英语天堂-第30部分

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t　last；　when　wust　comes　to　wust；　and　thar　an’t　nothing　else　left　to　get；　ye　know。”
“Boh！”　said　Tom；　“don’t　I　know？—don’t　make　me　too　sick　with　any　yer　stuff；—my　stomach　is　a　leetle　riled　now；”　and　Tom　drank　half　a　glass　of　raw　brandy。
“I　say；”　said　Haley；　and　leaning　back　in　his　chair　and　gesturing　impressively；　“I’ll　say　this　now；　I　al’ays　meant　to　drive　my　trade　so　as　to　make　money　on　’t　fust　and　foremost；　as　much　as　any　man；　but；　then；　trade　an’t　everything；　and　money　an’t　everything；　’cause　we　’s　all　got　souls。　I　don’t　care；　now；　who　hears　me　say　it；—and　I　think　a　cussed　sight　on　it；—so　I　may　as　well　come　out　with　it。　I　b’lieve　in　religion；　and　one　of　these　days；　when　I’ve　got　matters　tight　and　snug；　I　calculates　to　tend　to　my　soul　and　them　ar　matters；　and　so　what’s　the　use　of　doin’　any　more　wickedness　than　’s　re’lly　necessary？—it　don’t　seem　to　me　it’s　’t　all　prudent。”
“Tend　to　yer　soul！”　repeated　Tom；　contemptuously；　“take　a　bright　lookout　to　find　a　soul　in　you；—save　yourself　any　care　on　that　score。　If　the　devil　sifts　you　through　a　hair　sieve；　he　won’t　find　one。”
“Why；　Tom；　you’re　cross；”　said　Haley；　“why　can’t　ye　take　it　pleasant；　now；　when　a　feller’s　talking　for　your　good？”
“Stop　that　ar　jaw　o’　yourn；　there；”　said　Tom；　gruffly。　“I　can　stand　most　any　talk　o’　yourn　but　your　pious　talk；—that　kills　me　right　up。　After　all；　what’s　the　odds　between　me　and　you？　’Tan’t　that　you　care　one　bit　more；　or　have　a　bit　more　feelin’—it’s　clean；　sheer；　dog　meanness；　wanting　to　cheat　the　devil　and　save　your　own　skin；　don’t　I　see　through　it？　And　your　‘gettin’　religion；’　as　you　call　it；　arter　all；　is　too　p’isin　mean　for　any　crittur；—run　up　a　bill　with　the　devil　all　your　life；　and　then　sneak　out　when　pay　time　comes！　Bob！”
“Come；　come；　gentlemen；　I　say；　this　isn’t　business；”　said　Marks。　“There’s　different　ways；　you　know；　of　looking　at　all　subjects。　Mr。　Haley　is　a　very　nice　man；　no　doubt；　and　has　his　own　conscience；　and；　Tom；　you　have　your　ways；　and　very　good　ones；　too；　Tom；　but　quarrelling；　you　know；　won’t　answer　no　kind　of　purpose。　Let’s　go　to　business。　Now；　Mr。　Haley；　what　is　it？—you　want　us　to　undertake　to　catch　this　yer　gal？”
“The　gal’s　no　matter　of　mine；—she’s　Shelby’s；　it’s　only　the　boy。　I　was　a　fool　for　buying　the　monkey！”
“You’re　generally　a　fool！”　said　Tom；　gruffly。
“Come；　now；　Loker；　none　of　your　huffs；”　said　Marks；　licking　his　lips；　“you　see；　Mr。　Haley　’s　a　puttin’　us　in　a　way　of　a　good　job；　I　reckon；　just　hold　still—these　yer　arrangements　is　my　forte。　This　yer　gal；　Mr。　Haley；　how　is　she？　what　is　she？”
“Wal！　white　and　handsome—well　brought　up。　I’d　a　gin　Shelby　eight　hundred　or　a　thousand；　and　then　made　well　on　her。”
“White　and　handsome—well　brought　up！”　said　Marks；　his　sharp　eyes；　nose　and　mouth；　all　alive　with　enterprise。　“Look　here；　now；　Loker；　a　beautiful　opening。　We’ll　do　a　business　here　on　our　own　acomount；—we　does　the　catchin’；　the　boy；　of　course；　goes　to　Mr。　Haley；—we　takes　the　gal　to　Orleans　to　speculate　on。　An’t　it　beautiful？”
