individual.
He made his way carefully through the crowd, bowing on either hand, and rather puzzled at the ovation he was receiving.
"Ah! Ah! That is you, massa," said a Negro, with a chuckle, as he approached the inn door.
"Sandy, is that you? Then I suppose the others are inside," he remarked, as he dismounted and handed him the bridle.
"Yes, Massa Samuel, dem all dere."
"I am glad of it," he replied, "for I have come a long way to see them. Look after my horse, he is rather fresh."
Then, bowing once more to the crowd, Samuel Dickson entered the inn, closing the door behind him.
In a large and comfortable room six persons, two women and four men, were seated at one of those copious breakfasts which are never seen to such perfection as in America. Upon benches round the room sat about twenty persons in a humbler station in life, amongst others two coloured young women, who were eating from bowls and plates placed on their knees.
Those at the table were the members of the family – father, mother, daughter, and three sons. Those around were the servants.
Joshua Dickson, the head of the family, was in reality a man of fifty-five, not, however, looking more than forty. He was a man of rude manners, but frank, honest expression. He was six feet high, as powerful as Hercules, a true type of those hardy pioneers who opened up the forests of the New World, drove back the Indians, and founded stations in the desert, which in time became rich and flourishing towns.
His sons were named Harry, Sam, and Jack, aged respectively thirty, twenty-eight, and twenty-six. They were all three as tall as their father, and about as Herculean – true Americans, with no thought of the past, only looking to the future.
Susan Dickson, the mother of this trio of giants, was a woman of about fifty – small, elegant, but extremely active, with delicate features and a pre-possessing physiognomy. She looked much younger than she really was – thanks to her really admirable complexion and the singular brightness of her eyes. She must have been rarely beautiful in her youth.
Diana, the child of her old age, as she loved to call her, was scarcely sixteen, was the idol of the family, the guardian angel of the fireside; her father and brothers actually worshipped her. It was something wonderful to see their rude natures bending like reeds before the slightest wish of this delicate child, and obeying her most fantastic orders without a murmur.
Diana was a charming brunette, with blue and dreamy eyes, slight and flexible form; she was pale; a look of profound melancholy was to be remarked on her countenance, giving to her physiognomy that angelic expression rarely found except in the Madonnas of Titien. This sadness, which all the family saw with sorrow, had only been in existence a few days. When questioned on the subject, even by her mother, she had no answer to give.
"It is nothing at all," she said, "only a slight feeling of sickness, which will soon pass away."
Hearing this, all had ceased to question her, though all felt uneasy, and slightly annoyed at her reticence. Still, as she was the spoiled child of the family, no one had the heart to blame her or pester her with questions. They had seduced her to govern them unquestioned that it appeared hard now to want to curb her will.
The entrance of the stranger into the hall where the emigrants were breakfasting like persons who knew the value of time, caused no small stir; they ceased eating, and, glancing at one another, whispered amongst themselves. The stranger, leaning on his riding whip, looked at them with an odd kind of smile.
The chief of the family, though himself somewhat surprised, was the first to recover himself. He rose, held out his hand, and spoke in what he intended should be a jovial tone. The attempt was a failure.
"My good brother," he said, "this is indeed a surprise. I really did not expect to see you; but sit down beside my wife and have some breakfast."
"Thank you; I am not hungry."
"Then excuse me if I finish my meal," continued the emigrant.
"Brother," presently said Samuel, "for a man of your age you are acting in an extraordinary manner."
"I don't think so," replied the other.
"Let me ask you where are you going?"
"Northward, to the great lakes."
"What is the meaning of this?"
"My friend, I am told there is good land to be had but for the taking."
"May I ask who put this silly idea in your head?"
"No one. It is a splendid country, with splendid forests, water in abundance, a delicious climate, though rather cold, and land for nothing."
"Have you seen this beautiful country?"
"No; but I know all about it."
"Do you?" sneered the other; "Well, beware of the creeks."
"Never you fear. Wherever there is water there are bridges."
"Of course; and now may I ask, what have you done with your magnificent southern property?" the other asked.
"I have sold it, slaves and all, keeping only such as were willing to follow me. I brought away all that could travel – my wife, my sons, my daughter, my furniture, my horses, all I wanted."
"May I without offence ask you this question: Were you not very well where you were? Did you not find the land excellent?"
"I was well off, and the land was excellent."
"Were you unable to sell your produce?"
"I had an admirable market," was the answer.
"Then," cried Samuel, angrily, "what in the devil's name do you mean by giving it up and going to a land where you will find nothing but wild beasts, brutal savages, and a hard and rigorous climate?"
The bold adventurer, driven into his last intrenchment, made no reply, only scratching his head in search of a reply. His wife here interfered.
"What is the use," she said, smiling, "asking for reasons which do not exist? Joshua is going for the love of change – nothing more. All our lives, as you well know, we have been roaming hither and thither. As soon as we are once comfortably settled anywhere, then we begin to think it time to be off."
"Yes! Yes! I know my brother's vagabond habits. But when he is in one of his mad fits, why do you not interfere?" he cried, impetuously.
"Brother, you don't know what it is to be married to a wanderer," she said.
"Good!" cried Joshua, laughing.
"But if you don't find this beautiful country?" asked Samuel.
"I will embark on one of the rivers."
"And where will you land?"
"I have not the slightest idea. But there, do not be uneasy, I shall find a place."
"Then," said Samuel, gazing at him with perfect amazement in his looks, "you are determined?"
"I am determined."
"Then, as we shall never meet again, come and spend a few days at my house," urged Samuel.
"I am very sorry to decline, but I cannot go back. If I were to waste a day, it would be a serious loss of time and money. I must reach my new settlement in time for the sowing."
Samuel Dickson, putting his hands behind his back, walked across the room with great strides, backwards and forwards, watching his niece curiously under his eyes.
He several times struck the ground with his riding whip, muttering to himself all the time. Diana sat with her hands crossed on her knees, the teardrops falling from her eyes.
Suddenly the farmer appeared to have made up his mind. Turning round, he laid his heavy hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Joshua!" he said, "It is clear to me that you are mad, and that I alone in the family possess any common sense; never, God forgive you, did more crooked notion enter the head of an honest man. You won't come to my house? Very good. I will then ask you one thing, which, if you refuse, I shall never forgive you."
"You