voyage of the paper canoe-第37章
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hose of the stranger from Massachusetts； it formed no barrier to their social intercourse； and did not make him forget to exhibit the warm feelings of hospitality which so largely influence the Southerner。 I went to him； as a traveller in search of truth； upon an honest errand。 Under such circumstances a Northerner does not require a letter of introduction to nine out of ten of the citizens of the fifteen ex…slave states； which cover an area of eight hundred and eighty thousand square miles； and where fourteen millions of people desire to be permitted to enjoy the same privileges as the Constitution of the United States guarantees to all the states north of Mason and Dixon's line。
From Sloop Landing； on my new friends' plantation； to New Topsail Inlet I had a brisk row of five miles。 Vessels drawing eight feet of water can reach this landing from the open sea upon a full tide。 The sea was rolling in at this ocean door as my canoe crossed it to the next marsh thoroughfare； which connected it with Old Topsail Inlet； where the same monotonous surroundings of sand…hills and marshes are to be found。
The next tidal opening was Rich Inlet； which had a strong ebb running through it to the sea。 From it I threaded the thoroughfares up to the mainland； reaching at dusk the 〃Emma Nickson Plantation。〃 The creeks were growing more shallow； and near the bulkhead； or middleground； where tides from two inlets met； there was so little water and so many oyster reefs； that； without a chart； the route grew more and more perplexing in character。 It was a distance of thirty miles to Cape Fear； and twenty miles to New Inlet； which was one of the mouths of Cape Fear River。 From the plantation to New Inlet； the shallow interior sheets of water with their marshes were called Middle； Masonboro； and Myrtle sounds。 The canoe could have traversed these waters to the end of Myrtle Sound； which is separated from Cape Fear River by a strip of land only one mile and a half wide； across which a portage can be made to the river。 Barren and Masonboro are the only inlets which supply the three little sounds above mentioned with water； after Rich Inlet is passed。
The coast from Cape Fear southward eighty miles； to Georgetown； South Carolina； has several small inlets through the beach； but there are no interior waters parallel with the coast in all that distance； which can be of any service to the canoeist for a coast route。 It therefore became necessary for me to follow the next watercourse that could be utilized for reaching Winyah Bay； which is the first entrance to the system of continuous watercourses south of Cape Fear。
The trees of the Nickson Plantation hid the house of the proprietor from view； but upon beaching my canoe； a drove of hogs greeted me with friendly grunts； as if the hospitality of their master infected the drove； and； as it grew dark； they trotted across the field； conducting me up to the very doors of the planter's home； where Captain Mosely； late of the Confederate army； gave me a soldier's hearty welcome。
〃The war is over；〃 he said； 〃and any northern gentleman is welcome to what we have left。〃 Until midnight； this keen…eyed； intelligent officer entertained me with a flow of anecdotes of the war times； his hair…breadth escapes； &c。； the conversation being only interrupted when he paused to pile wood upon the fire； the chimney…place meantime glowing like a furnace。 He told me that Captain Maffitt； of the late Confederate navy； lived at Masonboro； on the sound； and that had I called upon him； he could have furnished； as an old officer of the Coast Survey； much valuable geographical information。 This pleasant conversation was at last interrupted by the wife of my host； who warned us in her courteous way of the lateness of the hour。 With a good…night to my host； and a sad farewell to the sea； I prepared myself for the morrow's journey。
CHAPTER XI。 FROM CAPE FEAR TO CHARLESTON； SOUTH CAROLINA。
A PORTAGE TO LAKE WACCAMAW。 THE SUBMERGED SWAMPS。 NIGHT AT A TURPENTINE DISTILLER A DISMAL WILDERNESS。 OWLS AND MISTLETOE。 CRACKERS AND NEGROES。 ACROSS THE SOUTH CAROLINA LINE。 A CRACKER'S IDEA OF HOSPITALITY。 POT BLUFF。 PEEDEE RIVER。 GEORGETOWN。 WINYAH BAY。 THE RICE PLANTATIONS OF THE SANTEE RIVERS。 A NIGHT WITH THE SANTEE NEGROES。 ARRIVAL AT CHARLESTON。
To reach my next point of embarkation a portage was necessary。 Wilmington was twelve miles distant； and I reached the railroad station of that city with my canoe packed in a bed of corn…husks； on a one…horse dray； in time to take the evening train to Flemington； on Lake Waccamaw。 The polite general freight…agent； Mr。 A。 Pope； allowed my canoe to be transported in the passenger baggage…car； where； as it had no covering； I was obliged to steady it during the ride of thirty…two miles； to protect it from the friction caused by the motion of the train。
Mr。 Pope quietly telegraphed to the few families at the lake； 〃Take care of the paper canoe；〃 so when my destination was reached； kind voices greeted me through the darkness and offered me the hospitalities of Mrs。 Brothers' home…like inn at the Flemington Station。 After Mr。 Carroll had conveyed the boat to his storehouse； we all sat down to tea as sociably as though we were old friends。
On the morrow we carried the Maria Theresa on our shoulders to the little lake； out of which the long and crooked river with its dark cypress waters flowed to the sea。 A son of Mr。 Short； a landed proprietor who holds some sixty thousand acres of the swamp lands of the Waccamaw； escorted me in his yacht； with a party of ladies and gentlemen； five miles across the lake to my point of departure。 It was now noon； and our little party picnicked under the lofty trees which rise from the low shores of Lake Waccamaw。
A little later we said our adieu； and the paper canoe shot into the whirling current which rushes out of the lake through a narrow aperture into a great and dismal swamp。 Before leaving the party； Mr。 Carroll had handed me a letter addressed to Mr。 Hall； who was in charge of a turpentine distillery on my route。 〃It is twenty miles by the river to my friend Hall's；〃 he said； 〃but in a straight line the place is just four miles from here。〃 Such is the character of the Waccamaw； this most crooked of rivers。
I had never been on so rapid and continuous a current。 As it whirled me along the narrow watercourse I was compelled to abandon my oars and use the paddle in order to have my face to the bow； as the abrupt turns of the stream seemed to wall me in on every side。 Down the tortuous； black； rolling current went the paper canoe； with a giant forest covering the great swamp and screening me from the light of day。 The swamps were submerged； and as the water poured out of the thickets into the river it would shoot across the land from one bend to another； presenting in places the mystifying spectacle of water running up stream； but not up an inclined plain。 Festoons of gray Spanish moss hung from the weird limbs of monster trees； giving a funeral aspect to the gloomy forest； while the owls hooted as though it were night。 The creamy； wax…like berries of the mistletoe gave a Druidical aspect to the woods； for this parasite grew upon the branches of many trees。
One spot only of firm land rose from the water in sixteen miles of paddling from the lake； and passing it； I went flying on with the turbulent stream four miles further； to where rafts of logs blocked the river； and the sandy banks； covered with the upland forest of pines； encroached upon the lowlands。 This was Old Dock； with its turpentine distillery smoking and sending out resinous vapors。
Young Mr。 Hall read my letter and invited me to his temporary home； which； though roughly built of unplaned boards； possessed two comfortable rooms； and a large fireplace； in which light…wood； the terebinthine heart of the pine…tree； was cheerfully blazing。
I had made the twenty miles in three hours； but the credit of this quick time must be given to the rapid current。 My host did not seem well pleased with the solitude imposed upon him。 His employers had sent him from Wilmington； to hold and protect 〃their turpentine farm；〃 which was a wild
