英语天堂-第29部分

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er　direction；　when　Sam’s　quick　eye　caught　a　glimpse　of　her。　Haley　and　Andy　were　two　yards　behind。　At　this　crisis；　Sam　contrived　to　have　his　hat　blown　off；　and　uttered　a　loud　and　characteristic　ejaculation；　which　startled　her　at　once；　she　drew　suddenly　back；　the　whole　train　swept　by　the　window；　round　to　the　front　door。
A　thousand　lives　seemed　to　be　concentrated　in　that　one　moment　to　Eliza。　Her　room　opened　by　a　side　door　to　the　river。　She　caught　her　child；　and　sprang　down　the　steps　towards　it。　The　trader　caught　a　full　glimpse　of　her　just　as　she　was　disappearing　down　the　bank；　and　throwing　himself　from　his　horse；　and　calling　loudly　on　Sam　and　Andy；　he　was　after　her　like　a　hound　after　a　deer。　In　that　dizzy　moment　her　feet　to　her　scarce　seemed　to　touch　the　ground；　and　a　moment　brought　her　to　the　water’s　edge。　Right　on　behind　they　came；　and；　nerved　with　strength　such　as　God　gives　only　to　the　desperate；　with　one　wild　cry　and　flying　leap；　she　vaulted　sheer　over　the　turbid　current　by　the　shore；　on　to　the　raft　of　ice　beyond。　It　was　a　desperate　leap—impossible　to　anything　but　madness　and　despair；　and　Haley；　Sam；　and　Andy；　instinctively　cried　out；　and　lifted　up　their　hands；　as　she　did　it。
The　huge　green　fragment　of　ice　on　which　she　alighted　pitched　and　creaked　as　her　weight　came　on　it；　but　she　staid　there　not　a　moment。　With　wild　cries　and　desperate　energy　she　leaped　to　another　and　still　another　cake；　stumbling—leaping—slipping—springing　upwards　again！　Her　shoes　are　gone—her　stockings　cut　from　her　feet—while　blood　marked　every　step；　but　she　saw　nothing；　felt　nothing；　till　dimly；　as　in　a　dream；　she　saw　the　Ohio　side；　and　a　man　helping　her　up　the　bank。
“Yer　a　brave　gal；　now；　whoever　ye　ar！”　said　the　man；　with　an　oath。
Eliza　recognized　the　voice　and　face　for　a　man　who　owned　a　farm　not　far　from　her　old　home。
“O；　Mr。　Symmes！—save　me—do　save　me—do　hide　me！”　said　Elia。
“Why；　what’s　this？”　said　the　man。　“Why；　if　’tan’t　Shelby’s　gal！”
“My　child！—this　boy！—he’d　sold　him！　There　is　his　Mas’r；”　said　she；　pointing　to　the　Kentucky　shore。　“O；　Mr。　Symmes；　you’ve　got　a　little　boy！”
“So　I　have；”　said　the　man；　as　he　roughly；　but　kindly；　drew　her　up　the　steep　bank。　“Besides；　you’re　a　right　brave　gal。　I　like　grit；　wherever　I　see　it。”
When　they　had　gained　the　top　of　the　bank；　the　man　paused。
“I’d　be　glad　to　do　something　for　ye；”　said　he；　“but　then　there’s　nowhar　I　could　take　ye。　The　best　I　can　do　is　to　tell　ye　to　go　thar；”　said　he；　pointing　to　a　large　white　house　which　stood　by　itself；　off　the　main　street　of　the　village。　“Go　thar；　they’re　kind　folks。　Thar’s　no　kind　o’　danger　but　they’ll　help　you；—they’re　up　to　all　that　sort　o’　thing。”
“The　Lord　bless　you！”　said　Eliza；　earnestly。
“No　’casion；　no　’casion　in　the　world；”　said　the　man。　“What　I’ve　done’s　of　no　’count。”
“And；　oh；　surely；　sir；　you　won’t　tell　any　one！”
“Go　to　thunder；　gal！　What　do　you　take　a　feller　for？　In　course　not；”　said　the　man。　“Come；　now；　go　along　like　a　likely；　sensible　gal；　as　you　are。　You’ve　arnt　your　liberty；　and　you　shall　have　it；　for　all　me。”
