clotelle(有色女英雄)-第3节
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six years younger than they were。 Few persons can arrive at anything
approaching the real age of the negro； by mere observation； unless they are
well acquainted with the race。 Therefore； the slave…trader frequently
carried out the deception with perfect impunity。
After the steamer had left the wharf and was fairly out on the bosom of
the broad Mississippi； the speculator called his servant Pompey to him；
and instructed him as to getting the negroes ready for market。 Among the
forty slaves that the trader had on this occasion； were some whose
appearance indicated that they had seen some years and had gone through
considerable service。 Their gray hair and whiskers at once pronounced
them to be above the ages set down in the trader's advertisement。 Pompey
had long been with Jennings； and understood his business well； and if he
did not take delight in the discharge of his duty； he did it at least with a
degree of alacrity； so that he might receive the approbation of his master。
Pomp； as he was usually called by the trader； was of real negro blood；
and would often say； when alluding to himself； 〃Dis nigger am no
counterfeit； he is de ginuine artikle。 Dis chile is none of your haf…and…haf；
dere is no bogus about him。〃
Pompey was of low stature； round face； and； like most of his race； had
a set of teeth； which； for whiteness and beauty； could not be surpassed； his
eyes were large； lips thick； and hair short and woolly。 Pompey had been
with Jennings so long； and had seen so much of buying and selling of his
fellow…creatures； that he appeared perfectly indifferent to the heart…rending
scenes which daily occurred in his presence。 Such is the force of habit：
〃Vice is a monster of such frightful mien； That to be
hated； needs but to be seen； But seen too oft； familiar with its face；
We first endure； then pity； then embrace。〃
It was on the second day of the steamer's voyage； that Pompey selected
five of the oldest slaves； took them into a room by themselves； and
commenced preparing them for the market。
〃Now；〃 said he； addressing himself to the company； 〃I is de chap dat is
to get you ready for de Orleans market； so dat you will bring marser a
good price。 How old is you？〃 addressing himself to a man not less than
forty。
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〃If I live to see next sweet…potato…digging time； I shall be either forty
or forty…five； I don't know which。〃
〃Dat may be；〃 replied Pompey； 〃but now you is only thirty years old；
dat's what marser says you is to be。〃
〃I know I is more den dat；〃 responded the man。
〃I can't help nuffin' about dat；〃 returned Pompey； 〃but when you get
into de market and any one ax you how old you is； and you tell um you is
forty or forty…five； marser will tie you up and cut you all to pieces。 But if
you tell um dat you is only thirty； den he won't。 Now remember dat you is
thirty years old and no more。〃
〃Well den； I guess I will only be thirty when dey ax me。〃
〃What's your name？〃 said Pompey； addressing himself to another。
〃Jeems。〃
〃Oh！ Uncle Jim； is it？〃 〃Yes。〃
〃Den you must have all them gray whiskers shaved off； and all dem
gray hairs plucked out of your head。〃 This was all said by Pompey in a
manner which showed that he knew what he was about。
〃How old is you？〃 asked Pompey of a tall； strong…looking man。
〃What's your name？〃
〃I am twenty…nine years old； and my name is Tobias； but they calls me
Toby。〃
〃Well； Toby； or Mr。 Tobias； if dat will suit you better； you are now
twenty…three years old； dat's all；do you understand dat？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Toby。
Pompey now gave them all to understand how old they were to be
when asked by persons who were likely to purchase； and then went and
reported to his master that the old boys were all right。
〃Be sure；〃 said Jennings； 〃that the niggers don't forget what you have
taught them； for our luck this time in the market depends upon their
appearance。 If any of them have so many gray hairs that you cannot pluck
them out； take the blacking and brush； and go at them。〃
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CHAPTER IV
THE BOAT…RACE
AT eight o'clock； on the evening of the third day of the passage； the
lights of another steamer were seen in the distance； and apparently coming
up very fast。 This was the signal for a general commotion on board the
Patriot； and everything indicated that a steamboat…race was at hand。
Nothing can exceed the excitement attendant upon the racing of steamers
on the Mississippi。
By the time the boats had reached Memphis they were side by side；
and each exerting itself to get in advance of the other。 The night was clear；
the moon shining brightly； and the boats so near to each other that the
passengers were within speaking distance。 On board the Patriot the
firemen were using oil； lard； butter； and even bacon； with wood； for the
purpose of raising the steam to its highest pitch。 The blaze mingled with
the black smoke that issued from the pipes of the other boat； which
showed that she also was burning something more combustible than wood。
The firemen of both boats； who were slaves； were singing songs such
as can only be heard on board a Southern steamer。 The boats now came
abreast of each other； and nearer and nearer； until they were locked so that
men could pass from one to the other。 The wildest excitement prevailed
among the men employed on the steamers； in which the passengers freely
participated。
The Patriot now stopped to take in passengers； but still no steam was
permitted to escape。 On the starting of the boat again； cold water was
forced into the boilers by the feed…pumps； and； as might have been
expected； one of the boilers exploded with terrific force； carrying away the
boiler…deck and tearing to pieces much of the machinery。 One dense fog of
steam filled every part of the vessel； while shrieks； groans； and cries were
heard on every side。 Men were running hither and thither looking for their
wives； and women were flying about in the wildest confusion seeking for
their husbands。 Dismay appeared on every countenance。
The saloons and cabins soon looked more like hospitals than anything
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else； but by this time the Patriot had drifted to the shore； and the other
steamer had come alongside to render assistance to the disabled boat。 The
killed and wounded （nineteen in number） were put on shore； and the
Patriot； taken in tow by the Washington； was once more on her journey。
It was half…past twelve； and the passengers； instead of retiring to their
berths； once more assembled at the gambling…tables。 The practice of
gambling on the western waters has long been a source of annoyance to
the more moral persons who travel on our great rivers。 Thousands of
dollars often change owners during a passage from St。 Louis or Louisville
to New Orleans； on a Mississippi steamer。 Many men are completely
ruined on such occasions； and duels are often the consequence。
〃Go call my boy； steward；〃 said Mr。 Jones； as he took his cards one by
one from the table。
In a few minutes a fine…looking； bright…eyed mulatto boy； apparently
about sixteen years of age； was standing by his master's side at the table。
〃I am broke； all but my boy；〃 said Jones； as he ran his fingers through
his cards； 〃but he is worth a thousand dollars； and I will bet the half of
him。〃
〃I will call you；〃 said Thompson； as he laid five hundred dollars at the
feet of the boy； who was standing on the table； and at the same time
throwing down his cards before his adversary。
〃You have beaten me；〃 said Jones； and a roar of laughter followed
