英语天堂-第50部分

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garian　fugitives　make　their　way；　against　all　the　search…warrants　and　authorities　of　their　lawful　government；　to　America；　press　and　political　cabinet　ring　with　applause　and　welcome。　When　despairing　African　fugitives　do　the　same　thing；—it　is—what　is　it？
Be　it　as　it　may；　it　is　certain　that　the　attitude；　eye；　voice；　manner；　of　the　speaker　for　a　moment　struck　the　party　below　to　silence。　There　is　something　in　boldness　and　determination　that　for　a　time　hushes　even　the　rudest　nature。　Marks　was　the　only　one　who　remained　wholly　untouched。　He　was　deliberately　cocking　his　pistol；　and；　in　the　momentary　silence　that　followed　George’s　speech；　he　fired　at　him。
“Ye　see　ye　get　jist　as　much　for　him　dead　as　alive　in　Kentucky；”　he　said　coolly；　as　he　wiped　his　pistol　on　his　coat…sleeve。
George　sprang　backward；—Eliza　uttered　a　shriek；—the　ball　had　passed　close　to　his　hair；　had　nearly　grazed　the　cheek　of　his　wife；　and　struck　in　the　tree　above。
“It’s　nothing；　Eliza；”　said　George；　quickly。
“Thee’d　better　keep　out　of　sight；　with　thy　speechifying；”　said　Phineas；　“they’re　mean　scamps。”
“Now；　Jim；”　said　George；　“look　that　your　pistols　are　all　right；　and　watch　that　pass　with　me。　The　first　man　that　shows　himself　I　fire　at；　you　take　the　second；　and　so　on。　It　won’t　do；　you　know；　to　waste　two　shots　on　one。”
“But　what　if　you　don’t　hit？”
“I　shall　hit；”　said　George；　coolly。
“Good！　now；　there’s　stuff　in　that　fellow；”　muttered　Phineas；　between　his　teeth。
The　party　below；　after　Marks　had　fired；　stood；　for　a　moment；　rather　undecided。
“I　think　you　must　have　hit　some　on　’em；”　said　one　of　the　men。　“I　heard　a　squeal！”
“I’m　going　right　up　for　one；”　said　Tom。　“I　never　was　afraid　of　niggers；　and　I　an’t　going　to　be　now。　Who　goes　after？”　he　said；　springing　up　the　rocks。
George　heard　the　words　distinctly。　He　drew　up　his　pistol；　examined　it；　pointed　it　towards　that　point　in　the　defile　where　the　first　man　would　appear。
One　of　the　most　courageous　of　the　party　followed　Tom；　and；　the　way　being　thus　made；　the　whole　party　began　pushing　up　the　rock；—the　hindermost　pushing　the　front　ones　faster　than　they　would　have　gone　of　themselves。　On　they　came；　and　in　a　moment　the　burly　form　of　Tom　appeared　in　sight；　almost　at　the　verge　of　the　chasm。
George　fired；—the　shot　entered　his　side；—but；　though　wounded；　he　would　not　retreat；　but；　with　a　yell　like　that　of　a　mad　bull；　he　was　leaping　right　across　the　chasm　into　the　party。
“Friend；”　said　Phineas；　suddenly　stepping　to　the　front；　and　meeting　him　with　a　push　from　his　long　arms；　“thee　isn’t　wanted　here。”
Down　he　fell　into　the　chasm；　crackling　down　among　trees；　bushes；　logs；　loose　stones；　till　he　lay　bruised　and　groaning　thirty　feet　below。　The　fall　might　have　killed　him；　had　it　not　been　broken　and　moderated　by　his　clothes　catching　in　the　branches　of　a　large　tree；　but　he　came　down　with　some　force；　however；—more　than　was　at　all　agreeable　or　convenient。