The　woman　folded　her　child　to　her　bosom；　and　walked　firmly　and　swiftly　away。　The　man　stood　and　looked　after　her。
“Shelby；　now；　mebbe　won’t　think　this　yer　the　most　neighborly　thing　in　the　world；　but　what’s　a　feller　to　do？　If　he　catches　one　of　my　gals　in　the　same　fix；　he’s　welcome　to　pay　back。　Somehow　I　never　could　see　no　kind　o’　critter　a　strivin’　and　pantin’；　and　trying　to　clar　theirselves；　with　the　dogs　arter　’em　and　go　agin　’em。　Besides；　I　don’t　see　no　kind　of　’casion　for　me　to　be　hunter　and　catcher　for　other　folks；　neither。”
So　spoke　this　poor；　heathenish　Kentuckian；　who　had　not　been　instructed　in　his　constitutional　relations；　and　consequently　was　betrayed　into　acting　in　a　sort　of　Christianized　manner；　which；　if　he　had　been　better　situated　and　more　enlightened；　he　would　not　have　been　left　to　do。
Haley　had　stood　a　perfectly　amazed　spectator　of　the　scene；　till　Eliza　had　disappeared　up　the　bank；　when　he　turned　a　blank；　inquiring　look　on　Sam　and　Andy。
“That　ar　was　a　tolable　fair　stroke　of　business；”　said　Sam。
“The　gal　’s　got　seven　devils　in　her；　I　believe！”　said　Haley。　“How　like　a　wildcat　she　jumped！”
“Wal；　now；”　said　Sam；　scratching　his　head；　“I　hope　Mas’r’ll　’scuse　us　trying　dat　ar　road。　Don’t　think　I　feel　spry　enough　for　dat　ar；　no　way！”　and　Sam　gave　a　hoarse　chuckle。
“You　laugh！”　said　the　trader；　with　a　growl。
“Lord　bless　you；　Mas’r；　I　couldn’t　help　it　now；”　said　Sam；　giving　way　to　the　long　pent…up　delight　of　his　soul。　“She　looked　so　curi’s；　a　leapin’　and　springin’—ice　a　crackin’—and　only　to　hear　her；—plump！　ker　chunk！　ker　splash！　Spring！　Lord！　how　she　goes　it！”　and　Sam　and　Andy　laughed　till　the　tears　rolled　down　their　cheeks。
“I’ll　make　ye　laugh　t’　other　side　yer　mouths！”　said　the　trader；　laying　about　their　heads　with　his　riding…whip。
Both　ducked；　and　ran　shouting　up　the　bank；　and　were　on　their　horses　before　he　was　up。
“Good…evening；　Mas’r！”　said　Sam；　with　much　gravity。　“I　berry　much　spect　Missis　be　anxious　’bout　Jerry。　Mas’r　Haley　won’t　want　us　no　longer。　Missis　wouldn’t　hear　of　our　ridin’　the　critters　over　Lizy’s　bridge　tonight；”　and；　with　a　facetious　poke　into　Andy’s　ribs；　he　started　off；　followed　by　the　latter；　at　full　speed；—their　shouts　of　laughter　coming　faintly　on　the　wind。
Chapter　8
Eliza’s　Escape
Eliza　made　her　desperate　retreat　across　the　river　just　in　the　dusk　of　twilight。　The　gray　mist　of　evening；　rising　slowly　from　the　river；　enveloped　her　as　she　disappeared　up　the　bank；　and　the　swollen　current　and　floundering　masses　of　ice　presented　a　hopeless　barrier　between　her　and　her　pursuer。　Haley　therefore　slowly　and　discontentedly　returned　to　the　little　tavern；　to　ponder　further　what　was　to　be　done。　The　woman　opened　to　him　the　door　of　a　little　parlor；　covered　with　a　rag　carpet；　where　stood　a　table　with　a　very　shining　black　oil…cloth；　sundry　lank；　high…backed　wood　chairs；　with　some　plaster　images　in　resplendent　colors　on　the　mantel…shelf；　above　a　very　dimly…smoking　grate；　a　long　hard…wood　settle　extended　its　uneasy　length　by　the　chimney；　and　here　Haley　sat　him　down　to　meditate　on　the　instability　of　human　hopes　and　happiness　in　general。
