英语天堂-第79部分

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treaming　eyes　and　choking　voice；　the　black　man　looked　up　to　heaven。
And　this；　oh　Africa！　latest　called　of　nations；—called　to　the　crown　of　thorns；　the　scourge；　the　bloody　sweat；　the　cross　of　agony；—this　is　to　be　thy　victory；　by　this　shalt　thou　reign　with　Christ　when　his　kingdom　shall　come　on　earth。
The　deep　fervor　of　Tom’s　feelings；　the　softness　of　his　voice；　his　tears；　fell　like　dew　on　the　wild；　unsettled　spirit　of　the　poor　woman。　A　softness　gathered　over　the　lurid　fires　of　her　eye；　she　looked　down；　and　Tom　could　feel　the　relaxing　muscles　of　her　hands；　as　she　said；
“Didn’t　I　tell　you　that　evil　spirits　followed　me？　O！　Father　Tom；　I　can’t　pray；—I　wish　I　could。　I　never　have　prayed　since　my　children　were　sold！　What　you　say　must　be　right；　I　know　it　must；　but　when　I　try　to　pray；　I　can　only　hate　and　curse。　I　can’t　pray！”
“Poor　soul！”　said　Tom；　compassionately。　“Satan　desires　to　have　ye；　and　sift　ye　as　wheat。　I　pray　the　Lord　for　ye。　O！　Misse　Cassy；　turn　to　the　dear　Lord　Jesus。　He　came　to　bind　up　the　broken…hearted；　and　comfort　all　that　mourn。”
Cassy　stood　silent；　while　large；　heavy　tears　dropped　from　her　downcast　eyes。
“Misse　Cassy；”　said　Tom；　in　a　hesitating　tone；　after　surveying　her　in　silence；　“if　ye　only　could　get　away　from　here；—if　the　thing　was　possible；—I’d　’vise　ye　and　Emmeline　to　do　it；　that　is；　if　ye　could　go　without　blood…guiltiness；—not　otherwise。”
“Would　you　try　it　with　us；　Father　Tom？”
“No；”　said　Tom；　“time　was　when　I　would；　but　the　Lord’s　given　me　a　work　among　these　yer　poor　souls；　and　I’ll　stay　with　’em　and　bear　my　cross　with　’em　till　the　end。　It’s　different　with　you；　it’s　a　snare　to　you；—it’s　more’n　you　can　stand；—and　you’d　better　go；　if　you　can。”
“I　know　no　way　but　through　the　grave；”　said　Cassy。　“There’s　no　beast　or　bird　but　can　find　a　home　some　where；　even　the　snakes　and　the　alligators　have　their　places　to　lie　down　and　be　quiet；　but　there’s　no　place　for　us。　Down　in　the　darkest　swamps；　their　dogs　will　hunt　us　out；　and　find　us。　Everybody　and　everything　is　against　us；　even　the　very　beasts　side　against　us；—and　where　shall　we　go？”
Tom　stood　silent；　at　length　he　said；
“Him　that　saved　Daniel　in　the　den　of　lions；—that　saves　the　children　in　the　fiery　furnace；—Him　that　walked　on　the　sea；　and　bade　the　winds　be　still；—He’s　alive　yet；　and　I’ve　faith　to　believe　he　can　deliver　you。　Try　it；　and　I’ll　pray；　with　all　my　might；　for　you。”
By　what　strange　law　of　mind　is　it　that　an　idea　long　overlooked；　and　trodden　under　foot　as　a　useless　stone；　suddenly　sparkles　out　in　new　light；　as　a　discovered　diamond？
Cassy　had　often　revolved；　for　hours；　all　possible　or　probable　schemes　of　escape；　and　dismissed　them　all；　as　hopeless　and　impracticable；　but　at　this　moment　there　flashed　through　her　mind　a　plan；　so　simple　and　feasible　in　all　its　details；　as　to　awaken　an　instant　hope。
“Father　Tom；　I’ll　try　it！”　she　said；　suddenly。
“Amen！”　said　Tom；　“the　Lord　help　ye！”
1　I　Cor。　15：57。
2　“On　My　Journey　Home；”　hymn　by　Isaac　Watts；　found　in　many　of　the　southern　country　songbooks　of　the　ante　bellum　period。
