76 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



ginning to be manacles ! A declaration of independence had 

 become necessary ! not an open one, but a declaration of 

 " expediency /" such an one as we could make without involv- 

 ing serious consequences. 



For instance, item, our right to creep out of our windows 

 when the "sleepless Gryphons" were a-bed — for once "caught 

 napping" — to keep "tryst" with our "peers" in view of a 

 descent upon some old snarler's watermelon patch, which lay 

 odd miles away. Item, our right by the same mode of exit, 

 or other strategy, at a given hour of the night, to meet at the 

 said given place, with the intention of enjoying the moon in 

 a "coon" or "'possum" hunt with the "Darkies" and their 

 dogs, down at the " Quarter,"* &c., &c., &c. 



As the time had come when we felt it necessary to make 

 such doughty demonstrations, our measures were of course 

 taken- with due and necessary forecast. 



Old Sambo, down at the Quarter, the dingy Nimrod of 

 darkness and the " Darkies," was first to be propitiated. He 

 is somewhat coy at first, for his grizzly poll has been pene- 

 trated with a veneration most profound for the dictum of the 

 constituted authorities at the " Big House !" Sundry presents 

 of "baccar" pipes, and odd shillings, assisted by a most con- 

 descending and confidential manner on our part, gradually 

 bring him around to a reciprocation. In vague hints, and 

 through telegraphic nods and gestures of most profound signi- 

 fication, the time, place, probable force, and accompaniments 

 of his next great turn-out from the Quarter, for a "coon" 

 hunt, are all imparted to the "young massa." We of course 

 instantly convey the momentous news through somewhat less 

 mysterious mediums to sundry young companions, living near 

 at hand, who are eagerly awaiting it. 



The important night has arrived. The "old folks" have 



* On the plantations there are usually several villages, or settlements of 

 the negroes, which are called "Quarters." 



