He happened to be a friend of our colonel's, who had taken an interest in me since the accident.

To make a long story short, the colonel recommended me strongly for the post and, as the work was mostly to be done on horseback, my leg was no great obstacle, for I had enough knee left to keep good grip on the saddle.

What I had to do was to ride over the plantation, to keep an eye on the men as they worked, and to report the idlers.

The pay was fair, I had comfortable quarters, and altogether I was content to spend the remainder of my life in indigo-planting.

Mr.Abelwhite was a kind man, and he would often drop into my little shanty and smoke a pipe with me, for white folk out there feel their hearts warm to each other as they never do here at home.
"Well, I was never in luck's way long.