英语天堂-第80部分

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inguished　the　light。
This　may　serve　as　a　specimen　of　the　game　that　Cassy　played　with　Legree；　until　he　would　sooner　have　put　his　head　into　a　lion’s　mouth　than　to　have　explored　that　garret。　Meanwhile；　in　the　night；　when　everybody　else　was　asleep；　Cassy　slowly　and　carefully　acomumulated　there　a　stock　of　provisions　sufficient　to　afford　subsistence　for　some　time；　she　transferred；　article　by　article；　a　greater　part　of　her　own　and　Emmeline’s　wardrobe。　All　things　being　arranged；　they　only　waited　a　fitting　opportunity　to　put　their　plan　in　execution。
By　cajoling　Legree；　and　taking　advantage　of　a　good…natured　interval；　Cassy　had　got　him　to　take　her　with　him　to　the　neighboring　town；　which　was　situated　directly　on　the　Red　river。　With　a　memory　sharpened　to　almost　preternatural　clearness；　she　remarked　every　turn　in　the　road；　and　formed　a　mental　estimate　of　the　time　to　be　ocomupied　in　traversing　it。
At　the　time　when　all　was　matured　for　action；　our　readers　may；　perhaps；　like　to　look　behind　the　scenes；　and　see　the　final　coup　d’etat。
It　was　now　near　evening；　Legree　had　been　absent；　on　a　ride　to　a　neighboring　farm。　For　many　days　Cassy　had　been　unusually　gracious　and　acomommodating　in　her　humors；　and　Legree　and　she　had　been；　apparently；　on　the　best　of　terms。　At　present；　we　may　behold　her　and　Emmeline　in　the　room　of　the　latter；　busy　in　sorting　and　arranging　two　small　bundles。
“There；　these　will　be　large　enough；”　said　Cassy。　Now　put　on　your　bonnet；　and　let’s　start；　it’s　just　about　the　right　time。”
“Why；　they　can　see　us　yet；”　said　Emmeline。
“I　mean　they　shall；”　said　Cassy；　coolly。　“Don’t　you　know　that　they　must　have　their　chase　after　us；　at　any　rate？　The　way　of　the　thing　is　to　be　just　this：—We　will　steal　out　of　the　back　door；　and　run　down　by　the　quarters。　Sambo　or　Quimbo　will　be　sure　to　see　us。　They　will　give　chase；　and　we　will　get　into　the　swamp；　then；　they　can’t　follow　us　any　further　till　they　go　up　and　give　the　alarm；　and　turn　out　the　dogs；　and　so　on；　and；　while　they　are　blundering　round；　and　tumbling　over　each　other；　as　they　always　do；　you　and　I　will　slip　along　to　the　creek；　that　runs　back　of　the　house；　and　wade　along　in　it；　till　we　get　opposite　the　back　door。　That　will　put　the　dogs　all　at　fault；　for　scent　won’t　lie　in　the　water。　Every　one　will　run　out　of　the　house　to　look　after　us；　and　then　we’ll　whip　in　at　the　back　door；　and　up　into　the　garret；　where　I’ve　got　a　nice　bed　made　up　in　one　of　the　great　boxes。　We　must　stay　in　that　garret　a　good　while；　for；　I　tell　you；　he　will　raise　heaven　and　earth　after　us。　He’ll　muster　some　of　those　old　overseers　on　the　other　plantations；　and　have　a　great　hunt；　and　they’ll　go　over　every　inch　of　ground　in　that　swamp。　He　makes　it　his　boast　that　nobody　ever　got　away　from　him。　So　let　him　hunt　at　his　leisure。”
“Cassy；　how　well　you　have　planned　it！”　said　Emmeline。　“Who　ever　would　have　thought　of　it；　but　you？”
There　was　neither　pleasure　nor　exultation　in　Cassy’s　eyes；—only　a　despairing　firmness。
“Come；”　she　said；　reaching　her　hand　to　Emmeline。
