It was, indeed, a regular bit
of self-enjoyed fun for them; for the ladies had all heard of
Pringle Blowers, and that a female slave for whose capture he would
give three hundred dollars had run away from him they were heartily
glad to learn.
The day-police were equally happy to hear of the loss, and anxious
to make the capture. In this position it was doubly necessary to be
cautious in proceeding to effect the escape of the fair girl. If
discovered in the act the stranger might be subjected to a series of
inprisonments that would sacrifice his life. Again, he might be
assassinated by some disguised hand; or, if an infuriated mob were
let loose upon him, no police interference could save his life. As
suspicion is ever on the point of giving out its dangerous caprices
where a community live fearing one another, so the stranger became
sensible of the shafts of suspicion that might at any moment be
darted at him. Despatching his schooner on her voyage, he continued
for several days walking about the city, as if indifferent to what
was passing. He read the curious poster in which was offered the
goodly reward for the apprehension of a lost slave, affected great
coolness, and even ignorance of the mode by which such articles were
recovered.
Fortunate was it for the stranger that he despatched the schooner
without the prize he intended to carry off, for no sooner had she
got under way and begun to move down the harbour, than she was
boarded by four men, who, producing their authority, searched her
from stem to stern.
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