“What　did　I　want　with　the　little　cuss；　now；”　he　said　to　himself；　“that　I　should　have　got　myself　treed　like　a　coon；　as　I　am；　this　yer　way？”　and　Haley　relieved　himself　by　repeating　over　a　not　very　select　litany　of　imprecations　on　himself；　which；　though　there　was　the　best　possible　reason　to　consider　them　as　true；　we　shall；　as　a　matter　of　taste；　omit。
He　was　startled　by　the　loud　and　dissonant　voice　of　a　man　who　was　apparently　dismounting　at　the　door。　He　hurried　to　the　window。
“By　the　land！　if　this　yer　an’t　the　nearest；　now；　to　what　I’ve　heard　folks　call　Providence；”　said　Haley。　“I　do　b’lieve　that　ar’s　Tom　Loker。”
Haley　hastened　out。　Standing　by　the　bar；　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　was　a　brawny；　muscular　man；　full　six　feet　in　height；　and　broad　in　proportion。　He　was　dressed　in　a　coat　of　buffalo…skin；　made　with　the　hair　outward；　which　gave　him　a　shaggy　and　fierce　appearance；　perfectly　in　keeping　with　the　whole　air　of　his　physiognomy。　In　the　head　and　face　every　organ　and　lineament　expressive　of　brutal　and　unhesitating　violence　was　in　a　state　of　the　highest　possible　development。　Indeed；　could　our　readers　fancy　a　bull…dog　come　unto　man’s　estate；　and　walking　about　in　a　hat　and　coat；　they　would　have　no　unapt　idea　of　the　general　style　and　effect　of　his　physique。　He　was　acomompanied　by　a　travelling　companion；　in　many　respects　an　exact　contrast　to　himself。　He　was　short　and　slender；　lithe　and　catlike　in　his　motions；　and　had　a　peering；　mousing　expression　about　his　keen　black　eyes；　with　which　every　feature　of　his　face　seemed　sharpened　into　sympathy；　his　thin；　long　nose；　ran　out　as　if　it　was　eager　to　bore　into　the　nature　of　things　in　general；　his　sleek；　thin；　black　hair　was　stuck　eagerly　forward；　and　all　his　motions　and　evolutions　expressed　a　dry；　cautious　acuteness。　The　great　man　poured　out　a　big　tumbler　half　full　of　raw　spirits；　and　gulped　it　down　without　a　word。　The　little　man　stood　tiptoe；　and　putting　his　head　first　to　one　side　and　then　the　other；　and　snuffing　considerately　in　the　directions　of　the　various　bottles；　ordered　at　last　a　mint　julep；　in　a　thin　and　quivering　voice；　and　with　an　air　of　great　circumspection。　When　poured　out；　he　took　it　and　looked　at　it　with　a　sharp；　complacent　air；　like；a　man　who　thinks　he　has　done　about　the　right　thing；　and　hit　the　nail　on　the　head；　and　proceeded　to　dispose　of　it　in　short　and　well…advised　sips。
“Wal；　now；　who’d　a　thought　this　yer　luck　’ad　come　to　me？　Why；　Loker；　how　are　ye？”　said　Haley；　coming　forward；　and　extending　his　hand　to　the　big　man。
“The　devil！”　was　the　civil　reply。　“What　brought　you　here；　Haley？”
The　mousing　man；　who　bore　the　name　of　Marks；　instantly　stopped　his　sipping；　and；　poking　his　head　forward；　looked　shrewdly　on　the　new　acquaintance；　as　a　cat　sometimes　looks　at　a　moving　dry　leaf；　or　some　other　possible　object　of　pursuit。
“I　say；　Tom；　this　yer’s　the　luckiest　thing　in　the　world。　I’m　in　a　devil　of　a　hobble；　and　you　must　help　me　out。”
