Chapter 2

           Thesightofthisstrange,pallidman,hardlymiddle-agedinaspectyetcertainlynotlessthanafullcenturyold,seekingatlasttoemergefromacloudoffrightanddetestationtoovaguetopindownoranalyze,wasatonceapathetic,adramatic,andacontemptiblething.Suchisthepowerofwealthandofsurfacegestures,however,thattherecameindeedaslightabatementinthevisibleaversiondisplayedtowardhim;especiallyaftertherapiddisappearancesofhissailorsabruptlyceased.Hemustlikewisehavebeguntopracticeanextremecareandsecrecyinhisgraveyardexpeditions,forhewasneveragaincaughtatsuchwanderings;whilsttherumorsofuncannysoundsandmaneuversathisPawtuxetfarmdiminishedinproportion.Hisrateoffoodconsumptionandcattlereplacementremainedabnormallyhigh;butnotuntilmoderntimes,whenCharlesWardexaminedasetofhisaccountsandinvoicesintheShepleyLibrary,diditoccurtoanyperson—saveoneembitteredyouth,perhaps—tomakedarkcomparisonsbetweenthelargenumberofGuineablacksheimporteduntil1766,andthedisturbinglysmallnumberforwhomhecouldproducebonafidebillsofsaleeithertoslave-dealersattheGreatBridgeortotheplantersoftheNarragansettCountry.Certainly,thecunningandingenuityofthisabhorredcharacterwereuncannilyprofound,oncethenecessityfortheirexercisehadbecomeimpresseduponhim.

           Butofcoursetheeffectofallthisbelatedmendingwasnecessarilyslight.