“Lord　help　us；　they　are　perfect　devils！”　said　Marks；　heading　the　retreat　down　the　rocks　with　much　more　of　a　will　than　he　had　joined　the　ascent；　while　all　the　party　came　tumbling　precipitately　after　him；—the　fat　constable；　in　particular；　blowing　and　puffing　in　a　very　energetic　manner。
“I　say；　fellers；”　said　Marks；　“you　jist　go　round　and　pick　up　Tom；　there；　while　I　run　and　get　on　to　my　horse　to　go　back　for　help；—that’s　you；”　and；　without　minding　the　hootings　and　jeers　of　his　company；　Marks　was　as　good　as　his　word；　and　was　soon　seen　galloping　away。
“Was　ever　such　a　sneaking　varmint？”　said　one　of　the　men；　“to　come　on　his　business；　and　he　clear　out　and　leave　us　this　yer　way！”
“Well；　we　must　pick　up　that　feller；”　said　another。　“Cuss　me　if　I　much　care　whether　he　is　dead　or　alive。”
The　men；　led　by　the　groans　of　Tom；　scrambled　and　crackled　through　stumps；　logs　and　bushes；　to　where　that　hero　lay　groaning　and　swearing　with　alternate　vehemence。
“Ye　keep　it　agoing　pretty　loud；　Tom；”　said　one。　“Ye　much　hurt？”
“Don’t　know。　Get　me　up；　can’t　ye？　Blast　that　infernal　Quaker！　If　it　hadn’t　been　for　him；　I’d　a　pitched　some　on　’em　down　here；　to　see　how　they　liked　it。”
With　much　labor　and　groaning；　the　fallen　hero　was　assisted　to　rise；　and；　with　one　holding　him　up　under　each　shoulder；　they　got　him　as　far　as　the　horses。
“If　you　could　only　get　me　a　mile　back　to　that　ar　tavern。　Give　me　a　handkerchief　or　something；　to　stuff　into　this　place；　and　stop　this　infernal　bleeding。”
George　looked　over　the　rocks；　and　saw　them　trying　to　lift　the　burly　form　of　Tom　into　the　saddle。　After　two　or　three　ineffectual　attempts；　he　reeled；　and　fell　heavily　to　the　ground。
“O；　I　hope　he　isn’t　killed！”　said　Eliza；　who；　with　all　the　party；　stood　watching　the　proceeding。
“Why　not？”　said　Phineas；　“serves　him　right。”
“Because　after　death　comes　the　judgment；”　said　Eliza。
“Yes；”　said　the　old　woman；　who　had　been　groaning　and　praying；　in　her　Methodist　fashion；　during　all　the　encounter；　“it’s　an　awful　case　for　the　poor　crittur’s　soul。”
“On　my　word；　they’re　leaving　him；　I　do　believe；”　said　Phineas。
It　was　true；　for　after　some　appearance　of　irresolution　and　consultation；　the　whole　party　got　on　their　horses　and　rode　away。　When　they　were　quite　out　of　sight；　Phineas　began　to　bestir　himself。
“Well；　we　must　go　down　and　walk　a　piece；”　he　said。　“I　told　Michael　to　go　forward　and　bring　help；　and　be　along　back　here　with　the　wagon；　but　we　shall　have　to　walk　a　piece　along　the　road；　I　reckon；　to　meet　them。　The　Lord　grant　he　be　along　soon！　It’s　early　in　the　day；　there　won’t　be　much　travel　afoot　yet　a　while；　we　an’t　much　more　than　two　miles　from　our　stopping…place。　If　the　road　hadn’t　been　so　rough　last　night；　we　could　have　outrun　’em　entirely。”
As　the　party　neared　the　fence；　they　discovered　in　the　distance；　along　the　road；　their　own　wagon　coming　back；　acomompanied　by　some　men　on　horseback。
“Well；　now；　there’s　Michael；　and　Stephen　and　Amariah；”　exclaimed　Phineas；　joyfully。　“Now　we　are　made—as　safe　as　if　we’d　got　there。”
“Well；　do　stop；　then；”　said　Eliza；　“and　do　something　for　that　poor　man；　he’s　groaning　dreadfully。”
“It　would　be　no　more　than　Christian；”　said　George；　“let’s　take　him　up　and　carry　him　on。”
