英语天堂-第28部分

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set　down　and　wait。　That’s　a　sweet　little　fellow；”　added　the　woman；　offering　him　a　cake。
But　the　child；　wholly　exhausted；　cried　with　weariness。
“Poor　fellow！　he　isn’t　used　to　walking；　and　I’ve　hurried　him　on　so；”　said　Eliza。
“Well；　take　him　into　this　room；”　said　the　woman；　opening　into　a　small　bed…room；　where　stood　a　comfortable　bed。　Eliza　laid　the　weary　boy　upon　it；　and　held　his　hands　in　hers　till　he　was　fast　asleep。　For　her　there　was　no　rest。　As　a　fire　in　her　bones；　the　thought　of　the　pursuer　urged　her　on；　and　she　gazed　with　longing　eyes　on　the　sullen；　surging　waters　that　lay　between　her　and　liberty。
Here　we　must　take　our　leave　of　her　for　the　present；　to　follow　the　course　of　her　pursuers。
Though　Mrs。　Shelby　had　promised　that　the　dinner　should　be　hurried　on　table；　yet　it　was　soon　seen；　as　the　thing　has　often　been　seen　before；　that　it　required　more　than　one　to　make　a　bargain。　So；　although　the　order　was　fairly　given　out　in　Haley’s　hearing；　and　carried　to　Aunt　Chloe　by　at　least　half　a　dozen　juvenile　messengers；　that　dignitary　only　gave　certain　very　gruff　snorts；　and　tosses　of　her　head；　and　went　on　with　every　operation　in　an　unusually　leisurely　and　circumstantial　manner。
For　some　singular　reason；　an　impression　seemed　to　reign　among　the　servants　generally　that　Missis　would　not　be　particularly　disobliged　by　delay；　and　it　was　wonderful　what　a　number　of　counter　acomidents　ocomurred　constantly；　to　retard　the　course　of　things。　One　luckless　wight　contrived　to　upset　the　gravy；　and　then　gravy　had　to　be　got　up　de　novo；　with　due　care　and　formality；　Aunt　Chloe　watching　and　stirring　with　dogged　precision；　answering　shortly；　to　all　suggestions　of　haste；　that　she　“warn’t　a　going　to　have　raw　gravy　on　the　table；　to　help　nobody’s　catchings。”　One　tumbled　down　with　the　water；　and　had　to　go　to　the　spring　for　more；　and　another　precipitated　the　butter　into　the　path　of　events；　and　there　was　from　time　to　time　giggling　news　brought　into　the　kitchen　that　“Mas’r　Haley　was　mighty　oneasy；　and　that　he　couldn’t　sit　in　his　cheer　no　ways；　but　was　a　walkin’　and　stalkin’　to　the　winders　and　through　the　porch。”
“Sarves　him　right！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　indignantly。　He’ll　get　wus　nor　oneasy；　one　of　these　days；　if　he　don’t　mend　his　ways。　His　master’ll　be　sending　for　him；　and　then　see　how　he’ll　look！”
“He’ll　go　to　torment；　and　no　mistake；”　said　little　Jake。
“He　desarves　it！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　grimly；　“he’s　broke　a　many；　many；　many　hearts；—I　tell　ye　all！”　she　said；　stopping；　with　a　fork　uplifted　in　her　hands；　“it’s　like　what　Mas’r　George　reads　in　Ravelations；—souls　a　callin’　under　the　altar！　and　a　callin’　on　the　Lord　for　vengeance　on　sich！—and　by　and　by　the　Lord　he’ll　hear　’em—so　he　will！”
Aunt　Chloe；　who　was　much　revered　in　the　kitchen；　was　listened　to　with　open　mouth；　and；　the　dinner　being　now　fairly　sent　in；　the　whole　kitchen　was　at　leisure　to　gossip　with　her；　and　to　listen　to　her　remarks。