The　two　fugitives　glided　noiselessly　from　the　house；　and　flitted；　through　the　gathering　shadows　of　evening；　along　by　the　quarters。　The　crescent　moon；　set　like　a　silver　signet　in　the　western　sky；　delayed　a　little　the　approach　of　night。　As　Cassy　expected；　when　quite　near　the　verge　of　the　swamps　that　encircled　the　plantation；　they　heard　a　voice　calling　to　them　to　stop。　It　was　not　Sambo；　however；　but　Legree；　who　was　pursuing　them　with　violent　execrations。　At　the　sound；　the　feebler　spirit　of　Emmeline　gave　way；　and；　laying　hold　of　Cassy’s　arm；　she　said；　“O；　Cassy；　I’m　going　to　faint！”
“If　you　do；　I’ll　kill　you！”　said　Cassy；　drawing　a　small；　glittering　stiletto；　and　flashing　it　before　the　eyes　of　the　girl。
The　diversion　acomomplished　the　purpose。　Emmeline　did　not　faint；　and　sucomeeded　in　plunging；　with　Cassy；　into　a　part　of　the　labyrinth　of　swamp；　so　deep　and　dark　that　it　was　perfectly　hopeless　for　Legree　to　think　of　following　them；　without　assistance。
“Well；”　said　he；　chuckling　brutally；　“at　any　rate；　they’ve　got　themselves　into　a　trap　now—the　baggage！　They’re　safe　enough。　They　shall　sweat　for　it！”
“Hulloa；　there！　Sambo！　Quimbo！　All　hands！”　called　Legree；　coming　to　the　quarters；　when　the　men　and　women　were　just　returning　from　work。　“There’s　two　runaways　in　the　swamps。　I’ll　give　five　dollars　to　any　nigger　as　catches　’em。　Turn　out　the　dogs！　Turn　out　Tiger；　and　Fury；　and　the　rest！”
The　sensation　produced　by　this　news　was　immediate。　Many　of　the　men　sprang　forward；　officiously；　to　offer　their　services；　either　from　the　hope　of　the　reward；　or　from　that　cringing　subserviency　which　is　one　of　the　most　baleful　effects　of　slavery。　Some　ran　one　way；　and　some　another。　Some　were　for　getting　flambeaux　of　pine…knots。　Some　were　uncoupling　the　dogs；　whose　hoarse；　savage　bay　added　not　a　little　to　the　animation　of　the　scene。
“Mas’r；　shall　we　shoot　’em；　if　can’t　cotch　’em？”　said　Sambo；　to　whom　his　master　brought　out　a　rifle。
“You　may　fire　on　Cass；　if　you　like；　it’s　time　she　was　gone　to　the　devil；　where　she　belongs；　but　the　gal；　not；”　said　Legree。　“And　now；　boys；　be　spry　and　smart。　Five　dollars　for　him　that　gets　’em；　and　a　glass　of　spirits　to　every　one　of　you；　anyhow。”
The　whole　band；　with　the　glare　of　blazing　torches；　and　whoop；　and　shout；　and　savage　yell；　of　man　and　beast；　proceeded　down　to　the　swamp；　followed；　at　some　distance；　by　every　servant　in　the　house。　The　establishment　was；　of　a　consequence；　wholly　deserted；　when　Cassy　and　Emmeline　glided　into　it　the　back　way。　The　whooping　and　shouts　of　their　pursuers　were　still　filling　the　air；　and；　looking　from　the　sitting…room　windows；　Cassy　and　Emmeline　could　see　the　troop；　with　their　flambeaux；　just　dispersing　themselves　along　the　edge　of　the　swamp。
“See　there！”　said　Emmeline；　pointing　to　Cassy；　“the　hunt　is　begun！　Look　how　those　lights　dance　about！　Hark！　the　dogs！　Don’t　you　hear？　If　we　were　only　there；　our　chances　wouldn’t　be　worth　a　picayune。　O；　for　pity’s　sake；　do　let’s　hide　ourselves。　Quick！”
