英语天堂-第134章

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？”　And　Legree　clenched　his　fist；　and　shook　it；　as　if　he　had　something　in　his　hands　that　he　could　rend　in　pieces。
But；　then；　Tom　was　a　faithful；　valuable　servant；　and；　although　Legree　hated　him　the　more　for　that；　yet　the　consideration　was　still　somewhat　of　a　restraint　to　him。
The　next　morning；　he　determined　to　say　nothing；　as　yet；　to　assemble　a　party；　from　some　neighboring　plantations；　with　dogs　and　guns；　to　surround　the　swamp；　and　go　about　the　hunt　systematically。　If　it　sucomeeded；　well　and　good；　if　not；　he　would　summon　Tom　before　him；　and—his　teeth　clenched　and　his　blood　boiled—then　he　would　break　the　fellow　down；　or—there　was　a　dire　inward　whisper；　to　which　his　soul　assented。
Ye　say　that　the　interest　of　the　master　is　a　sufficient　safeguard　for　the　slave。　In　the　fury　of　man’s　mad　will；　he　will　wittingly；　and　with　open　eye；　sell　his　own　soul　to　the　devil　to　gain　his　ends；　and　will　he　be　more　careful　of　his　neighbor’s　body？
“Well；”　said　Cassy；　the　next　day；　from　the　garret；　as　she　reconnoitred　through　the　knot…hole；　“the　hunt’s　going　to　begin　again；　today！”
Three　or　four　mounted　horsemen　were　curvetting　about；　on　the　space　in　front　of　the　house；　and　one　or　two　leashes　of　strange　dogs　were　struggling　with　the　negroes　who　held　them；　baying　and　barking　at　each　other。
The　men　are；　two　of　them；　overseers　of　plantations　in　the　vicinity；　and　others　were　some　of　Legree’s　associates　at　the　tavern…bar　of　a　neighboring　city；　who　had　come　for　the　interest　of　the　sport。　A　more　hard…favored　set；　perhaps；　could　not　be　imagined。　Legree　was　serving　brandy；　profusely；　round　among　them；　as　also　among　the　negroes；　who　had　been　detailed　from　the　various　plantations　for　this　service；　for　it　was　an　object　to　make　every　service　of　this　kind；　among　the　negroes；　as　much　of　a　holiday　as　possible。
Cassy　placed　her　ear　at　the　knot…hole；　and；　as　the　morning　air　blew　directly　towards　the　house；　she　could　overhear　a　good　deal　of　the　conversation。　A　grave　sneer　overcast　the　dark；　severe　gravity　of　her　face；　as　she　listened；　and　heard　them　divide　out　the　ground；　discuss　the　rival　merits　of　the　dogs；　give　orders　about　firing；　and　the　treatment　of　each；　in　case　of　capture。
Cassy　drew　back；　and；　clasping　her　hands；　looked　upward；　and　said；　“O；　great　Almighty　God！　we　are　all　sinners；　but　what　have　we　done；　more　than　all　the　rest　of　the　world；　that　we　should　be　treated　so？”
There　was　a　terrible　earnestness　in　her　face　and　voice；　as　she　spoke。
“If　it　wasn’t　for　you；　child；”　she　said；　looking　at　Emmeline；　“I’d　go　out　to　them；　and　I’d　thank　any　one　of　them　that　would　shoot　me　down；　for　what　use　will　freedom　be　to　me？　Can　it　give　me　back　my　children；　or　make　me　what　I　used　to　be？”
Emmeline；　in　her　child…like　simplicity；　was　half　afraid　of　the　dark　moods　of　Cassy。　She　looked　perplexed；　but　made　no　answer。　She　only　took　her　hand；　with　a　gentle；　caressing　movement。
“Don’t！”　said　Cassy；　trying　to　draw　it　away；　“you’ll　get　me　to　loving　you；　and　I　never　mean　to　love　anything；　again！”