“Sich’ll　be　burnt　up　forever；　and　no　mistake；　won’t　ther？”　said　Andy。
“I’d　be　glad　to　see　it；　I’ll　be　boun’；”　said　little　Jake。
“Chil’en！”　said　a　voice；　that　made　them　all　start。　It　was　Uncle　Tom；　who　had　come　in；　and　stood　listening　to　the　conversation　at　the　door。
“Chil’en！”　he　said；　“I’m　afeard　you　don’t　know　what　ye’re　sayin’。　Forever　is　a　dre’ful　word；　chil’en；　it’s　awful　to　think　on　’t。　You　oughtenter　wish　that　ar　to　any　human　crittur。”
“We　wouldn’t　to　anybody　but　the　soul…drivers；”　said　Andy；　“nobody　can　help　wishing　it　to　them；　they　’s　so　awful　wicked。”
“Don’t　natur　herself　kinder　cry　out　on　’em？”　said　Aunt　Chloe。　“Don’t　dey　tear　der　suckin’　baby　right　off　his　mother’s　breast；　and　sell　him；　and　der　little　children　as　is　crying　and　holding　on　by　her　clothes；—don’t　dey　pull　’em　off　and　sells　’em？　Don’t　dey　tear　wife　and　husband　apart？”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　beginning　to　cry；　“when　it’s　jest　takin’　the　very　life　on　’em？—and　all　the　while　does　they　feel　one　bit；　don’t　dey　drink　and　smoke；　and　take　it　oncommon　easy？　Lor；　if　the　devil　don’t　get　them；　what’s　he　good　for？”　And　Aunt　Chloe　covered　her　face　with　her　checked　apron；　and　began　to　sob　in　good　earnest。
“Pray　for　them　that　’spitefully　use　you；　the　good　book　says；”　says　Tom。
“Pray　for　’em！”　said　Aunt　Chloe；　“Lor；　it’s　too　tough！　I　can’t　pray　for　’em。”
“It’s　natur；　Chloe；　and　natur　’s　strong；”　said　Tom；　“but　the　Lord’s　grace　is　stronger；　besides；　you　oughter　think　what　an　awful　state　a　poor　crittur’s　soul　’s　in　that’ll　do　them　ar　things；—you　oughter　thank　God　that　you　an’t　like　him；　Chloe。　I’m　sure　I’d　rather　be　sold；　ten　thousand　times　over；　than　to　have　all　that　ar　poor　crittur’s　got　to　answer　for。”
“So　’d　I；　a　heap；”　said　Jake。　“Lor；　shouldn’t　we　cotch　it；　Andy？”
Andy　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　gave　an　acquiescent　whistle。
“I’m　glad　Mas’r　didn’t　go　off　this　morning；　as　he　looked　to；”　said　Tom；　“that　ar　hurt　me　more　than　sellin’；　it　did。　Mebbe　it　might　have　been　natural　for　him；　but　’t　would　have　come　desp’t　hard　on　me；　as　has　known　him　from　a　baby；　but　I’ve　seen　Mas’r；　and　I　begin　ter　feel　sort　o’　reconciled　to　the　Lord’s　will　now。　Mas’r　couldn’t　help　hisself；　he　did　right；　but　I’m　feared　things　will　be　kinder　goin’　to　rack；　when　I’m　gone　Mas’r　can’t　be　spected　to　be　a　pryin’　round　everywhar；　as　I’ve　done；　a　keepin’　up　all　the　ends。　The　boys　all　means　well；　but　they　’s　powerful　car’less。　That　ar　troubles　me。”
The　bell　here　rang；　and　Tom　was　summoned　to　the　parlor。
“Tom；”　said　his　master；　kindly；　“I　want　you　to　notice　that　I　give　this　gentleman　bonds　to　forfeit　a　thousand　dollars　if　you　are　not　on　the　spot　when　he　wants　you；　he’s　going　today　to　look　after　his　other　business；　and　you　can　have　the　day　to　yourself。　Go　anywhere　you　like；　boy。”
“Thank　you；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom。
“And　mind　yourself；”　said　the　trader；　“and　don’t　come　it　over　your　master　with　any　o’　yer　nigger　tricks；　for　I’ll　take　every　cent　out　of　him；　if　you　an’t　thar。　If　he’d　hear　to　me；　he　wouldn’t　trust　any　on　ye—slippery　as　eels！”