“There’s　no　ocomasion　for　hurry；”　said　Cassy；　coolly；　“they　are　all　out　after　the　hunt；—that’s　the　amusement　of　the　evening！　We’ll　go　up　stairs；　by　and　by。　Meanwhile；”　said　she；　deliberately　taking　a　key　from　the　pocket　of　a　coat　that　Legree　had　thrown　down　in　his　hurry；　“meanwhile　I　shall　take　something　to　pay　our　passage。
She　unlocked　the　desk；　took　from　it　a　roll　of　bills；　which　she　counted　over　rapidly。
“O；　don’t　let’s　do　that！”　said　Emmeline。
“Don’t！”　said　Cassy；　“why　not？　Would　you　have　us　starve　in　the　swamps；　or　have　that　that　will　pay　our　way　to　the　free　states。　Money　will　do　anything；　girl。”　And；　as　she　spoke；　she　put　the　money　in　her　bosom。
“It　would　be　stealing；”　said　Emmeline；　in　a　distressed　whisper。
“Stealing！”　said　Cassy；　with　a　scornful　laugh。　“They　who　steal　body　and　soul　needn’t　talk　to　us。　Every　one　of　these　bills　is　stolen；—stolen　from　poor；　starving；　sweating　creatures；　who　must　go　to　the　devil　at　last；　for　his　profit。　Let　him　talk　about　stealing！　But　come；　we　may　as　well　go　up　garret；　I’ve　got　a　stock　of　candles　there；　and　some　books　to　pass　away　the　time。　You　may　be　pretty　sure　they　won’t　come　there　to　inquire　after　us。　If　they　do；　I’ll　play　ghost　for　them。”
When　Emmeline　reached　the　garret；　she　found　an　immense　box；　in　which　some　heavy　pieces　of　furniture　had　once　been　brought；　turned　on　its　side；　so　that　the　opening　faced　the　wall；　or　rather　the　eaves。　Cassy　lit　a　small　lamp；　and　creeping　round　under　the　eaves；　they　established　themselves　in　it。　It　was　spread　with　a　couple　of　small　mattresses　and　some　pillows；　a　box　near　by　was　plentifully　stored　with　candles；　provisions；　and　all　the　clothing　necessary　to　their　journey；　which　Cassy　had　arranged　into　bundles　of　an　astonishingly　small　compass。
“There；”　said　Cassy；　as　she　fixed　the　lamp　into　a　small　hook；　which　she　had　driven　into　the　side　of　the　box　for　that　purpose；　“this　is　to　be　our　home　for　the　present。　How　do　you　like　it？”
“Are　you　sure　they　won’t　come　and　search　the　garret？”
“I’d　like　to　see　Simon　Legree　doing　that；”　said　Cassy。　“No；　indeed；　he　will　be　too　glad　to　keep　away。　As　to　the　servants；　they　would　any　of　them　stand　and　be　shot；　sooner　than　show　their　faces　here。”
Somewhat　reassured；　Emmeline　settled　herself　back　on　her　pillow。
“What　did　you　mean；　Cassy；　by　saying　you　would　kill　me？”　she　said；　simply。
“I　meant　to　stop　your　fainting；”　said　Cassy；　“and　I　did　do　it。　And　now　I　tell　you；　Emmeline；　you　must　make　up　your　mind　not　to　faint；　let　what　will　come；　there’s　no　sort　of　need　of　it。　If　I　had　not　stopped　you；　that　wretch　might　have　had　his　hands　on　you　now。”
Emmeline　shuddered。
The　two　remained　some　time　in　silence。　Cassy　busied　herself　with　a　French　book；　Emmeline；　overcome　with　the　exhaustion；　fell　into　a　doze；　and　slept　some　time。　She　was　awakened　by　loud　shouts　and　outcries；　the　tramp　of　horses’　feet；　and　the　baying　of　dogs。　She　started　up；　with　a　faint　shriek。
“Only　the　hunt　coming　back；”　said　Cassy；　coolly；　“never　fear。　Look　out　of　this　knot…hole。　Don’t　you　see　’em　all　down　there？　Simon　has　to　give　up；　for　this　night。　Look；　how　muddy　his　horse　is；　flouncing　about　in　the　swamp；　the　dogs；　too；　look　rather　crestfallen。　Ah；　my　good　sir；　you’ll　have　to　try　the　race　again　and　again；—the　game　isn’t　there。”