“Ugh？　aw！　like　enough！”　grunted　his　complacent　acquaintance。　“A　body　may　be　pretty　sure　of　that；　when　you’re　glad　to　see　’em；　something　to　be　made　off　of　’em。　What’s　the　blow　now？”
“You’ve　got　a　friend　here？”　said　Haley；　looking　doubtfully　at　Marks；　“partner；　perhaps？”
“Yes；　I　have。　Here；　Marks！　here’s　that　ar　feller　that　I　was　in　with　in　Natchez。”
“Shall　be　pleased　with　his　acquaintance；”　said　Marks；　thrusting　out　a　long；　thin　hand；　like　a　raven’s　claw。　“Mr。　Haley；　I　believe？”
“The　same；　sir；”　said　Haley。　“And　now；　gentlemen；　seein’　as　we’ve　met　so　happily；　I　think　I’ll　stand　up　to　a　small　matter　of　a　treat　in　this　here　parlor。　So；　now；　old　coon；”　said　he　to　the　man　at　the　bar；　“get　us　hot　water；　and　sugar；　and　cigars；　and　plenty　of　the　real　stuff　and　we’ll　have　a　blow…out。”
Behold；　then；　the　candles　lighted；　the　fire　stimulated　to　the　burning　point　in　the　grate；　and　our　three　worthies　seated　round　a　table；　well　spread　with　all　the　acomessories　to　good　fellowship　enumerated　before。
Haley　began　a　pathetic　recital　of　his　peculiar　troubles。　Loker　shut　up　his　mouth；　and　listened　to　him　with　gruff　and　surly　attention。　Marks；　who　was　anxiously　and　with　much　fidgeting　compounding　a　tumbler　of　punch　to　his　own　peculiar　taste；　ocomasionally　looked　up　from　his　employment；　and；　poking　his　sharp　nose　and　chin　almost　into　Haley’s　face；　gave　the　most　earnest　heed　to　the　whole　narrative。　The　conclusion　of　it　appeared　to　amuse　him　extremely；　for　he　shook　his　shoulders　and　sides　in　silence；　and　perked　up　his　thin　lips　with　an　air　of　great　internal　enjoyment。
“So；　then；　ye’r　fairly　sewed　up；　an’t　ye？”　he　said；　“he！　he！　he！　It’s　neatly　done；　too。”
“This　yer　young…un　business　makes　lots　of　trouble　in　the　trade；”　said　Haley；　dolefully。
“If　we　could　get　a　breed　of　gals　that　didn’t　care；　now；　for　their　young　uns；”　said　Marks；　“tell　ye；　I　think　’t　would　be　’bout　the　greatest　mod’rn　improvement　I　knows　on；”—and　Marks　patronized　his　joke　by　a　quiet　introductory　sniggle。
“Jes　so；”　said　Haley；　“I　never　couldn’t　see　into　it；　young　uns　is　heaps　of　trouble　to　’em；　one　would　think；　now；　they’d　be　glad　to　get　clar　on　’em；　but　they　arn’t。　And　the　more　trouble　a　young　un　is；　and　the　more　good　for　nothing；　as　a　gen’l　thing；　the　tighter　they　sticks　to　’em。”
“Wal；　Mr。　Haley；”　said　Marks；　“’est　pass　the　hot　water。　Yes；　sir；　you　say　’est　what　I　feel　and　all’us　have。　Now；　I　bought　a　gal　once；　when　I　was　in　the　trade；—a　tight；　likely　wench　she　was；　too；　and　quite　considerable　smart；—and　she　had　a　young　un　that　was　mis’able　sickly；　it　had　a　crooked　back；　or　something　or　other；　and　I　jest　gin　’t　away　to　a　man　that　thought　he’d　take　his　chance　raising　on　’t；　being　it　didn’t　cost　nothin’；—never　thought；　yer　know；　of　the　gal’s　taking’　on　about　it；—but；　Lord；　yer　oughter　seen　how　she　went　on。　Why；　re’lly；　she　did　seem　to　me　to　valley　the　child　more　’cause　’t　was　sickly　and　cross；　and　plagued　her；　and　she　warn’t　making　b’lieve；　neither；—cried　about　it；　she　did；　and　lopped　round；　as　if　she’d　lost　every　friend　she　had。　It　re’lly　was　droll　to　think　on　’t。　Lord；　there　ain’t　no　end　to　women’s　notions。”
