The Quadroon: Adventures in the Far West

Father of Waters! I worship thy mighty stream! As the Hindoo by the shores of his sacred river, I kneel upon thy banks, and pour forth my soul in wild adoration!

Like other striplings escaped from college, I was no longer happy _at home_. The yearning for travel was upon me; and I longed to make acquaintance with that world, as yet only...

I was on board at the advertised time; but punctuality on a Mississippi steamboat must not be expected; and I found myself too early, by a couple of hours at least.

The part of the "Levee" under my eyes was that known as the "Steamboat Landing." Some twenty or thirty boats lay along a series of wooden wharves that projected slightly into th...

Before I had entered into conversation with the Captain, I saw a barouche approaching on the opposite side, apparently coming from the French quarter of the city. It was a hands...

I had been very much struck by the appearance of this dame. Not so much on account of her physical beauty--though that was of a rare kind--as by the air that characterised her....

The last bell rings--the "can't-get-away" folks rush ashore--the staging-plank is drawn in--some heedless wight has to jump for it--the cable is pulled aboard and coiled--the en...

As soon as we had fairly started, I ascended to the "hurricane-deck," in order to obtain a better view of the scenery through which we were passing. In this place I was alone; f...

No, Eugenie Besancon was not forgotten. Every now and then her sylph-like form flitted before my imagination, and I could not help associating it with the scenery through which...

It was near sunset--the fiery disc was going down behind the dark outline of cypress forest that belted the western horizon, and a yellow light fell upon the river. Promenading...

It had now become quite dark. There was no moon in the sky--not a speck of a star. A clear heaven over the lower region of the Mississippi, at night, is rather rare than otherwi...

The concussion, unlike anything I had ever heard, was, nevertheless, significant of the nature of the catastrophe. I felt an instantaneous conviction that the boilers had burst,...

I had not been in this position more than a few seconds, when some figures appeared in front of the door, and voices fell upon my ear that I thought I recognised. Another glance...

When I awoke to consciousness, it was day. A bright sun was pouring his yellow light across the floor of my chamber; and from the diagonal slanting of the beam, I could perceive...

The finishing exclamation was one of those thoracic efforts peculiar to the American negro, and bearing a strong resemblance to the snort of a hippopotamus. Its utterance signif...

I felt a sudden desire, amounting almost to anxiety, to learn who was "Aurore." Why? Was it the singularity and beauty of the name,--for novel and beautiful it sounded in my Sax...

I was for the moment alone, Scipio having betaken himself to the kitchen in search of the tea, toast, and chicken "fixings." I lay reflecting upon the interview just ended, and...

My eyes, now open, rested upon the speaker. For some moments I thought it was but the continuation of my dream. There was the dream-face, the black profuse hair, the brilliant o...

Life in the chamber of an invalid--who cares to listen to its details? They can interest no one--scarce the invalid himself. Mine was a daily routine of trifling acts, and conse...

The journal of a sick chamber must naturally be barren of incident. Mine was a diary of reflections rather than acts. I transcribe a few passages from it--not on account of any...

I was thinking over my short interview with Aurore--congratulating myself upon some expressions she had dropped--happy in the anticipation that such encounters would recur frequ...

The details of my life during that month would possess but little interest for you, reader; though to me every hour was fraught with hopes or fears that still hold a vivid place...

My reflections were interrupted by the neighing of my horse. I glanced forward to ascertain the cause. I was opposite the plantation Besancon. A carriage was just wheeling out f...

I cannot describe the effect produced upon me by this discovery. It was like a shock of paralysis. It nailed me to the spot, and for some moments I felt as rigid as a statue, an...

I re-entered the room, my heart swelling with delightful emotions. Gratitude was poured forth in, lavish yet graceful expressions. Before I could utter a word, or stretch out a...

"He is gone upon some other business," thought I; "perhaps to meet the carriage. No matter, I shall not summon him. The saddle is on, and I can bridle the steed myself--only poo...