“Mas’r；”　said　Tom；—and　he　stood　very　straight；—“I　was　jist　eight　years　old　when　ole　Missis　put　you　into　my　arms；　and　you　wasn’t　a　year　old。　‘Thar；’　says　she；　‘Tom；　that’s　to　be　your　young　Mas’r；　take　good　care　on　him；’　says　she。　And　now　I　jist　ask　you；　Mas’r；　have　I　ever　broke　word　to　you；　or　gone　contrary　to　you；　’specially　since　I　was　a　Christian？”
Mr。　Shelby　was　fairly　overcome；　and　the　tears　rose　to　his　eyes。
“My　good　boy；”　said　he；　“the　Lord　knows　you　say　but　the　truth；　and　if　I　was　able　to　help　it；　all　the　world　shouldn’t　buy　you。”
“And　sure　as　I　am　a　Christian　woman；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　“you　shall　be　redeemed　as　soon　as　I　can　any　bring　together　means。　Sir；”　she　said　to　Haley；　“take　good　acomount　of　who　you　sell　him　to；　and　let　me　know。”
“Lor；　yes；　for　that　matter；”　said　the　trader；　“I　may　bring　him　up　in　a　year；　not　much　the　wuss　for　wear；　and　trade　him　back。”
“I’ll　trade　with　you　then；　and　make　it　for　your　advantage；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby。
“Of　course；”　said　the　trader；　“all　’s　equal　with　me；　li’ves　trade　’em　up　as　down；　so　I　does　a　good　business。　All　I　want　is　a　livin’；　you　know；　ma’am；　that’s　all　any　on　us　wants；　I；　s’pose。”
Mr。　and　Mrs。　Shelby　both　felt　annoyed　and　degraded　by　the　familiar　impudence　of　the　trader；　and　yet　both　saw　the　absolute　necessity　of　putting　a　constraint　on　their　feelings。　The　more　hopelessly　sordid　and　insensible　he　appeared；　the　greater　became　Mrs。　Shelby’s　dread　of　his　sucomeeding　in　recapturing　Eliza　and　her　child；　and　of　course　the　greater　her　motive　for　detaining　him　by　every　female　artifice。　She　therefore　graciously　smiled；　assented；　chatted　familiarly；　and　did　all　she　could　to　make　time　pass　imperceptibly。
At　two　o’clock　Sam　and　Andy　brought　the　horses　up　to　the　posts；　apparently　greatly　refreshed　and　invigorated　by　the　scamper　of　the　morning。
Sam　was　there　new　oiled　from　dinner；　with　an　abundance　of　zealous　and　ready　officiousness。　As　Haley　approached；　he　was　boasting；　in　flourishing　style；　to　Andy；　of　the　evident　and　eminent　sucomess　of　the　operation；　now　that　he　had　“farly　come　to　it。”
“Your　master；　I　s’pose；　don’t　keep　no　dogs；”　said　Haley；　thoughtfully；　as　he　prepared　to　mount。
“Heaps　on　’em；”　said　Sam；　triumphantly；　“thar’s　Bruno—he’s　a　roarer！　and；　besides　that；　’bout　every　nigger　of　us　keeps　a　pup　of　some　natur　or　uther。”
“Poh！”　said　Haley；—and　he　said　something　else；　too；　with　regard　to　the　said　dogs；　at　which　Sam　muttered；
“I　don’t　see　no　use　cussin’　on　’em；　no　way。”
“But　your　master　don’t　keep　no　dogs　（I　pretty　much　know　he　don’t）　for　trackin’　out　niggers。”
Sam　knew　exactly　what　he　meant；　but　he　kept　on　a　look　of　earnest　and　desperate　simplicity。
“Our　dogs　all　smells　round　considable　sharp。　I　spect　they’s　the　kind；　though　they　han’t　never　had　no　practice。　They　’s　far　dogs；　though；　at　most　anything；　if　you’d　get　’em　started。　Here；　Bruno；”　he　called；　whistling　to　the　lumbering　Newfoundland；　who　came　pitching　tumultuously　toward　them。
“You　go　hang！”　said　Haley；　getting　up。　“Come；　tumble　up　now。”