“Wal；　jest　so　with　me；”　said　Haley。　“　summer；　down　on　Red　river；　I　got　a　gal　traded　off　on　me；　with　a　likely　lookin’　child　enough；　and　his　eyes　looked　as　bright　as　yourn；　but；　come　to　look；　I　found　him　stone　blind。　Fact—he　was　stone　blind。　Wal；　ye　see；　I　thought　there　warn’t　no　harm　in　my　jest　passing　him　along；　and　not　sayin’　nothin’；　and　I’d　got　him　nicely　swapped　off　for　a　keg　o’　whiskey；　but　come　to　get　him　away　from　the　gal；　she　was　jest　like　a　tiger。　So　’t　was　before　we　started；　and　I　hadn’t　got　my　gang　chained　up；　so　what　should　she　do　but　ups　on　a　cotton…bale；　like　a　cat；　ketches　a　knife　from　one　of　the　deck　hands；　and；　I　tell　ye；　she　made　all　fly　for　a　minit；　till　she　saw　’t　wan’t　no　use；　and　she　jest　turns　round；　and　pitches　head　first；　young　un　and　all；　into　the　river；—went　down　plump；　and　never　ris。”
“Bah！”　said　Tom　Loker；　who　had　listened　to　these　stories　with　ill…repressed　disgust；—“shif’less；　both　on　ye！　my　gals　don’t　cut　up　no　such　shines；　I　tell　ye！”
“Indeed！　how　do　you　help　it？”　said　Marks；　briskly。
“Help　it？　why；　I　buys　a　gal；　and　if　she’s　got　a　young　un　to　be　sold；　I　jest　walks　up　and　puts　my　fist　to　her　face；　and　says；　‘Look　here；　now；　if　you　give　me　one　word　out　of　your　head；　I’ll　smash　yer　face　in。　I　won’t　hear　one　word—not　the　beginning　of　a　word。’　I　says　to　’em；　‘This　yer　young　un’s　mine；　and　not　yourn；　and　you’ve　no　kind　o’　business　with　it。　I’m　going　to　sell　it；　first　chance；　mind；　you　don’t　cut　up　none　o’　yer　shines　about　it；　or　I’ll　make　ye　wish　ye’d　never　been　born。’　I　tell　ye；　they　sees　it　an’t　no　play；　when　I　gets　hold。　I　makes　’em　as　whist　as　fishes；　and　if　one　on　’em　begins　and　gives　a　yelp；　why；—”　and　Mr。　Loker　brought　down　his　fist　with　a　thump　that　fully　explained　the　hiatus。
“That　ar’s　what　ye　may　call　emphasis；”　said　Marks；　poking　Haley　in　the　side；　and　going　into　another　small　giggle。　“An’t　Tom　peculiar？　he！　he！　I　say；　Tom；　I　s’pect　you　make　’em　understand；　for　all　niggers’　heads　is　woolly。　They　don’t　never　have　no　doubt　o’　your　meaning；　Tom。　If　you　an’t　the　devil；　Tom；　you　’s　his　twin　brother；　I’ll　say　that　for　ye！”
Tom　received　the　compliment　with　becoming　modesty；　and　began　to　look　as　affable　as　was　consistent；　as　John　Bunyan　says；　“with　his　doggish　nature。”
Haley；　who　had　been　imbibing　very　freely　of　the　staple　of　the　evening；　began　to　feel　a　sensible　elevation　and　enlargement　of　his　moral　faculties；—a　phenomenon　not　unusual　with　gentlemen　of　a　serious　and　reflective　turn；　under　similar　circumstances。
“Wal；　now；　Tom；”　he　said；　“ye　re’lly　is　too　bad；　as　I　al’ays　have　told　ye；　ye　know；　Tom；　you　and　I　used　to　talk　over　these　yer　matters　down　in　Natchez；　and　I　used　to　prove　to　ye　that　we　made　full　as　much；　and　was　as　well　off　for　this　yer　world；　by　treatin’　on　’em　well；　besides　keepin’　a　better　chance　for　comin’　in　the　kingdom　at　last；　when　wust　comes　to　wust；　and　thar　an’t　nothing　else　left　to　get；　ye　know。”
“Boh！”　said