Tom；　whose　great　heavy　mouth　had　stood　ajar　during　this　communication；　now　suddenly　snapped　it　together；　as　a　big　dog　closes　on　a　piece　of　meat；　and　seemed　to　be　digesting　the　idea　at　his　leisure。
“Ye　see；”　said　Marks　to　Haley；　stirring　his　punch　as　he　did　so；　“ye　see；　we　has　justices　convenient　at　all　p’ints　along　shore；　that　does　up　any　little　jobs　in　our　line　quite　reasonable。　Tom；　he　does　the　knockin’　down　and　that　ar；　and　I　come　in　all　dressed　up—shining　boots—everything　first　chop；　when　the　swearin’　’s　to　be　done。　You　oughter　see；　now；”　said　Marks；　in　a　glow　of　professional　pride；　“how　I　can　tone　it　off。　One　day；　I’m　Mr。　Twickem；　from　New　Orleans；　’nother　day；　I’m　just　come　from　my　plantation　on　Pearl　river；　where　I　works　seven　hundred　niggers；　then；　again；　I　come　out　a　distant　relation　of　Henry　Clay；　or　some　old　cock　in　Kentuck。　Talents　is　different；　you　know。　Now；　Tom’s　roarer　when　there’s　any　thumping　or　fighting　to　be　done；　but　at　lying　he　an’t　good；　Tom　an’t；—ye　see　it　don’t　come　natural　to　him；　but；　Lord；　if　thar’s　a　feller　in　the　country　that　can　swear　to　anything　and　everything；　and　put　in　all　the　circumstances　and　flourishes　with　a　long　face；　and　carry　’t　through　better　’n　I　can；　why；　I’d　like　to　see　him；　that’s　all！　I　b’lieve　my　heart；　I　could　get　along　and　snake　through；　even　if　justices　were　more　particular　than　they　is。　Sometimes　I　rather　wish　they　was　more　particular；　’t　would　be　a　heap　more　relishin’　if　they　was；—more　fun；　yer　know。”
Tom　Loker；　who；　as　we　have　made　it　appear；　was　a　man　of　slow　thoughts　and　movements；　here　interrupted　Marks　by　bringing　his　heavy　fist　down　on　the　table；　so　as　to　make　all　ring　again；　“It’ll　do！”　he　said。
“Lord　bless　ye；　Tom；　ye　needn’t　break　all　the　glasses！”　said　Marks；　“save　your　fist　for　time　o’　need。”
“But；　gentlemen；　an’t　I　to　come　in　for　a　share　of　the　profits？”　said　Haley。
“An’t　it　enough　we　catch　the　boy　for　ye？”　said　Loker。　“What　do　ye　want？”
“Wal；”　said　Haley；　“if　I　gives　you　the　job；　it’s　worth　something；—say　ten　per　cent。　on　the　profits；　expenses　paid。”
“Now；”　said　Loker；　with　a　tremendous　oath；　and　striking　the　table　with　his　heavy　fist；　“don’t　I　know　you；　Dan　Haley？　Don’t　you　think　to　come　it　over　me！　Suppose　Marks　and　I　have　taken　up　the　catchin’　trade；　jest　to　’commodate　gentlemen　like　you；　and　get　nothin’　for　ourselves？—Not　by　a　long　chalk！　we’ll　have　the　gal　out　and　out；　and　you　keep　quiet；　or；　ye　see；　we’ll　have　both；—what’s　to　hinder？　Han’t　you　show’d　us　the　game？　It’s　as　free　to　us　as　you；　I　hope。　If　you　or　Shelby　wants　to　chase　us；　look　where　the　partridges　was　last　year；　if　you　find　them　or　us；　you’re　quite　welcome。”
“O；　wal；　certainly；　jest　let　it　go　at　that；”　said　Haley；　alarmed；　“you　catch　the　boy　for　the　job；—you　allers　did　trade　far　with　me；　Tom；　and　was　up　to　yer　word。”
“Ye　know　that；”　said　Tom；　“I　don’t　pretend　none　of　your　snivelling　ways；　but　I　won’t　lie　in　my　’counts　with　the　devil　himself。　What　I　ses　I’ll　do；　I　will　do；—you　know　that；　Dan　Haley。”
