THE PLANTATION HOUSE OF " FAR AWAY." 41 



what gives a tone to the gallantry of the South, sir, but a power 

 that punishes insult ? " 



" And murders its own children ! " added the Doctor. 



" Murder ! do you call it murder, sir ? My own father was 

 shot in a duel, but he died like a man. Where's the poltroon 

 that don't resent an injury ? — as he lives, I 'd spit on him. There 

 is not a girl in Florida that would dance with Alexander Pell 

 after he got slapped in the face without killing the man that struck 

 him. Is a man a dog, that he should suffer this ? " 



Jackson's manner was wild, and he gesticulated with his long 

 arms like a phantom. The Doctor's blue eye was kindling in the 

 fire-light. We looked for a war of words that might even amount 

 to a specimen of the battle they were discussing, when the Doctor, 

 with one of his usual strong transitions, cut off the discussion with 

 a favourite couplet : 



" A wink to a blind horse is as good as a nod ; 

 Your faithful servant, Ollapod." 



Jackson turned his flashing eyes on the Doctor, his lids slightly 

 contracted like a man in doubt as to another's meaning ; it was 

 evident he was reading the Doctor, and the bland face turned 

 toward him was like an open page with blue marginal illumination. 



"Where do you reside, Doctor Pollock?" he asked, after a 

 moment's pause, and in the indifferent tone assumed by the Doctor. 



" I was born in Virginia, and inherited a plantation of a 

 hundred negroes," replied the Doctor, answering the planter's 

 thoughts, and not his question. 



A long pause followed. We watched the light wood crackle, 

 and the big particles of fire climbing up into the canopy of woods 

 on the current of hot air, reflecting brief circles of light on the 

 foliage above, and then going out in blackness. The Doctor 

 resumed his pipe. Mike pondered, cross-legged, puffing at his 

 cigarettes, and the boys talked among themselves in under-tones. 



" This won't do, gentlemen ! Mike, hand me that bottle," 

 called out Jackson, rousing himself. " One drink all around, and 

 now for to-morrow's hunt. What shall it be, deer or turkey ? " 



" Or sheep ? " 



" That 's a shame, Mike ! " laughed Jackson. 