“And　doctor　him　up　among　the　Quakers！”　said　Phineas；　“pretty　well；　that！　Well；　I　don’t　care　if　we　do。　Here；　let’s　have　a　look　at　him；”　and　Phineas；　who　in　the　course　of　his　hunting　and　backwoods　life　had　acquired　some　rude　experience　of　surgery；　kneeled　down　by　the　wounded　man；　and　began　a　careful　examination　of　his　condition。
“Marks；”　said　Tom；　feebly；　“is　that　you；　Marks？”
“No；　I　reckon　’tan’t　friend；”　said　Phineas。　“Much　Marks　cares　for　thee；　if　his　own　skin’s　safe。　He’s　off；　long　ago。”
“I　believe　I’m　done　for；”　said　Tom。　“The　cussed　sneaking　dog；　to　leave　me　to　die　alone！　My　poor　old　mother　always　told　me　’t　would　be　so。”
“La　sakes！　jist　hear　the　poor　crittur。　He’s　got　a　mammy；　now；”　said　the　old　negress。　“I　can’t　help　kinder　pityin’　on　him。”
“Softly；　softly；　don’t　thee　snap　and　snarl；　friend；”　said　Phineas；　as　Tom　winced　and　pushed　his　hand　away。　“Thee　has　no　chance；　unless　I　stop　the　bleeding。”　And　Phineas　busied　himself　with　making　some　off…hand　surgical　arrangements　with　his　own　pocket…handkerchief；　and　such　as　could　be　mustered　in　the　company。
“You　pushed　me　down　there；”　said　Tom；　faintly。
“Well　if　I　hadn’t　thee　would　have　pushed　us　down；　thee　sees；”　said　Phineas；　as　he　stooped　to　apply　his　bandage。　“There；　there；—let　me　fix　this　bandage。　We　mean　well　to　thee；　we　bear　no　malice。　Thee　shall　be　taken　to　a　house　where　they’ll　nurse　thee　first　rate；　well　as　thy　own　mother　could。”
Tom　groaned；　and　shut　his　eyes。　In　men　of　his　class；　vigor　and　resolution　are　entirely　a　physical　matter；　and　ooze　out　with　the　flowing　of　the　blood；　and　the　gigantic　fellow　really　looked　piteous　in　his　helplessness。
The　other　party　now　came　up。　The　seats　were　taken　out　of　the　wagon。　The　buffalo…skins；　doubled　in　fours；　were　spread　all　along　one　side；　and　four　men；　with　great　difficulty；　lifted　the　heavy　form　of　Tom　into　it。　Before　he　was　gotten　in；　he　fainted　entirely。　The　old　negress；　in　the　abundance　of　her　compassion；　sat　down　on　the　bottom；　and　took　his　head　in　her　lap。　Eliza；　George　and　Jim；　bestowed　themselves；　as　well　as　they　could；　in　the　remaining　space　and　the　whole　party　set　forward。
“What　do　you　think　of　him？”　said　George；　who　sat　by　Phineas　in　front。
“Well　it’s　only　a　pretty　deep　flesh…wound；　but；　then；　tumbling　and　scratching　down　that　place　didn’t　help　him　much。　It　has　bled　pretty　freely；—pretty　much　dreaned　him　out；　courage　and　all；—but　he’ll　get　over　it；　and　may　be　learn　a　thing　or　two　by　it。”
“I’m　glad　to　hear　you　say　so；”　said　George。　“It　would　always　be　a　heavy　thought　to　me；　if　I’d　caused　his　death；　even　in　a　just　cause。”
“Yes；”　said　Phineas；　“killing　is　an　ugly　operation；　any　way　they’ll　fix　it；—man　or　beast。　I’ve　seen　a　buck　that　was　shot　down　and　a　dying；　look　that　way　on　a　feller　with　his　eye；　that　it　reely　most　made　a　feller　feel　wicked　for　killing　on　him；　and　human　creatures　is　a　more　serious　consideration　yet；　bein’；　as　thy　wife　says；　that　the　judgment　comes　to　’em　after　death。　So　I　don’t　know　as　our　people’s　notions　on　these　matters　is　too　strict；　and；　considerin’　how　I　was　raised；　I　fell　in　with　them　pretty　considerably。”
