running a thousand miles for freedom-第7节

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ife　from　childhood　sitting　on　the　same　seat。

The　doors　of　the　American　railway　carriages　are　at　the　ends。　　The　passengers　walk　up　the　aisle；　and　take　seats　on　either　side；　and　as　my　master　was　engaged　in　looking　out　of　the　window；　he　did　not　see　who　came　in。

My　master's　first　impression；　after　seeing　Mr。　Cray；　was；　that　he　was　there　for　the　purpose　of　securing　him。　　However；　my　master　thought　it　was　not　wise　to　give　any　information　respecting　him…　self；　and　for　fear　that　Mr。　Cray　might　draw　him　into　conversation　and　recognise　his　voice；　my　master　resolved　to　feign　deafness　as　the　only　means　of　self…defence。

After　a　little　while；　Mr。　Cray　said　to　my　master；　〃It　is　a　very　fine　morning；　sir。〃　　The　latter　took　no　notice；　but　kept　looking　out　of　the　window。　Mr。　Cray　soon　repeated　this　remark；　in　a　little　louder　tone；　but　my　master　remained　as　before。　This　indifference　attracted　the　attention　of　the　passengers　near；　one　of　whom　laughed　out。　　This；　I　suppose；　annoyed　the　old　gentleman；　so　he　said；　〃I　will　make　him　hear；〃　and　in　a　loud　tone　of　voice　repeated；　〃It　is　a　very　fine　morning；　sir。〃

My　master　turned　his　head；　and　with　a　polite　bow　said；　〃Yes；〃　and　commenced　looking　out　of　the　window　again。

One　of　the　gentlemen　remarked　that　it　was　a　very　great　deprivation　to　be　deaf。　　〃Yes；〃　replied　Mr。　Cray；　〃and　I　shall　not　trouble　that　fellow　any　more。〃　　This　enabled　my　master　to　breathe　a　little　easier；　and　to　feel　that　Mr。　Cray　was　not　his　pur…　suer　after　all。

The　gentlemen　then　turned　the　conversation　upon　the　three　great　topics　of　discussion　in　first…　class　circles　in　Georgia；　namely；　Niggers；　Cotton；　and　the　Abolitionists。

My　master　had　often　heard　of　abolitionists；　but　in　such　a　connection　as　to　cause　him　to　think　that　they　were　a　fearful　kind　of　wild　animal。　　But　he　was　highly　delighted　to　learn；　from　the　gentle…　men's　conversation；　that　the　abolitionists　were　persons　who　were　opposed　to　oppression；　and　therefore；　in　his　opinion；　not　the　lowest；　but　the　very　highest；　of　God's　creatures。

Without　the　slightest　objection　on　my　master's　part；　the　gentlemen　left　the　carriage　at　Gordon；　for　Milledgeville　（the　capital　of　the　State）。

We　arrived　at　Savannah　early　in　the　evening；　and　got　into　an　omnibus；　which　stopped　at　the　hotel　for　the　passengers　to　take　tea。　　I　stepped　into　the　house　and　brought　my　master　something　on　a　tray　to　the　omnibus；　which　took　us　in　due　time　to　the　steamer；　which　was　bound　for　Charles…　ton；　South　Carolina。

Soon　after　going　on　board；　my　master　turned　in；　and　as　the　captain　and　some　of　the　passengers　seemed　to　think　this　strange；　and　also　questioned　me　respecting　him；　my　master　thought　I　had　better　get　out　the　flannels　and　opodeldoc　which　we　had　prepared　for　the　rheumatism；　warm　them　quickly　by　the　stove　in　the　gentleman's　saloon；　and　bring　them　to　his　berth。　　We　did　this　as　an　excuse　for　my　master's　retiring　to　bed　so　early。

While　at　the　stove　one　of　the　passengers　said　to　me；　〃Buck；　what　have　you　got　there？〃　　〃Opodel…　doc；　sir；〃　I　replied。　　〃I　should　think　it's　opo…　DEVIL；〃　said　a　lanky　swell；　who　was　leaning　back　in　a　chair　with　his　heels　upon　the　back　of　another；　and　chewing　tobacco　as　if　for　a　wager；　〃it　stinks　enough　to　kill　or　cure　twenty　men。　　Away　with　it；　or　I　reckon　I　will　throw　it　overboard！〃

