His complexion was ruddy, his eyes clear, and his
voice strong and resolute. He still lived in the



THE BLACK MANTLE 87

country, maintaining the great plantation his an-
cestors had lived on for a century or more. With
him there still remained a great many negroes whom
he had owned as slaves, besides many of their
descendants. His plantation was in south Georgia,
and the negroes outnumbered the whites in that com-
munity in the proportion of 10 to 1. The Greneral
replied that his crops were all good. He would make
an average yield of cotton, and get twelve cents a
pound for it. His peach and melon crops had been
excellent. He looked prosperous and happy, and
was optimistic upon all questions, unless indeed it
was that of the negro. About this he had grave
doubts, fearing not the present, but the results to
be worked out in time. When the facts were brought
out about the proportion of negroes to whites upon
the GreneraPs plantation. Miss Marbury inquired
eagerly :

"Do you get along harmoniously when negroes so
exceed in population?"

"Oh, yes, yes; we have no trouble; that is, my
negroes and I — I always call them mine, because if
I didn't look after them I don't know what would
become of them — ^we get along all right. Now and
then, however, one of the young bucks gets at cross
purposes with some of the white neighbors, when the
whole neighborhood takes it up. Our people must
learn more patience with the negro; he hasn't our
training, and is not accountable, in strict morals and
integrity, as we are. We are too prone to take things
in our own hands and settle them then and there
without appealing to the courts." Miss Marbury



88 THE BLACK MANTLE

was all interest, and at this point interrupted with
the question:

^^Are the whites becoming more tolerant of the
weaknesses of the negro, and restrain themselves, or
not?"

"They are in the cities, I think," replied Andy;
"but. 