“What　shall　you　do　with　this　poor　fellow？”　said　George。
“O；　carry　him　along　to　Amariah’s。　There’s　old　Grandmam　Stephens　there；—Dorcas；　they　call　her；—she’s　most　an　amazin’　nurse。　She　takes　to　nursing　real　natural；　and　an’t　never　better　suited　than　when　she　gets　a　sick　body　to　tend。　We　may　reckon　on　turning　him　over　to　her　for　a　fortnight　or　so。”
A　ride　of　about　an　hour　more　brought　the　party　to　a　neat　farmhouse；　where　the　weary　travellers　were　received　to　an　abundant　breakfast。　Tom　Loker　was　soon　carefully　deposited　in　a　much　cleaner　and　softer　bed　than　he　had；　ever　been　in　the　habit　of　ocomupying。　His　wound　was　carefully　dressed　and　bandaged；　and　he　lay　languidly　opening　and　shutting　his　eyes　on　the　white　window…curtains　and　gently…gliding　figures　of　his　sick　room；　like　a　weary　child。　And　here；　for　the　present；　we　shall　take　our　leave　of　one　party。
1　Ps。　73；　“The　End　of　the　Wicked　contrasted　with　that　of　the　Righteous。”
Chapter　18
Miss　Ophelia’s　Experiences　and　Opinions
Our　friend　Tom；　in　his　own　simple　musings；　often　compared　his　more　fortunate　lot；　in　the　bondage　into　which　he　was　cast；　with　that　of　Joseph　in　Egypt；　and；　in　fact；　as　time　went　on；　and　he　developed　more　and　more　under　the　eye　of　his　master；　the　strength　of　the　parallel　increased。
St。　Clare　was　indolent　and　careless　of　money。　Hitherto　the　providing　and　marketing　had　been　principally　done　by　Adolph；　who　was；　to　the　full；　as　careless　and　extravagant　as　his　master；　and；　between　them　both；　they　had　carried　on　the　dispersing　process　with　great　alacrity。　Acomustomed；　for　many　years；　to　regard　his　master’s　property　as　his　own　care；　Tom　saw；　with　an　uneasiness　he　could　scarcely　repress；　the　wasteful　expenditure　of　the　establishment；　and；　in　the　quiet；　indirect　way　which　his　class　often　acquire；　would　sometimes　make　his　own　suggestions。
St。　Clare　at　first　employed　him　ocomasionally；　but；　struck　with　his　soundness　of　mind　and　good　business　capacity；　he　confided　in　him　more　and　more；　till　gradually　all　the　marketing　and　providing　for　the　family　were　intrusted　to　him。
“No；　no；　Adolph；”　he　said；　one　day；　as　Adolph　was　deprecating　the　passing　of　power　out　of　his　hands；　“let　Tom　alone。　You　only　understand　what　you　want；　Tom　understands　cost　and　come　to；　and　there　may　be　some　end　to　money；　bye　and　bye　if　we　don’t　let　somebody　do　that。”
Trusted　to　an　unlimited　extent　by　a　careless　master；　who　handed　him　a　bill　without　looking　at　it；　and　pocketed　the　change　without　counting　it；　Tom　had　every　facility　and　temptation　to　dishonesty；　and　nothing　but　an　impregnable　simplicity　of　nature；　strengthened　by　Christian　faith；　could　have　kept　him　from　it。　But；　to　that　nature；　the　very　unbounded　trust　reposed　in　him　was　bond　and　seal　for　the　most　scrupulous　acomuracy。
