Lincoln, the unknown

226 • LINCOLN THE UNKNOWNthe mournful sound of the water pounding on the sand below.For almost a week the Union soldiers had been riding up anddown the Potomac, destroying every boat on the Marylandshore. But Jones had outwitted them: he had had his coloredman, Henry Rowland, using the boat to fish for shad every day,and had had it hidden in Dent's meadow every night.So when the fugitives reached the water's edge this eveningeverything was in readiness. Booth whispered his thanks toJones, paid him seventeen dollars for his boat and a bottle ofwhisky, climbed in, and headed for a spot on the Virginia shorefive miles away.All through the foggy, ink-black night Herold pulled at theoars while Booth sat in the stern, trying to navigate with compassand candle.But they hadn't gone far when they struck a flood-tide whichis very strong at this point, owing to the narrowness of thechannel. It swept them up the river for miles, and they losttheir bearings in the fog. After dodging the Federal gunboatsthat were patrolling the Potomac, they found themselves, atdawn, ten miles up the river, but not one foot nearer to theVirginia shore than they had been the night before.So they hid all that day in the swamps of Nanjemoy Cove;and the next night, wet and hungry, they pulled across the river;and Booth exclaimed: "I am safe at last, thank God, in gloriousold Virginia."Hurrying to the home of Dr. Richard Stewart, who was anagent for the Confederate Government and the richest man inKing George County, Virginia, Booth expected to be welcomedas the saviour of the South. But the doctor had already beenarrested several times for aiding the Confederacy, and, now thatthe war was over, he wasn't going to risk his neck by helpingthe man who had killed Lincoln. He was too shrewd for that.So he wouldn't let Booth even enter his house. He did give thefugitives a little food, grudgingly, but he made them eat it in thebarn, and then sent them tosleep that night with a family ofnegroes.And even the negroes didn't want Booth. He had to frightenthem into letting him stay with them.And this in Virginia!In Virginia, mind you, where he had confidently expected thevery hills to reverberate with the lusty cheers that would greetthe mere mention of his name.