Sam　tumbled　up　acomordingly；　dexterously　contriving　to　tickle　Andy　as　he　did　so；　which　ocomasioned　Andy　to　split　out　into　a　laugh；　greatly　to　Haley’s　indignation；　who　made　a　cut　at　him　with　his　riding…whip。
“I　’s　’stonished　at　yer；　Andy；”　said　Sam；　with　awful　gravity。　“This　yer’s　a　seris　bisness；　Andy。　Yer　mustn’t　be　a　makin’　game。　This　yer　an’t　no　way　to　help　Mas’r。”
“I　shall　take　the　straight　road　to　the　river；”　said　Haley；　decidedly；　after　they　had　come　to　the　boundaries　of　the　estate。　“I　know　the　way　of　all　of　’em；—they　makes　tracks　for　the　underground。”
“Sartin；”　said　Sam；　“dat’s　de　idee。　Mas’r　Haley　hits　de　thing　right　in　de　middle。　Now；　der’s　two　roads　to　de　river；—de　dirt　road　and　der　pike；—which　Mas’r　mean　to　take？”
Andy　looked　up　innocently　at　Sam；　surprised　at　hearing　this　new　geographical　fact；　but　instantly　confirmed　what　he　said；　by　a　vehement　reiteration。
“Cause；”　said　Sam；　“I’d　rather　be　’clined　to　’magine　that　Lizy　’d　take　de　dirt　road；　bein’　it’s　the　least　travelled。”
Haley；　notwithstanding　that　he　was　a　very　old　bird；　and　naturally　inclined　to　be　suspicious　of　chaff；　was　rather　brought　up　by　this　view　of　the　case。
“If　yer　warn’t　both　on　yer　such　cussed　liars；　now！”　he　said；　contemplatively　as　he　pondered　a　moment。
The　pensive；　reflective　tone　in　which　this　was　spoken　appeared　to　amuse　Andy　prodigiously；　and　he　drew　a　little　behind；　and　shook　so　as　apparently　to　run　a　great　risk　of　failing　off　his　horse；　while　Sam’s　face　was　immovably　composed　into　the　most　doleful　gravity。
“Course；”　said　Sam；　“Mas’r　can　do　as　he’d　ruther；　go　de　straight　road；　if　Mas’r　thinks　best；—it’s　all　one　to　us。　Now；　when　I　study　’pon　it；　I　think　de　straight　road　de　best；　deridedly。”
“She　would　naturally　go　a　lonesome　way；”　said　Haley；　thinking　aloud；　and　not　minding　Sam’s　remark。
“Dar　an’t　no　sayin’；”　said　Sam；　“gals　is　pecular；　they　never　does　nothin’　ye　thinks　they　will；　mose　gen’lly　the　contrary。　Gals　is　nat’lly　made　contrary；　and　so；　if　you　thinks　they’ve　gone　one　road；　it　is　sartin　you’d　better　go　t’　other；　and　then　you’ll　be　sure　to　find　’em。　Now；　my　private　’pinion　is；　Lizy　took　der　road；　so　I　think　we’d　better　take　de　straight　one。”
This　profound　generic　view　of　the　female　sex　did　not　seem　to　dispose　Haley　particularly　to　the　straight　road；　and　he　announced　decidedly　that　he　should　go　the　other；　and　asked　Sam　when　they　should　come　to　it。
“A　little　piece　ahead；”　said　Sam；　giving　a　wink　to　Andy　with　the　eye　which　was　on　Andy’s　side　of　the　head；　and　he　added；　gravely；　“but　I’ve　studded　on　de　matter；　and　I’m　quite　clar　we　ought　not　to　go　dat　ar　way。　I　nebber　been　over　it　no　way。　It’s　despit　lonesome；　and　we　might　lose　our　way；—whar　we’d　come　to；　de　Lord　only　knows。”
“Nevertheless；”　said　Haley；　“I　shall　go　that　way。”
“Now　I　think　on　’t；　I　think　I　hearn　’em　tell　that　dat　ar　road　was　all　fenced　up　and　down　by　der　creek；　and　thar；　an’t　it；　Andy？”
Andy　wasn’t　certain；　he’d　only　“hearn　tell”　about　that　road；　but　never　been　over　it。　In　short；　he　was　strictly　noncommittal。