At the upper end of the quarter, and on one side of the overseer's house, was an enclosure. It was the enclosure of the sugar-mill--a large building which stood a little further...

On riding out from the quarter I changed my intention of taking the back road. My visit would no doubt become known to Mademoiselle, and it differed not if I should now be seen...

It was natural I should have thoughts about my yesterday's antagonist. Would I encounter him? Not likely. The butt of my whip had no doubt given him a headache that would confin...

Mine was a night of reflections, in which pleasure and pain were singularly blended. The love of the quadroon was my source of pleasure; but, alas! pain predominated as my thoug...

I was roused from my reverie by observing a brighter light gleaming before me; and soon after I emerged from the darker shadow of the forest. My steps, chance-directed, had guid...

Terror-stricken I sprang to my feet; and, with an action altogether mechanical, passed my hand over the wound, and wiped away the blood. It was but a trifling puncture, such as...

Man rarely yields up his life without an extreme effort to preserve it. Despair is a strong feeling, but there are those whose spirit it cannot prostrate. In later life mine own...

The huge stature of the black--his determined attitude--the sullen glare of his lurid bloodshot eyes, set in a look of desperate resolve--the white gleaming file-pointed teeth--...

With admiring eyes I looked for some moments on this bold black man-- this slave-hero. I might have gazed longer, but the burning sensation in my arm reminded me of my perilous...

I felt the natural joy of one whose life has been, saved from destruction--singularly, almost miraculously saved. Like one who has escaped from drowning, from the field of slaug...

An hour or more we had spent since entering the glade--now no longer terrible. Once more its flowers looked bright, and their perfume had recovered its sweetness. Once more the...

We soon after entered the _cypriere_. There the surface was mostly without underwood. The black taxodiums, standing thickly, usurped the ground, their umbellated crowns covered...

The interior was dark, and it was some time before I could distinguish any object. Presently my eyes became accustomed to the sombre light, and I was enabled to trace the outlin...

It was yet early when I entered the village. I glided stealthily through the streets, desirous to avoid observation. Unfortunately I had to pass through the bar of the hotel in...

I awoke in the morning not much refreshed with my night's rest. I lay for some time passing over in my mind the occurrences of yesterday, and considering what course I should pu...

I now only waited a boat to convey me to New Orleans. I knew that I should not have long to wait. The annual epidemic was on the decline, and the season of business and pleasure...

I must have slept an hour or more. I did not think of consulting my watch before going to sleep, and I had little thought about such a thing after I awoke. But that I had slept...

I had not much longer to remain on the wharf-boat. The hoarse barking of a 'scape-pipe fell upon my ear and shortly after the fires of a steamboat furnace appeared, glittering r...

Have you ever loved in humble life? some fair young girl, whose lot was among the lowly, but whose brilliant beauty in your eyes annihilated all social inequalities? Love levels...

To drown care and sorrow men drink. The spirit of wine freely quaffed will master either bodily pain or mental suffering--for a time. There is no form of the one or phase of the...

In the centre of the smoking-saloon, there was a table, and around it some half-dozen men were seated. Other half-dozen stood behind these, looking over their shoulders. The att...

We played the first two or three games for low stakes--a dollar each. This was agreeable to the desire of Hatcher and the pork-merchant--who did not like to risk much as they ha...

On hearing the shots, I had run forward under the front awning, and stood looking over the guards. I was looking down upon the boiler-deck--for it appeared to me that the loud w...

Perhaps if I were to analyse the feeling, I might find that these predilections have their source in a purer fountain--the love of Nature herself. I follow the deer in his track...

It was a large sheet, headed upon one side "L'Abeille", on the reverse its synonyme in English, "The Bee." Half of its contents were in French, half in English: each half was a...

The banking-house of Brown and Co. was in Canal Street. From the Saint Louis Exchange, Canal Street may be approached by the Rue Conti, or the parallel street of the Rue Royale....

In search of her I went to the quarters where the others had their temporary lodgment. She was not these. She had either not yet arrived, or was kept at some other place. They h...

