Watch and Wait

In Short

This 1864 adventure novel is a work of juvenile fiction that focuses on the harrowing flight of three enslaved individuals from a Louisiana plantation. It follows their escape by boat, their tactical maneuvers against pursuers, and their eventual success in securing their freedom. While the author explicitly notes that the work was written to satisfy a demand for "stirring incidents" rather than as a political polemic, the narrative remains a historical artifact of its time, capturing the intense anxieties and the determined spirit of those seeking to escape the institution of slavery.

The Story

The story begins at Redlawn, a plantation in the South where the young, intelligent, and capable Dandy is treated with typical cruelty by his master’s son, Archy. After an unjust and brutal whipping, Dandy determines that he can no longer submit to his condition. He plans his escape with his companions, Lily and Cyd, and the group secures a small schooner named the Isabel. Their flight is immediate and fraught with peril; they must navigate the bayous and lakes of the region while constantly evading the slave-hunters who track them with bloodhounds and armed boats.

As they move through the waterways, the fugitives are forced to act with extreme caution, often traveling only by night. The Isabel becomes their floating home, and Dandy emerges as a natural leader and skilled seaman. Their resolve is tested repeatedly, most notably when they encounter a fellow fugitive pursued by hounds in the water. Despite the risk to their own safety, they intervene to save him, welcoming the man, Quin, into their group. Quin proves to be a loyal ally, though he eventually loses his life in a subsequent confrontation with slave-hunters.

The group’s survival hinges on their ability to outmaneuver their enemies, often using the Isabel’s superior handling to slip through narrow channels or escape into the open water during storms. Tension remains high as they are tracked relentlessly by Colonel Raybone, the owner of the plantation, and his associates. In a climactic turn of events, the Colonel is injured while attempting to intercept them. Rather than seeking retribution, the fugitives demonstrate their capacity for mercy by nursing him back to health. This act of grace, coupled with the Colonel's desperation regarding his own survival, leads to an unlikely agreement: in exchange for being transported to a point where he can receive medical care, the Colonel promises to grant the fugitives their freedom and provide them with official documentation.

After several tense days of negotiation and caretaking, the fugitives successfully hand the Colonel over to a passing vessel. True to his word—and perhaps softened by his ordeal—the Colonel provides them with money and allows them to proceed. The group eventually reaches safety, successfully navigating their way toward a new, free life. The narrative concludes with the fugitives having permanently escaped the shadow of the plantation, having proven their capability to live as free, independent individuals.

How It Unfolds

The spark of rebellion Dandy reaches a breaking point after being subjected to a severe and unjust whipping by his master. He resolves to flee, choosing to "watch and wait" for the perfect moment to execute his escape.

Taking the helm The group secures the schooner Isabel and sets off into the dark, snag-filled waters of the bayou. Dandy’s expertise as a coxswain proves vital as they navigate the treacherous terrain under the cover of night.

The rescue The fugitives encounter another man fleeing from bloodhounds in the lake. Despite the danger of discovery, they risk their own liberty to pull him aboard, adding Quin to their small, dedicated band.

Defending their freedom In a series of skirmishes, the fugitives use their wits and whatever weapons they possess to repel the slave-hunters. They successfully sabotage their pursuers’ boats, causing them to sink, while the Isabel carries them toward safety.

The final standoff Colonel Raybone is wounded while pursuing the group, and he finds himself at their mercy. The fugitives nurse him back to health, leading to a desperate pact that eventually secures their passage to freedom.

The People

Dandy serves as the steady, capable heart of the group. His primary goal is to escape the indignity of slavery, and his ability to remain calm under pressure—and his skill as a sailor—ensure the group's survival. Lily provides a gentle, moral center to the narrative; she is deeply terrified of capture, yet her faith and support for Dandy never waver. Cyd is the source of the group's lighthearted, often comedic, relief, though his loyalty is absolute. Despite his initial lack of experience with the complexities of freedom, he becomes a devoted member of the crew. Colonel Raybone represents the power structure of the plantation; he is initially cold and vindictive, prioritizing his authority over the lives of his servants. Through his physical injury and reliance on the very people he once owned, his character is forced to acknowledge their humanity and, ultimately, honor his promise of liberation.

In Its Own Voice

"If the young fugitives were resolute, even to shedding the blood of the slave-hunter, they had forgiving and Christian hearts, in which there was neither malice nor revenge."

The author reflects on the dual nature of the protagonists, who were willing to fight for their liberty yet remained capable of mercy toward their former oppressors.

"Dandy did not deem it prudent to approach him while in this mood, and he seated himself on a stump at a point where he could observe his master's motions."

This moment follows a violent outburst, illustrating the constant vigilance the enslaved characters were forced to maintain in the presence of their masters.

"They had proved that they could take care of themselves, and that freedom was their true sphere of life."

The closing sentiment underscores the book's final argument regarding the competence and rightful autonomy of the characters.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is a story about the transition from the status of property to the status of self-governing human beings. The book explores the psychological weight of servitude—the constant "watching and waiting"—and the physical toll of reclaiming one's life. While it treats the escape as an adventure, it repeatedly grapples with the question of whether a person has the right to defend their own life, even against a master. The characters' journey is not merely a voyage across water, but an internal process of proving their dignity, intelligence, and capacity for moral behavior, effectively challenging the assumptions of the society from which they flee.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of American literature or the way 19th-century authors addressed the theme of slavery will find this book a unique, if challenging, experience. It is a classic example of "stirring adventure" fiction, written with a brisk, energetic pace that keeps the reader moving from one narrow escape to the next. However, the modern reader should be prepared for the period-specific attitudes and the "dialect" used for the characters of color, which reflects the patronizing perspectives of the mid-19th century.

The book is best read as a historical document that illuminates how these sensitive issues were packaged for young audiences during the Civil War era. The descriptions of the Isabel and the nautical maneuvers are remarkably detailed, providing a vivid sense of the setting. What ultimately stays with the reader is the irony of the central situation: the "master" is eventually reduced to a state of complete dependence on those he once owned, a reversal that provides a surprisingly poignant conclusion to the adventure. It is a book that demands to be read with an eye toward its contradictions, capturing both the spirit of the time and a genuine desire to tell a gripping story of survival.