“O；　don’t　speak　a　word！”　said　Emmeline；　“what　if　they　should　hear　you？”
“If　they　do　hear　anything；　it　will　make　them　very　particular　to　keep　away；”　said　Cassy。　“No　danger；　we　may　make　any　noise　we　please；　and　it　will　only　add　to　the　effect。”
At　length　the　stillness　of　midnight　settled　down　over　the　house。　Legree；　cursing　his　ill　luck；　and　vowing　dire　vengeance　on　the　morrow；　went　to　bed。
1　Prov。　4：19。
Chapter　40
The　Martyr
“Deem　not　the　just　by　Heaven　forgot！
Though　life　its　common　gifts　deny；—
Though；　with　a　crushed　and　bleeding　heart；
And　spurned　of　man；　he　goes　to　die！
For　God　hath　marked　each　sorrowing　day；
And　numbered　every　bitter　tear；
And　heaven’s　long　years　of　bliss　shall　pay
For　all　his　children　suffer　here。”
Bryant。1
The　longest　way　must　have　its　close；—the　gloomiest　night　will　wear　on　to　a　morning。　An　eternal；　inexorable　lapse　of　moments　is　ever　hurrying　the　day　of　the　evil　to　an　eternal　night；　and　the　night　of　the　just　to　an　eternal　day。　We　have　walked　with　our　humble　friend　thus　far　in　the　valley　of　slavery；　first　through　flowery　fields　of　ease　and　indulgence；　then　through　heart…breaking　separations　from　all　that　man　holds　dear。　Again；　we　have　waited　with　him　in　a　sunny　island；　where　generous　hands　concealed　his　chains　with　flowers；　and；　lastly；　we　have　followed　him　when　the　last　ray　of　earthly　hope　went　out　in　night；　and　seen　how；　in　the　blackness　of　earthly　darkness；　the　firmament　of　the　unseen　has　blazed　with　stars　of　new　and　significant　lustre。
The　morning…star　now　stands　over　the　tops　of　the　mountains；　and　gales　and　breezes；　not　of　earth；　show　that　the　gates　of　day　are　unclosing。
The　escape　of　Cassy　and　Emmeline　irritated　the　before　surly　temper　of　Legree　to　the　last　degree；　and　his　fury；　as　was　to　be　expected；　fell　upon　the　defenceless　head　of　Tom。　When　he　hurriedly　announced　the　tidings　among　his　hands；　there　was　a　sudden　light　in　Tom’s　eye；　a　sudden　upraising　of　his　hands；　that　did　not　escape　him。　He　saw　that　he　did　not　join　the　muster　of　the　pursuers。　He　thought　of　forcing　him　to　do　it；　but；　having　had；　of　old；　experience　of　his　inflexibility　when　commanded　to　take　part　in　any　deed　of　inhumanity；　he　would　not；　in　his　hurry；　stop　to　enter　into　any　conflict　with　him。
Tom；　therefore；　remained　behind；　with　a　few　who　had　learned　of　him　to　pray；　and　offered　up　prayers　for　the　escape　of　the　fugitives。
When　Legree　returned；　baffled　and　disappointed；　all　the　long…working　hatred　of　his　soul　towards　his　slave　began　to　gather　in　a　deadly　and　desperate　form。　Had　not　this　man　braved　him；—steadily；　powerfully；　resistlessly；—ever　since　he　bought　him？　Was　there　not　a　spirit　in　him　which；　silent　as　it　was；　burned　on　him　like　the　fires　of　perdition？
“I　hate　him！”　said　Legree；　that　night；　as　he　sat　up　in　his　bed；　“I　hate　him！　And　isn’t　he　MINE？　Can’t　I　do　what　I　like　with　him？　Who’s　to　hinder；　I　wonder？”　And　Legree　clenched　his　fist；　and　shook　it；　as　if　he　had　something　in　his　hands　that　he　could　rend　in　pieces。