Chapter　39
The　Stratagem
“The　way　of　the　wicked　is　as　darkness；　he　knoweth　not　at　what　he　stumbleth。”1
The　garret　of　the　house　that　Legree　ocomupied；　like　most　other　garrets；　was　a　great；　desolate　space；　dusty；　hung　with　cobwebs；　and　littered　with　cast…off　lumber。　The　opulent　family　that　had　inhabited　the　house　in　the　days　of　its　splendor　had　imported　a　great　deal　of　splendid　furniture；　some　of　which　they　had　taken　away　with　them；　while　some　remained　standing　desolate　in　mouldering；　unocomupied　rooms；　or　stored　away　in　this　place。　One　or　two　immense　packing…boxes；　in　which　this　furniture　was　brought；　stood　against　the　sides　of　the　garret。　There　was　a　small　window　there；　which　let　in；　through　its　dingy；　dusty　panes；　a　scanty；　uncertain　light　on　the　tall；　high…backed　chairs　and　dusty　tables；　that　had　once　seen　better　days。　Altogether；　it　was　a　weird　and　ghostly　place；　but；　ghostly　as　it　was；　it　wanted　not　in　legends　among　the　superstitious　negroes；　to　increase　it　terrors。　Some　few　years　before；　a　negro　woman；　who　had　incurred　Legree’s　displeasure；　was　confined　there　for　several　weeks。　What　passed　there；　we　do　not　say；　the　negroes　used　to　whisper　darkly　to　each　other；　but　it　was　known　that　the　body　of　the　unfortunate　creature　was　one　day　taken　down　from　there；　and　buried；　and；　after　that；　it　was　said　that　oaths　and　cursings；　and　the　sound　of　violent　blows；　used　to　ring　through　that　old　garret；　and　mingled　with　wailings　and　groans　of　despair。　Once；　when　Legree　chanced　to　overhear　something　of　this　kind；　he　flew　into　a　violent　passion；　and　swore　that　the　next　one　that　told　stories　about　that　garret　should　have　an　opportunity　of　knowing　what　was　there；　for　he　would　chain　them　up　there　for　a　week。　This　hint　was　enough　to　repress　talking；　though；　of　course；　it　did　not　disturb　the　credit　of　the　story　in　the　least。
Gradually；　the　staircase　that　led　to　the　garret；　and　even　the　passage…way　to　the　staircase；　were　avoided　by　every　one　in　the　house；　from　every　one　fearing　to　speak　of　it；　and　the　legend　was　gradually　falling　into　desuetude。　It　had　suddenly　ocomurred　to　Cassy　to　make　use　of　the　superstitious　excitability；　which　was　so　great　in　Legree；　for　the　purpose　of　her　liberation；　and　that　of　her　fellow…sufferer。
The　sleeping…room　of　Cassy　was　directly　under　the　garret。　One　day；　without　consulting　Legree；　she　suddenly　took　it　upon　her；　with　some　considerable　ostentation；　to　change　all　the　furniture　and　appurtenances　of　the　room　to　one　at　some　considerable　distance。　The　under…servants；　who　were　called　on　to　effect　this　movement；　were　running　and　bustling　about　with　great　zeal　and　confusion；　when　Legree　returned　from　a　ride。
“Hallo！　you　Cass！”　said　Legree；　“what’s　in　the　wind　now？”
“Nothing；　only　I　choose　to　have　another　room；”　said　Cassy；　doggedly。
“And　what　for；　pray？”　said　Legree。
“I　choose　to；”　said　Cassy。
“The　devil　you　do！　and　what　for？”
“I’d　like　to　get　some　sleep；　now　and　then。”
“Sleep！　well；　what　hinders　your　sleeping？”