“Jes　so；　jes　so；—I　said　so；　Tom；”　said　Haley；　“and　if　you’d　only　promise　to　have　the　boy　for　me　in　a　week；　at　any　point　you’ll　name；　that’s　all　I　want。”
“But　it　an’t　all　I　want；　by　a　long　jump；”　said　Tom。　“Ye　don’t　think　I　did　business　with　you；　down　in　Natchez；　for　nothing；　Haley；　I’ve　learned　to　hold　an　eel；　when　I　catch　him。　You’ve　got　to　fork　over　fifty　dollars；　flat　down；　or　this　child　don’t　start　a　peg。　I　know　yer。”
“Why；　when　you　have　a　job　in　hand　that　may　bring　a　clean　profit　of　somewhere　about　a　thousand　or　sixteen　hundred；　why；　Tom；　you’re　onreasonable；”　said　Haley。
“Yes；　and　hasn’t　we　business　booked　for　five　weeks　to　come；—all　we　can　do？　And　suppose　we　leaves　all；　and　goes　to　bush…whacking　round　arter　yer　young　uns；　and　finally　doesn’t　catch　the　gal；—and　gals　allers　is　the　devil　to　catch；—what’s　then？　would　you　pay　us　a　cent—would　you？　I　think　I　see　you　a　doin’　it—ugh！　No；　no；　flap　down　your　fifty。　If　we　get　the　job；　and　it　pays；　I’ll　hand　it　back；　if　we　don’t；　it’s　for　our　trouble；—that’s　far；　an’t　it；　Marks？”
“Certainly；　certainly；”　said　Marks；　with　a　conciliatory　tone；　“it’s　only　a　retaining　fee；　you　see；—he！　he！　he！—we　lawyers；　you　know。　Wal；　we　must　all　keep　good…natured；—keep　easy；　yer　know。　Tom’ll　have　the　boy　for　yer；　anywhere　ye’ll　name；　won’t　ye；　Tom？”
“If　I　find　the　young　un；　I’ll　bring　him　on　to　Cincinnati；　and　leave　him　at　Granny　Belcher’s；　on　the　landing；”　said　Loker。
Marks　had　got　from　his　pocket　a　greasy　pocket…book；　and　taking　a　long　paper　from　thence；　he　sat　down；　and　fixing　his　keen　black　eyes　on　it；　began　mumbling　over　its　contents：　“Barnes—Shelby　County—boy　Jim；　three　hundred　dollars　for　him；　dead　or　alive。
“Edwards—Dick　and　Lucy—man　and　wife；　six　hundred　dollars；　wench　Polly　and　two　children—six　hundred　for　her　or　her　head。
“I’m　jest　a　runnin’　over　our　business；　to　see　if　we　can　take　up　this　yer　handily。　Loker；”　he　said；　after　a　pause；　“we　must　set　Adams　and　Springer　on　the　track　of　these　yer；　they’ve　been　booked　some　time。”
“They’ll　charge　too　much；”　said　Tom。
“I’ll　manage　that　ar；　they　’s　young　in　the　business；　and　must　spect　to　work　cheap；”　said　Marks；　as　he　continued　to　read。　“Ther’s　three　on　’em　easy　cases；　’cause　all　you’ve　got　to　do　is　to　shoot　’em；　or　swear　they　is　shot；　they　couldn’t；　of　course；　charge　much　for　that。　Them　other　cases；”　he　said；　folding　the　paper；　“will　bear　puttin’　off　a　spell。　So　now　let’s　come　to　the　particulars。　Now；　Mr。　Haley；　you　saw　this　yer　gal　when　she　landed？”
“To　be　sure；—plain　as　I　see　you。”
“And　a　man　helpin’　on　her　up　the　bank？”　said　Loker。
“To　be　sure；　I　did。”
“Most　likely；”　said　Marks；　“she’s　took　in　somewhere；　but　where；　’s　a　question。　Tom；　what　do　you　say？”
“We　must　cross　the　river　tonight；　no　mistake；”　said　Tom。
“But　there’s　no　boat　about；”　said　Marks。　“The　ice　is　running　awfully；　Tom；　an’t　it　dangerous？”
“Don’no　nothing　’bout　that；—only　it’s　got　to　be　done；”　said　Tom；　decidedly。
“Dear　me；”　said　Marks；　fidgeting；　“it’ll　be—I　say；”　he　said；　walking　to　the　window；　“it’s　dark　as　a　wolf’s　mouth；　and；　Tom—”