“Poor　Cassy！”　said　Emmeline；　“don’t　feel　so！　If　the　Lord　gives　us　liberty；　perhaps　he’ll　give　you　back　your　daughter；　at　any　rate；　I’ll　be　like　a　daughter　to　you。　I　know　I’ll　never　see　my　poor　old　mother　again！　I　shall　love　you；　Cassy；　whether　you　love　me　or　not！”
The　gentle；　child…like　spirit　conquered。　Cassy　sat　down　by　her；　put　her　arm　round　her　neck；　stroked　her　soft；　brown　hair；　and　Emmeline　then　wondered　at　the　beauty　of　her　magnificent　eyes；　now　soft　with　tears。
“O；　Em！”　said　Cassy；　“I’ve　hungered　for　my　children；　and　thirsted　for　them；　and　my　eyes　fail　with　longing　for　them！　Here！　here！”　she　said；　striking　her　breast；　“it’s　all　desolate；　all　empty！　If　God　would　give　me　back　my　children；　then　I　could　pray。”
“You　must　trust　him；　Cassy；”　said　Emmeline；　“he　is　our　Father！”
“His　wrath　is　upon　us；”　said　Cassy；　“he　has　turned　away　in　anger。”
“No；　Cassy！　He　will　be　good　to　us！　Let　us　hope　in　Him；”　said　Emmeline；—“I　always　have　had　hope。”
The　hunt　was　long；　animated；　and　thorough；　but　unsucomessful；　and；　with　grave；　ironic　exultation；　Cassy　looked　down　on　Legree；　as；　weary　and　dispirited；　he　alighted　from　his　horse。
“Now；　Quimbo；”　said　Legree；　as　he　stretched　himself　down　in　the　sitting…room；　“you　jest　go　and　walk　that　Tom　up　here；　right　away！　The　old　cuss　is　at　the　bottom　of　this　yer　whole　matter；　and　I’ll　have　it　out　of　his　old　black　hide；　or　I’ll　know　the　reason　why！”
Sambo　and　Quimbo；　both；　though　hating　each　other；　were　joined　in　one　mind　by　a　no　less　cordial　hatred　of　Tom。　Legree　had　told　them；　at　first；　that　he　had　bought　him　for　a　general　overseer；　in　his　absence；　and　this　had　begun　an　ill　will；　on　their　part；　which　had　increased；　in　their　debased　and　servile　natures；　as　they　saw　him　becoming　obnoxious　to　their　master’s　displeasure。　Quimbo；　therefore；　departed；　with　a　will；　to　execute　his　orders。
Tom　heard　the　message　with　a　forewarning　heart；　for　he　knew　all　the　plan　of　the　fugitives’　escape；　and　the　place　of　their　present　concealment；—he　knew　the　deadly　character　of　the　man　he　had　to　deal　with；　and　his　despotic　power。　But　he　felt　strong　in　God　to　meet　death；　rather　than　betray　the　helpless。
He　sat　his　basket　down　by　the　row；　and；　looking　up；　said；　“Into　thy　hands　I　commend　my　spirit！　Thou　hast　redeemed　me；　oh　Lord　God　of　truth！”　and　then　quietly　yielded　himself　to　the　rough；　brutal　grasp　with　which　Quimbo　seized　him。
“Ay；　ay！”　said　the　giant；　as　he　dragged　him　along；　ye’ll　cotch　it；　now！　I’ll　boun’　Mas’r’s　back　’s　up　high！　No　sneaking　out；　now！　Tell　ye；　ye’ll　get　it；　and　no　mistake！　See　how　ye’ll　look；　now；　helpin’　Mas’r’s　niggers　to　run　away！　See　what　ye’ll　get！”
The　savage　words　none　of　them　reached　that　ear！—a　higher　voice　there　was　saying；　“Fear　not　them　that　kill　the　body；　and；　after　that；　have　no　more　that　they　can　do。”　Nerve　and　bone　of　that　poor　man’s　body　vibrated　to　those　words；　as　if　touched　by　the　finger　of　God；　and　he　felt　the　strength　of　a　thousand　souls　in　one。　As　he　passed　along；　the　trees。　and　bushes；　the　huts　of　his　servitude；　the　whole　scene　of　his　degradation；　seemed　to　whirl　by　him　as　the　landscape　by　the　rushing　ear。　His　soul　throbbed；—his　home　was　in　sight；—and　the　hour　of　release　seemed　at　hand。