“I　could　tell；　I　suppose；　if　you　want　to　hear；”　said　Cassy；　dryly。
“Speak　out；　you　minx！”　said　Legree。
“O！　nothing。　I　suppose　it　wouldn’t　disturb　you！　Only　groans；　and　people　scuffing；　and　rolling　round　on　the　garre；　floor；　half　the　night；　from　twelve　to　morning！”
“People　up　garret！”　said　Legree；　uneasily；　but　forcing　a　laugh；　“who　are　they；　Cassy？”
Cassy　raised　her　sharp；　black　eyes；　and　looked　in　the　face　of　Legree；　with　an　expression　that　went　through　his　bones；　as　she　said；　“To　be　sure；　Simon；　who　are　they？　I’d　like　to　have　you　tell　me。　You　don’t　know；　I　suppose！”
With　an　oath；　Legree　struck　at　her　with　his　riding…whip；　but　she　glided　to　one　side；　and　passed　through　the　door；　and　looking　back；　said；　“If　you’ll　sleep　in　that　room；　you’ll　know　all　about　it。　Perhaps　you’d　better　try　it！”　and　then　immediately　she　shut　and　locked　the　door。
Legree　blustered　and　swore；　and　threatened　to　break　down　the　door；　but　apparently　thought　better　of　it；　and　walked　uneasily　into　the　sitting…room。　Cassy　perceived　that　her　shaft　had　struck　home；　and；　from　that　hour；　with　the　most　exquisite　address；　she　never　ceased　to　continue　the　train　of　influences　she　had　begun。
In　a　knot…hole　of　the　garret；　that　had　opened；　she　had　inserted　the　neck　of　an　old　bottle；　in　such　a　manner　that　when　there　was　the　least　wind；　most　doleful　and　lugubrious　wailing　sounds　proceeded　from　it；　which；　in　a　high　wind；　increased　to　a　perfect　shriek；　such　as　to　credulous　and　superstitious　ears　might　easily　seem　to　be　that　of　horror　and　despair。
These　sounds　were；　from　time　to　time；　heard　by　the　servants；　and　revived　in　full　force　the　memory　of　the　old　ghost　legend。　A　superstitious　creeping　horror　seemed　to　fill　the　house；　and　though　no　one　dared　to　breathe　it　to　Legree；　he　found　himself　encompassed　by　it；　as　by　an　atmosphere。
No　one　is　so　thoroughly　superstitious　as　the　godless　man。　The　Christian　is　composed　by　the　belief　of　a　wise；　all…ruling　Father；　whose　presence　fills　the　void　unknown　with　light　and　order；　but　to　the　man　who　has　dethroned　God；　the　spirit…land　is；　indeed；　in　the　words　of　the　Hebrew　poet；　“a　land　of　darkness　and　the　shadow　of　death；”　without　any　order；　where　the　light　is　as　darkness。　Life　and　death　to　him　are　haunted　grounds；　filled　with　goblin　forms　of　vague　and　shadowy　dread。
Legree　had　had　the　slumbering　moral　elements　in　him　roused　by　his　encounters　with　Tom；—roused；　only　to　be　resisted　by　the　determinate　force　of　evil；　but　still　there　was　a　thrill　and　commotion　of　the　dark；　inner　world；　produced　by　every　word；　or　prayer；　or　hymn；　that　reacted　in　superstitious　dread。
The　influence　of　Cassy　over　him　was　of　a　strange　and　singular　kind。　He　was　her　owner；　her　tyrant　and　tormentor。　She　was；　as　he　knew；　wholly；　and　without　any　possibility　of　help　or　redress；　in　his　hands；　and　yet　so　it　is；　that　the　most　brutal　man　cannot　live　in　constant　association　with　a　strong　female　influence；　and　not　be　greatly　controlled　by　it。　When　he　first　bought　her；　she　was；　as　she　said；　a　woman　delicately　bred；　and　then　he　crushed　her；　without　scruple；　beneath　the　foot　of　his　brutality。　But；　as　time；　and　debasing　influences；　and　despair；　hardened　womanhood　within　her；　and　waked　the　fires　of　fiercer　passions；　she　had　become　in　a　measure　his　mistress；　and　he　alternately　tyrannized　over　and　dreaded　her。
