sort the property of that hazel-eyed young girl. But it would need
more than repugnance to save him from his destiny. A slave is a
slave, and has no power to shape his fate. Peter Blood was sold
to Colonel Bishop - a disdainful buyer - for the ignominious sum of
ten pounds.



CHAPTER V

ARABELLA BISHOP


One sunny morning in January, about a month after the arrival of
the Jamaica Merchant at Bridgetown, Miss Arabella Bishop rode out
from her uncle's fine house on the heights to the northwest of the
city. She was attended by two negroes who trotted after her at a
respectful distance, and her destination was Government House,
whither she went to visit the Governor's lady, who had lately been
ailing. Reaching the summit of a gentle, grassy slope, she met a
tall, lean man dressed in a sober, gentlemanly fashion, who was
walking in the opposite direction. He was a stranger to her, and
strangers were rare enough in the island. And yet in some vague
way he did not seem quite a stranger.

Miss Arabella drew rein, affecting to pause that she might admire
the prospect, which was fair enough to warrant it. Yet out of the
corner of those hazel eyes she scanned this fellow very attentively
as he came nearer. She corrected her first impression of his dress.
It was sober enough, but hardly gentlemanly. Coat and breeches were