But；　then；　Tom　was　a　faithful；　valuable　servant；　and；　although　Legree　hated　him　the　more　for　that；　yet　the　consideration　was　still　somewhat　of　a　restraint　to　him。
The　next　morning；　he　determined　to　say　nothing；　as　yet；　to　assemble　a　party；　from　some　neighboring　plantations；　with　dogs　and　guns；　to　surround　the　swamp；　and　go　about　the　hunt　systematically。　If　it　sucomeeded；　well　and　good；　if　not；　he　would　summon　Tom　before　him；　and—his　teeth　clenched　and　his　blood　boiled—then　he　would　break　the　fellow　down；　or—there　was　a　dire　inward　whisper；　to　which　his　soul　assented。
Ye　say　that　the　interest　of　the　master　is　a　sufficient　safeguard　for　the　slave。　In　the　fury　of　man’s　mad　will；　he　will　wittingly；　and　with　open　eye；　sell　his　own　soul　to　the　devil　to　gain　his　ends；　and　will　he　be　more　careful　of　his　neighbor’s　body？
“Well；”　said　Cassy；　the　next　day；　from　the　garret；　as　she　reconnoitred　through　the　knot…hole；　“the　hunt’s　going　to　begin　again；　today！”
Three　or　four　mounted　horsemen　were　curvetting　about；　on　the　space　in　front　of　the　house；　and　one　or　two　leashes　of　strange　dogs　were　struggling　with　the　negroes　who　held　them；　baying　and　barking　at　each　other。
The　men　are；　two　of　them；　overseers　of　plantations　in　the　vicinity；　and　others　were　some　of　Legree’s　associates　at　the　tavern…bar　of　a　neighboring　city；　who　had　come　for　the　interest　of　the　sport。　A　more　hard…favored　set；　perhaps；　could　not　be　imagined。　Legree　was　serving　brandy；　profusely；　round　among　them；　as　also　among　the　negroes；　who　had　been　detailed　from　the　various　plantations　for　this　service；　for　it　was　an　object　to　make　every　service　of　this　kind；　among　the　negroes；　as　much　of　a　holiday　as　possible。
Cassy　placed　her　ear　at　the　knot…hole；　and；　as　the　morning　air　blew　directly　towards　the　house；　she　could　overhear　a　good　deal　of　the　conversation。　A　grave　sneer　overcast　the　dark；　severe　gravity　of　her　face；　as　she　listened；　and　heard　them　divide　out　the　ground；　discuss　the　rival　merits　of　the　dogs；　give　orders　about　firing；　and　the　treatment　of　each；　in　case　of　capture。
Cassy　drew　back；　and；　clasping　her　hands；　looked　upward；　and　said；　“O；　great　Almighty　God！　we　are　all　sinners；　but　what　have　we　done；　more　than　all　the　rest　of　the　world；　that　we　should　be　treated　so？”
There　was　a　terrible　earnestness　in　her　face　and　voice；　as　she　spoke。
“If　it　wasn’t　for　you；　child；”　she　said；　looking　at　Emmeline；　“I’d　go　out　to　them；　and　I’d　thank　any　one　of　them　that　would　shoot　me　down；　for　what　use　will　freedom　be　to　me？　Can　it　give　me　back　my　children；　or　make　me　what　I　used　to　be？”
Emmeline；　in　her　child…like　simplicity；　was　half　afraid　of　the　dark　moods　of　Cassy。　She　looked　perplexed；　but　made　no　answer。　She　only　took　her　hand；　with　a　gentle；　caressing　movement。
“Don’t！”　said　Cassy；　trying　to　draw　it　away；　“you’ll　get　me　to　loving　you；　and　I　never　mean　to　love　anything；　again！”
“Poor　Cassy！”　said　Emmeline；　“don’t　feel　so！　If　the　Lord　gives　us　liberty；　perhaps　he’ll　give　you　back　your　daughter；　at　any　rate；　I’ll　b