This　influence　had　become　more　harassing　and　decided；　since　partial　insanity　had　given　a　strange；　weird；　unsettled　cast　to　all　her　words　and　language。
A　night　or　two　after　this；　Legree　was　sitting　in　the　old　sitting…room；　by　the　side　of　a　flickering　wood　fire；　that　threw　uncertain　glances　round　the　room。　It　was　a　stormy；　windy　night；　such　as　raises　whole　squadrons　of　nondescript　noises　in　rickety　old　houses。　Windows　were　rattling；　shutters　flapping；　and　wind　carousing；　rumbling；　and　tumbling　down　the　chimney；　and；　every　once　in　a　while；　puffing　out　smoke　and　ashes；　as　if　a　legion　of　spirits　were　coming　after　them。　Legree　had　been　casting　up　acomounts　and　reading　newspapers　for　some　hours；　while　Cassy　sat　in　the　corner；　sullenly　looking　into　the　fire。　Legree　laid　down　his　paper；　and　seeing　an　old　book　lying　on　the　table；　which　he　had　noticed　Cassy　reading；　the　first　part　of　the　evening；　took　it　up；　and　began　to　turn　it　over。　It　was　one　of　those　collections　of　stories　of　bloody　murders；　ghostly　legends；　and　supernatural　visitations；　which；　coarsely　got　up　and　illustrated；　have　a　strange　fascination　for　one　who　once　begins　to　read　them。
Legree　poohed　and　pished；　but　read；　turning　page　after　page；　till；　finally；　after　reading　some　way；　he　threw　down　the　book；　with　an　oath。
“You　don’t　believe　in　ghosts；　do　you；　Cass？”　said　he；　taking　the　tongs　and　settling　the　fire。　“I　thought　you’d　more　sense　than　to　let　noises　scare　you。”
“No　matter　what　I　believe；”　said　Cassy；　sullenly。
“Fellows　used　to　try　to　frighten　me　with　their　yarns　at　sea；”　said　Legree。　“Never　come　it　round　me　that　way。　I’m　too　tough　for　any　such　trash；　tell　ye。”
Cassy　sat　looking　intensely　at　him　in　the　shadow　of　the　corner。　There　was　that　strange　light　in　her　eyes　that　always　impressed　Legree　with　uneasiness。
“Them　noises　was　nothing　but　rats　and　the　wind；”　said　Legree。　“Rats　will　make　a　devil　of　a　noise。　I　used　to　hear　’em　sometimes　down　in　the　hold　of　the　ship；　and　wind；—Lord’s　sake！　ye　can　make　anything　out　o’　wind。”
Cassy　knew　Legree　was　uneasy　under　her　eyes；　and；　therefore；　she　made　no　answer；　but　sat　fixing　them　on　him；　with　that　strange；　unearthly　expression；　as　before。
“Come；　speak　out；　woman；—don’t　you　think　so？”　said　Legree。
“Can　rats　walk　down　stairs；　and　come　walking　through　the　entry；　and　open　a　door　when　you’ve　locked　it　and　set　a　chair　against　it？”　said　Cassy；　“and　come　walk；　walk；　walking　right　up　to　your　bed；　and　put　out　their　hand；　so？”
Cassy　kept　her　glittering　eyes　fixed　on　Legree；　as　she　spoke；　and　he　stared　at　her　like　a　man　in　the　nightmare；　till；　when　she　finished　by　laying　her　hand；　icy　cold；　on　his；　he　sprung　back；　with　an　oath。
“Woman！　what　do　you　mean？　Nobody　did？”
“O；　no；—of　course　not；—did　I　say　they　did？”　said　Cassy；　with　a　smile　of　chilling　derision。