“Well；　Tom！”　said　Legree；　walking　up；　and　seizing　him　grimly　by　the　collar　of　his　coat；　and　speaking　through　his　teeth；　in　a　paroxysm　of　determined　rage；　“do　you　know　I’ve　made　up　my　mind　to　KILL　you？”
“It’s　very　likely；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　calmly。
“I　have；”　said　Legree；　with　a　grim；　terrible　calmness；　“done—just—that—thing；　Tom；　unless　you’ll　tell　me　what　you　know　about　these　yer　gals！”
Tom　stood　silent。
“D’ye　hear？”　said　Legree；　stamping；　with　a　roar　like　that　of　an　incensed　lion。　“Speak！”
“I　han’t　got　nothing　to　tell；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　with　a　slow；　firm；　deliberate　utterance。
“Do　you　dare　to　tell　me；　ye　old　black　Christian；　ye　don’t　know？”　said　Legree。
Tom　was　silent。
“Speak！”　thundered　Legree；　striking　him　furiously。　Do　you　know　anything？”
“I　know；　Mas’r；　but　I　can’t　tell　anything。　I　can　die！”
Legree　drew　in　a　long　breath；　and；　suppressing　his　rage；　took　Tom　by　the　arm；　and；　approaching　his　face　almost　to　his；　said；　in　a　terrible　voice；　“Hark　’e；　Tom！—ye　think；　’cause　I’ve　let　you　off　before；　I　don’t　mean　what　I　say；　but；　this　time；　I’ve　made　up　my　mind；　and　counted　the　cost。　You’ve　always　stood　it　out　again’　me：　now；　I’ll　conquer　ye；　or　kill　ye！—one　or　t’　other。　I’ll　count　every　drop　of　blood　there　is　in　you；　and　take　’em；　one　by　one；　till　ye　give　up！”
Tom　looked　up　to　his　master；　and　answered；　“Mas’r；　if　you　was　sick；　or　in　trouble；　or　dying；　and　I　could　save　ye；　I’d　give　ye　my　heart’s　blood；　and；　if　taking　every　drop　of　blood　in　this　poor　old　body　would　save　your　precious　soul；　I’d　give　’em　freely；　as　the　Lord　gave　his　for　me。　O；　Mas’r！　don’t　bring　this　great　sin　on　your　soul！　It　will　hurt　you　more　than　’t　will　me！　Do　the　worst　you　can；　my　troubles’ll　be　over　soon；　but；　if　ye　don’t　repent；　yours　won’t　never　end！”
Like　a　strange　snatch　of　heavenly　music；　heard　in　the　lull　of　a　tempest；　this　burst　of　feeling　made　a　moment’s　blank　pause。　Legree　stood　aghast；　and　looked　at　Tom；　and　there　was　such　a　silence；　that　the　tick　of　the　old　clock　could　be　heard；　measuring；　with　silent　touch；　the　last　moments　of　mercy　and　probation　to　that　hardened　heart。
It　was　but　a　moment。　There　was　one　hesitating　pause；—one　irresolute；　relenting　thrill；—and　the　spirit　of　evil　came　back；　with　seven…fold　vehemence；　and　Legree；　foaming　with　rage；　smote　his　victim　to　the　ground。
Scenes　of　blood　and　cruelty　are　shocking　to　our　ear　and　heart。　What　man　has　nerve　to　do；　man　has　not　nerve　to　hear。　What　brother…man　and　brother…Christian　must　suffer；　cannot　be　told　us；　even　in　our　secret　chamber；　it　so　harrows　the　soul！　And　yet；　oh　my　country！　these　things　are　done　under　the　shadow　of　thy　laws！　O；　Christ！　thy　church　sees　them；　almost　in　silence！
But；　of　old；　there　was　One　whose　suffering　changed　an　instrument　of　torture；　degradation　and　shame；　into　a　symbol　of　glory；　honor；　and　immortal　life；　and；　where　His　spirit　is；　neither　degrading　stripes；　nor　blood；　nor　insults；　can　make　the　Christian’s　last　struggle　less　than　gloriou