With　Adolph　the　case　had　been　different。　Thoughtless　and　self…indulgent；　and　unrestrained　by　a　master　who　found　it　easier　to　indulge　than　to　regulate；　he　had　fallen　into　an　absolute　confusion　as　to　meum　tuum　with　regard　to　himself　and　his　master；　which　sometimes　troubled　even　St。　Clare。　His　own　good　sense　taught　him　that　such　a　training　of　his　servants　was　unjust　and　dangerous。　A　sort　of　chronic　remorse　went　with　him　everywhere；　although　not　strong　enough　to　make　any　decided　change　in　his　course；　and　this　very　remorse　reacted　again　into　indulgence。　He　passed　lightly　over　the　most　serious　faults；　because　he　told　himself　that；　if　he　had　done　his　part；　his　dependents　had　not　fallen　into　them。
Tom　regarded　his　gay；　airy；　handsome　young　master　with　an　odd　mixture　of　fealty；　reverence；　and　fatherly　solicitude。　That　he　never　read　the　Bible；　never　went　to　church；　that　he　jested　and　made　free　with　any　and　every　thing　that　came　in　the　way　of　his　wit；　that　he　spent　his　Sunday　evenings　at　the　opera　or　theatre；　that　he　went　to　wine　parties；　and　clubs；　and　suppers；　oftener　than　was　at　all　expedient；—were　all　things　that　Tom　could　see　as　plainly　as　anybody；　and　on　which　he　based　a　conviction　that　“Mas’r　wasn’t　a　Christian；”—a　conviction；　however；　which　he　would　have　been　very　slow　to　express　to　any　one　else；　but　on　which　he　founded　many　prayers；　in　his　own　simple　fashion；　when　he　was　by　himself　in　his　little　dormitory。　Not　that　Tom　had　not　his　own　way　of　speaking　his　mind　ocomasionally；　with　something　of　the　tact　often　observable　in　his　class；　as；　for　example；　the　very　day　after　the　Sabbath　we　have　described；　St。　Clare　was　invited　out　to　a　convivial　party　of　choice　spirits；　and　was　helped　home；　between　one　and　two　o’clock　at　night；　in　a　condition　when　the　physical　had　decidedly　attained　the　upper　hand　of　the　intellectual。　Tom　and　Adolph　assisted　to　get　him　composed　for　the　night；　the　latter　in　high　spirits；　evidently　regarding　the　matter　as　a　good　joke；　and　laughing　heartily　at　the　rusticity　of　Tom’s　horror；　who　really　was　simple　enough　to　lie　awake　most　of　the　rest　of　the　night；　praying　for　his　young　master。
“Well；　Tom；　what　are　you　waiting　for？”　said　St。　Clare；　the　next　day；　as　he　sat　in　his　library；　in　dressing…gown　and　slippers。　St。　Clare　had　just　been　entrusting　Tom　with　some　money；　and　various　commissions。　“Isn’t　all　right　there；　Tom？”　he　added；　as　Tom　still　stood　waiting。
“I’m　’fraid　not；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　with　a　grave　face。
St。　Clare　laid　down　his　paper；　and　set　down　his　coffee…cup；　and　looked　at　Tom。
“Why　Tom；　what’s　the　case？　You　look　as　solemn　as　a　coffin。”
“I　feel　very　bad；　Mas’r。　I　allays　have　thought　that　Mas’r　would　be　good　to　everybody。”
“Well；　Tom；　haven’t　I　been？　Come；　now；　what　do　you　want？　There’s　something　you　haven’t　got；　I　suppose；　and　this　is　the　preface。”
“Mas’r　allays　been　good　to　me。　I　haven’t　nothing　to　complain　of　on　that　head。　But　there　is　one　that　Mas’r　isn’t　good　to。”
“Why；　Tom；　what’s　got　into　you？　Speak　out；　what　do　you　mean？”
“　night；　between　one　and　two；　I　thought　so。　I　studied　upon　the　matter　then。　Mas’r　isn’t　good　to　himself。”
Tom　said　this　with　his　back　to　his　master；　and　his　hand　on　the　door…knob。　St。　Clare　felt　his　face　flush　crimson；　b