“But—did—have　you　really　seen？—Come；　Cass；　what　is　it；　now；—speak　out！”
“You　may　sleep　there；　yourself；”　said　Cassy；　“if　you　want　to　know。”
“Did　it　come　from　the　garret；　Cassy？”
“It；—what？”　said　Cassy。
“Why；　what　you　told　of—”
“I　didn’t　tell　you　anything；”　said　Cassy；　with　dogged　sullenness。
Legree　walked　up　and　down　the　room；　uneasily。
“I’ll　have　this　yer　thing　examined。　I’ll　look　into　it；　this　very　night。　I’ll　take　my　pistols—”
“Do；”　said　Cassy；　“sleep　in　that　room。　I’d　like　to　see　you　doing　it。　Fire　your　pistols；—do！”
Legree　stamped　his　foot；　and　swore　violently。
“Don’t　swear；”　said　Cassy；　“nobody　knows　who　may　be　hearing　you。　Hark！　What　was　that？”
“What？”　said　Legree；　starting。
A　heavy　old　Dutch　clock；　that　stood　in　the　corner　of　the　room；　began；　and　slowly　struck　twelve。
For　some　reason　or　other；　Legree　neither　spoke　nor　moved；　a　vague　horror　fell　on　him；　while　Cassy；　with　a　keen；　sneering　glitter　in　her　eyes；　stood　looking　at　him；　counting　the　strokes。
“Twelve　o’clock；　well　now　we’ll　see；”　said　she；　turning；　and　opening　the　door　into　the　passage…way；　and　standing　as　if　listening。
“Hark！　What’s　that？”　said　she；　raising　her　finger。
“It’s　only　the　wind；”　said　Legree。　“Don’t　you　hear　how　cursedly　it　blows？”
“Simon；　come　here；”　said　Cassy；　in　a　whisper；　laying　her　hand　on　his；　and　leading　him　to　the　foot　of　the　stairs：　“do　you　know　what　that　is？　Hark！”
A　wild　shriek　came　pealing　down　the　stairway。　It　came　from　the　garret。　Legree’s　knees　knocked　together；　his　face　grew　white　with　fear。
“Hadn’t　you　better　get　your　pistols？”　said　Cassy；　with　a　sneer　that　froze　Legree’s　blood。　“It’s　time　this　thing　was　looked　into；　you　know。　I’d　like　to　have　you　go　up　now；　they’re　at　it。”
“I　won’t　go！”　said　Legree；　with　an　oath。
“Why　not？　There　an’t　any　such　thing　as　ghosts；　you　know！　Come！”　and　Cassy　flitted　up　the　winding　stairway；　laughing；　and　looking　back　after　him。　“Come　on。”
“I　believe　you　are　the　devil！”　said　Legree。　“Come　back　you　hag；—come　back；　Cass！　You　shan’t　go！”
But　Cassy　laughed　wildly；　and　fled　on。　He　heard　her　open　the　entry　doors　that　led　to　the　garret。　A　wild　gust　of　wind　swept　down；　extinguishing　the　candle　he　held　in　his　hand；　and　with　it　the　fearful；　unearthly　screams；　they　seemed　to　be　shrieked　in　his　very　ear。
Legree　fled　frantically　into　the　parlor；　whither；　in　a　few　moments；　he　was　followed　by　Cassy；　pale；　calm；　cold　as　an　avenging　spirit；　and　with　that　same　fearful　light　in　her　eye。
“I　hope　you　are　satisfied；”　said　she。
“Blast　you；　Cass！”　said　Legree。
“What　for？”　said　Cassy。　“I　only　went　up　and　shut　the　doors。　What’s　the　matter　with　that　garret；　Simon；　do　you　suppose？”　said　she。
“None　of　your　business！”　said　Legree。
“O；　it　an’t？　Well；”　said　Cassy；　“at　any　rate；　I’m　glad　I　don’t　sleep　under　it。”
Anticipating　the　rising　of　the　wind；　that　very　evening；　Cassy　had　been　up　and　opened　the　garret　window。　Of　course；　the　moment　the　doors　were　opened；　the　wind　had　drafted　down；　and　extinguished　the　light。
This　may　serve　as　a　specimen　of　the　game　that　Cassy　played　with　Legree；　until