Haley；　acomustomed　to　strike　the　balance　of　probabilities　between　lies　of　greater　or　lesser　magnitude；　thought　that　it　lay　in　favor　of　the　dirt　road　aforesaid。　The　mention　of　the　thing　he　thought　he　perceived　was　involuntary　on　Sam’s　part　at　first；　and　his　confused　attempts　to　dissuade　him　he　set　down　to　a　desperate　lying　on　second　thoughts；　as　being　unwilling　to　implicate　Liza。
When；　therefore；　Sam　indicated　the　road；　Haley　plunged　briskly　into　it；　followed　by　Sam　and　Andy。
Now；　the　road；　in　fact；　was　an　old　one；　that　had　formerly　been　a　thoroughfare　to　the　river；　but　abandoned　for　many　years　after　the　laying　of　the　new　pike。　It　was　open　for　about　an　hour’s　ride；　and　after　that　it　was　cut　across　by　various　farms　and　fences。　Sam　knew　this　fact　perfectly　well；—indeed；　the　road　had　been　so　long　closed　up；　that　Andy　had　never　heard　of　it。　He　therefore　rode　along　with　an　air　of　dutiful　submission；　only　groaning　and　vociferating　ocomasionally　that　’t　was　“desp’t　rough；　and　bad　for　Jerry’s　foot。”
“Now；　I　jest　give　yer　warning；”　said　Haley；　“I　know　yer；　yer　won’t　get　me　to　turn　off　this　road；　with　all　yer　fussin’—so　you　shet　up！”
“Mas’r　will　go　his　own　way！”　said　Sam；　with　rueful　submission；　at　the　same　time　winking　most　Portentously　to　Andy；　whose　delight　was　now　very　near　the　explosive　point。
Sam　was　in　wonderful　spirits；—professed　to　keep　a　very　brisk　lookout；—at　one　time　exclaiming　that　he　saw　“a　gal’s　bonnet”　on　the　top　of　some　distant　eminence；　or　calling　to　Andy　“if　that　thar　wasn’t　‘Lizy’　down　in　the　hollow；”　always　making　these　exclamations　in　some　rough　or　craggy　part　of　the　road；　where　the　sudden　quickening　of　speed　was　a　special　inconvenience　to　all　parties　concerned；　and　thus　keeping　Haley　in　a　state　of　constant　commotion。
After　riding　about　an　hour　in　this　way；　the　whole　party　made　a　precipitate　and　tumultuous　descent　into　a　barn…yard　belonging　to　a　large　farming　establishment。　Not　a　soul　was　in　sight；　all　the　hands　being　employed　in　the　fields；　but；　as　the　barn　stood　conspicuously　and　plainly　square　across　the　road；　it　was　evident　that　their　journey　in　that　direction　had　reached　a　decided　finale。
“Wan’t　dat　ar　what　I　telled　Mas’r？”　said　Sam；　with　an　air　of　injured　innocence。　“How　does　strange　gentleman　spect　to　know　more　about　a　country　dan　de　natives　born　and　raised？”
“You　rascal！”　said　Haley；　“you　knew　all　about　this。”
“Didn’t　I　tell　yer　I　knowd；　and　yer　wouldn’t　believe　me？　I　telled　Mas’r　’t　was　all　shet　up；　and　fenced　up；　and　I　didn’t　spect　we　could　get　through；—Andy　heard　me。”
It　was　all　too　true　to　be　disputed；　and　the　unlucky　man　had　to　pocket　his　wrath　with　the　best　grace　he　was　able；　and　all　three　faced　to　the　right　about；　and　took　up　their　line　of　march　for　the　highway。
In　consequence　of　all　the　various　delays；　it　was　about　three…quarters　of　an　hour　after　Eliza　had　laid　her　child　to　sleep　in　the　village　tavern　that　the　party　came　riding　into　the　same　place。　Eliza　was　standing　by　the　window；　looking　out　in　another　direction；　when　Sam’s　quick　eye　caught　a　glimpse　of　her。　Haley　and　Andy　were　two　yards　behind。　A