Charred stumps stood thickly in the clearings, with here and there a large tree girdled by the axe and left to decay.

We reached at last the place of our destination.

It was a fine tract of land with a deep rich soil.

We halted on a small knoll, where the tents were pitched, and the wagons unladen.

I spent the night with my master at a neighboring plantation, which was under the care of an overseer named Flincher.
The next morning my master received a visit from a man named Huckstep, who had undertaken the management of his plantation as an overseer.