“The　long　and　short　is；　you’re　scared；　Marks；　but　I　can’t　help　that；—you’ve　got　to　go。　Suppose　you　want　to　lie　by　a　day　or　two；　till　the　gal　’s　been　carried　on　the　underground　line　up　to　Sandusky　or　so；　before　you　start。”
“O；　no；　I　an’t　a　grain　afraid；”　said　Marks；　“only—”
“Only　what？”　said　Tom。
“Well；　about　the　boat。　Yer　see　there　an’t　any　boat。”
“I　heard　the　woman　say　there　was　one　coming　along　this　evening；　and　that　a　man　was　going　to　cross　over　in　it。　Neck　or　nothing；　we　must　go　with　him；”　said　Tom。
“I　s’pose　you’ve　got　good　dogs；”　said　Haley。
“First　rate；”　said　Marks。　“But　what’s　the　use？　you　han’t　got　nothin’　o’　hers　to　smell　on。”
“Yes；　I　have；”　said　Haley；　triumphantly。　“Here’s　her　shawl　she　left　on　the　bed　in　her　hurry；　she　left　her　bonnet；　too。”
“That　ar’s　lucky；”　said　Loker；　“fork　over。”
“Though　the　dogs　might　damage　the　gal；　if　they　come　on　her　unawars；”　said　Haley。
“That　ar’s　a　consideration；”　said　Marks。　“Our　dogs　tore　a　feller　half　to　pieces；　once；　down　in　Mobile；　’fore　we　could　get　’em　off。”
“Well；　ye　see；　for　this　sort　that’s　to　be　sold　for　their　looks；　that　ar　won’t　answer；　ye　see；”　said　Haley。
“I　do　see；”　said　Marks。　“Besides；　if　she’s　got　took　in；　’tan’t　no　go；　neither。　Dogs　is　no　’count　in　these　yer　up　states　where　these　critters　gets　carried；　of　course；　ye　can’t　get　on　their　track。　They　only　does　down　in　plantations；　where　niggers；　when　they　runs；　has　to　do　their　own　running；　and　don’t　get　no　help。”
“Well；”　said　Loker；　who　had　just　stepped　out　to　the　bar　to　make　some　inquiries；　“they　say　the　man’s　come　with　the　boat；　so；　Marks—”
That　worthy　cast　a　rueful　look　at　the　comfortable　quarters　he　was　leaving；　but　slowly　rose　to　obey。　After　exchanging　a　few　words　of　further　arrangement；　Haley；　with　visible　reluctance；　handed　over　the　fifty　dollars　to　Tom；　and　the　worthy　trio　separated　for　the　night。
If　any　of　our　refined　and　Christian　readers　object　to　the　society　into　which　this　scene　introduces　them；　let　us　beg　them　to　begin　and　conquer　their　prejudices　in　time。　The　catching　business；　we　beg　to　remind　them；　is　rising　to　the　dignity　of　a　lawful　and　patriotic　profession。　If　all　the　broad　land　between　the　Mississippi　and　the　Pacific　becomes　one　great　market　for　bodies　and　souls；　and　human　property　retains　the　locomotive　tendencies　of　this　nineteenth　century；　the　trader　and　catcher　may　yet　be　among　our　aristocracy。
While　this　scene　was　going　on　at　the　tavern；　Sam　and　Andy；　in　a　state　of　high　felicitation；　pursued　their　way　home。
Sam　was　in　the　highest　possible　feather；　and　expressed　his　exultation　by　all　sorts　of　supernatural　howls　and　ejaculations；　by　divers　odd　motions　and　contortions　of　his　whole　system。　Sometimes　he　would　sit　backward；　with　his　face　to　the　horse’s　tail　and　sides；　and　then；　with　a　whoop　and　a　somerset；　come　right　side　up　in　his　place　again；　and；　drawing　on　a　grave　face；　begin　to　lecture　Andy　in　high…sounding　tones　for　laughing　and　playing　the　fool。　Anon；　slapping　his　sides　with　his　arms；　he　would　burst　forth　in　peals　of　laughter；　that　made　the　old　woods　ring　as　they　passed。　With　all　these　evolutions；　he　contrived　to　keep　the　horses　up　to　the　top　of　their　speed；　until；　between　ten　and　eleven；　their　heels　resounded　on　the　gravel　at　the　end　of　the　balcony。　Mrs。　Shelby　flew　to　the　railings。
