He could see or hear us nearly all the time.

He was, to us, behind every stump, tree, bush and fence on the plantation.

He carried this kind of trickery so far, that he would sometimes mount his horse, and make believe he was going to St.
Michael's; and, in thirty minutes afterward, you might find his horse tied in the woods, and the snake-like Covey lying flat in the ditch, with his head lifted above its edge, or in a fence corner, watching every movement of the slaves! I have known him walk up to us and give us special orders, as to our work, in advance, as if he were leaving home with a view to being absent several days; and before he got half way to the{168} house, he would avail himself of our inattention to his movements, to turn short on his heels, conceal himself behind a fence corner or a tree, and watch us until the going down of the sun.

Mean and contemptible as is all this, it is in keeping with the character which the life of a slaveholder is calculated to produce.

There is no earthly inducement, in the slave's condition, to incite him to labor faithfully.
The fear of punishment is the sole motive for any sort of industry, with him.