Until after entering the cemetery, and taking our seats upon the tomb, I had disclosed nothing of that which altogether engrossed my thoughts. The time had now arrived for unbos...

The passion of gaming is universal amongst men. Every nation indulges in it to a greater or less extent. Every nation, civilised or savage, has its game, from whist and cribbage...

At one end was the table--the bank. We could see neither bank nor dealer; both were hidden by the double ring of bettors, who encircled the table--one line seated, the other sta...

I rose from my seat, and turned towards D'Hauteville with a glance of despair. I needed not to tell him the result. My look would have announced it, but he had been gazing over...

It was pleasant escaping from that hot hell into the cool night air-- into the soft light of a Southern moon. It would have been pleasant under other circumstances; but then the...

The thousand and one reflections of a sleepless night--the thousand and one alternations of hope, and doubt, and fear--the theoretic tentation of a hundred projects--all passed...

I once more fixed my eyes upon the entrance, scrutinising every form that passed in. As yet no appearance of D'Hauteville! Surely he would soon arrive. He said at twelve o'clock...

A third individual was of the party, or rather with it; for he did not walk by the side of the girls, but in front, evidently conducting them to the place of sale. This individu...

For a while I lingered in the hall, irresolute and almost without purpose. She whom I loved, and who loved me in return, was wrested from me by an infamous law, ruthlessly torn...

Coachmen of New Orleans possess their full share of _intelligence_; and the ring of a piece of silver, extra of their fare, is a music well understood by them. They are the witn...

We travelled rapidly. There were no hills to impede our progress. Our route lay along the Levee Road, which leads from New Orleans by the bank of the river, passing plantations...

Our progress along this by-road was slow. There was no white dust upon the path to guide us. We had to grope our way as well as we could between the zigzag fences. Now and then...

It was a field of sugar-cane. The canes were of that species known as "ratoons"--suckers from old roots--and the thick bunches at their bases, as well as the tall columns, enabl...

The lightning continued to play at intervals, and we had no difficulty in finding our way. We recrossed near the same place where we had entered the field; and, guiding ourselve...

Lightly clad as I was, the cold dews of the night would have prevented me from sleeping; but I needed not that to keep me awake. I could not have slept upon a couch of eider.

I had purposely remained standing with my face averted from her, till D'Hauteville was gone out of sight. Longer, too. I was endeavouring to still the wild throbbings of my brea...

Leaving Aurore among the palmettoes. I ran directly forward to the fence, which was also the boundary of the woods. On reaching this, I grasped the branch of a tree, and swung m...

The change in our plans made no change in the direction. We continued on in the same course. The way to the lake passed by the glade, where we had purposed going--indeed, throug...

The shrill whistle, pealing along the water, pierced the dark aisles of the forest. It aroused the wild denizens of the lake, who, startled by such an unusual sound, answered it...

The hounds had fallen into the water--one dead, the other badly wounded. The latter could not have escaped, as one of his legs had been struck by the bullet, and his efforts to...

Yes, the individual who now advanced was Ruffin the man-hunter; and the dogs I had killed, were his--a brace of sleuth-hounds, well-known in the settlement as being specially tr...

We stood within the hollow chamber--the lurking-place of the runaway-- and for the present were safe from pursuit. But there was no joy in our hearts. We knew it was but a respi...

I saw no more of Aurore. Neither was the black brought along. I could gather from the conversation of my captors, that they were to be taken in one of the skiffs that had stayed...

An undefined suspicion of something of this sort had already crossed my thoughts. I remembered the reply made from the boats, "You shall answer to _us_. _We_ are the law." I had...

At sight of these horsemen my heart leaped with joy, for among the foremost I beheld the calm, resolute face of Edward Reigart. Behind him rode the sheriff of the parish, follow...

No doubt a messenger had preceded us, for we found Squire Claiborne in his chair of office, ready to hear the case. In the tall, thin old man, with white hair and dignified aspe...