there
was another man with him； and a negress with a child。 He
wondered at the time what they were up to； but supposed it was all
right。 Yes； he didn't mind trying to find out who had hired out a
cart for the job。 Dessay he could find out by to…morrow…at any rate
he would try。 Five dollars are worth earning anyway。
Having put this matter in train； Vincent； leaving Dan at Florence；
went down at once to Charleston。 Here； after twenty…four hours'
delay； he obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jonas Pearson and
others on the charge of kidnaping； and then returned to Florence。
He found that the railway man had failed in obtaining any
information as to the cart； and concluded it must have come in
from the country on purpose to meet the train。
〃At any rate；〃 Vincent said； 〃it must be within a pretty limited
range of country。 The railway makes a bend from Wilmington to
this place and then down to Charleston； so this is really the nearest
station to only a small extent of country。〃
〃That's so；〃 the railway man said。 He had heard from Dan a good
deal about the case； and had got thoroughly interested in it。 〃Either
Marion or Kingstree would he nearer； one way or the other； to
most of the swamp country。 So it can't be as far as Conwayhorough
on the north or Georgetown on the south； and it must lie
somewhere between Jeifries' Creek and Lynch's Creek； anyhow it
would be in Marion County…that's pretty nigh sure。 So if I were
you I would take rail back to Marion Court house； and see the
sheriff there and have a talk over the matter with him。 You
haven't got much to go upon； because this man you are after has
been away from here a good many years and won't be known；
besides； likely enough he went by some other name down here。
Anyhow； the sheriff can put you up to the roads； and the best way
of going about the job。〃
〃I think that would be the best way；〃 Vincent said。 〃We shall be
able to see the county map too and to learn all the geography of the
place。〃
〃You have got your six…shooters with you； I suppose； becanse you
are as likely as not to have to use them？〃
〃Yes； we have each got a Colt； and as I have had a good deal of
practice； it would be awkwa