“Is　that　you；　Sam？　Where　are　they？”
“Mas’r　Haley　’s　a…restin’　at　the　tavern；　he’s　drefful　fatigued；　Missis。”
“And　Eliza；　Sam？”
“Wal；　she’s　clar　’cross　Jordan。　As　a　body　may　say；　in　the　land　o’　Canaan。”
“Why；　Sam；　what　do　you　mean？”　said　Mrs。　Shelby；　breathless；　and　almost　faint；　as　the　possible　meaning　of　these　words　came　over　her。
“Wal；　Missis；　de　Lord　he　persarves　his　own。　Lizy’s　done　gone　over　the　river　into　’Hio；　as　’markably　as　if　de　Lord　took　her　over　in　a　charrit　of　fire　and　two　hosses。”
Sam’s　vein　of　piety　was　always　uncommonly　fervent　in　his　mistress’　presence；　and　he　made　great　capital　of　scriptural　figures　and　images。
“Come　up　here；　Sam；”　said　Mr。　Shelby；　who　had　followed　on　to　the　verandah；　“and　tell　your　mistress　what　she　wants。　Come；　come；　Emily；”　said　he；　passing　his　arm　round　her；　“you　are　cold　and　all　in　a　shiver；　you　allow　yourself　to　feel　too　much。”
“Feel　too　much！　Am　not　I　a　woman；—a　mother？　Are　we　not　both　responsible　to　God　for　this　poor　girl？　My　God！　lay　not　this　sin　to　our　charge。”
“What　sin；　Emily？　You　see　yourself　that　we　have　only　done　what　we　were　obliged　to。”
“There’s　an　awful　feeling　of　guilt　about　it；　though；”　said　Mrs。　Shelby。　“I　can’t　reason　it　away。”
“Here；　Andy；　you　nigger；　be　alive！”　called　Sam；　under　the　verandah；　“take　these　yer　hosses　to　der　barn；　don’t　ye　hear　Mas’r　a　callin’？”　and　Sam　soon　appeared；　palm…leaf　in　hand；　at　the　parlor　door。
“Now；　Sam；　tell　us　distinctly　how　the　matter　was；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。　“Where　is　Eliza；　if　you　know？”
“Wal；　Mas’r；　I　saw　her；　with　my　own　eyes；　a　crossin’　on　the　floatin’　ice。　She　crossed　most　’markably；　it　wasn’t　no　less　nor　a　miracle；　and　I　saw　a　man　help　her　up　the　’Hio　side；　and　then　she　was　lost　in　the　dusk。”
“Sam；　I　think　this　rather　apocryphal；—this　miracle。　Crossing　on　floating　ice　isn’t　so　easily　done；”　said　Mr。　Shelby。
“Easy！　couldn’t　nobody　a　done　it；　without　de　Lord。　Why；　now；”　said　Sam；　“’t　was　jist　dis　yer　way。　Mas’r　Haley；　and　me；　and　Andy；　we　comes　up　to　de　little　tavern　by　the　river；　and　I　rides　a　leetle　ahead；—（I’s　so　zealous　to　be　a　cotchin’　Lizy；　that　I　couldn’t　hold　in；　no　way）；—and　when　I　comes　by　the　tavern　winder；　sure　enough　there　she　was；　right　in　plain　sight；　and　dey　diggin’　on　behind。　Wal；　I　loses　off　my　hat；　and　sings　out　nuff　to　raise　the　dead。　Course　Lizy　she　hars；　and　she　dodges　back；　when　Mas’r　Haley　he　goes　past　the　door；　and　then；　I　tell　ye；　she　clared　out　de　side　door；　she　went　down　de　river　bank；—Mas’r　Haley　he　seed　her；　and　yelled　out；　and　him；　and　me；　and　Andy；　we　took　arter。　Down　she　come　to　the　river；　and　thar　was　the　current　running　ten　feet　wide　by　the　shore；　and　over　t’　other　si