It　was　by　this　time　warm　enough；　so　I　took　it　to　my　master's　berth；　remained　there　a　little　while；　and　then　went　on　deck　and　asked　the　steward　where　I　was　to　sleep。　　He　said　there　was　no　place　provided　for　coloured　passengers；　whether　slave　or　free。　　So　I　paced　the　deck　till　a　late　hour；　then　mounted　some　cotton　bags；　in　a　warm　place　near　the　funnel；　sat　there　till　morning；　and　then　went　and　assisted　my　master　to　get　ready　for　breakfast。

He　was　seated　at　the　right　hand　of　the　captain；　who；　together　with　all　the　passengers；　inquired　very　kindly　after　his　health。　　As　my　master　had　one　hand　in　a　sling；　it　was　my　duty　to　carve　his　food。　But　when　I　went　out　the　captain　said；　〃You　have　a　very　attentive　boy；　sir；　but　you　had　better　watch　him　like　a　hawk　when　you　get　on　to　the　North。　He　seems　all　very　well　here；　but　he　may　act　quite　differently　there。　　I　know　several　gentlemen　who　have　lost　their　valuable　niggers　among　them　dd　cut…throat　abolitionists。〃

Before　my　master　could　speak；　a　rough　slave…　dealer；　who　was　sitting　opposite；　with　both　elbows　on　the　table；　and　with　a　large　piece　of　broiled　fowl　in　his　fingers；　shook　his　head　with　emphasis；　and　in　a　deep　Yankee　tone；　forced　through　his　crowded　mouth　the　words；　〃Sound　doctrine；　captain；　very　sound。〃　　He　then　dropped　the　chicken　into　the　plate；　leant　back；　placed　his　thumbs　in　the　armholes　of　his　fancy　waistcoat；　and　continued；　〃I　would　not　take　a　nigger　to　the　North　under　no　consideration。　I　have　had　a　deal　to　do　with　niggers　in　my　time；　but　I　never　saw　one　who　ever　had　his　heel　upon　free　soil　that　was　worth　a　dn。〃　　〃Now　stranger；〃　addressing　my　master；　〃if　you　have　made　up　your　mind　to　sell　that　ere　nigger；　I　am　your　man；　just　mention　your　price；　and　if　it　isn't　out　of　the　way；　I　will　pay　for　him　on　this　board　with　hard　silver　dollars。〃　　This　hard…featured；　bristly…bearded；　wire…headed；　red…eyed　monster；　staring　at　my　master　as　the　serpent　did　at　Eve；　said；　〃What　do　you　say；　stranger？〃　　He　replied；　〃I　don't　wish　to　sell；　sir；　I　cannot　get　on　well　with…　out　him。〃

〃You　will　have　to　get　on　without　him　if　you　take　him　to　the　North；〃　continued　this　man；　〃for　I　can　tell　ye；　stranger；　as　a　friend；　I　am　an　older　cove　than　you；　I　have　seen　lots　of　this　ere　world；　and　I　reckon　I　have　had　more　dealings　with　niggers　than　any　man　living　or　dead。　　I　was　once　employed　by　General　Wade　Hampton；　for　ten　years；　in　doing　nothing　but　breaking　'em　in；　and　everybody　knows　that　the　General　would　not　have　a　man　that　didn't　understand　his　business。　　So　I　tell　ye；　stranger；　again；　you　had　better　sell；　and　let　me　take　him　down　to　Orleans。　　He　will　do　you　no　good　if　you　take　him　across　Mason's　and　Dixon's　line；　he　is　a　keen　nigger；　and　I　can　see　from　the　cut　of　his　eye　that　he　is　certain　to　run　away。〃　　My　master　said；　〃I　think　not；　sir；　I　have　great　confidence　in　his　fidelity。〃　　〃FiDEVIL；〃　indignantly　said　the　dealer；　as　his　fist　came　down　upon　the　edge　of　the　saucer　and　upset　a　cup　of　hot　coffee　in　a　gentleman's　lap。　（As　the　scalded　man　jumped　up　the　trader　quietly　said；　〃Don't　disturb　yourself；　neighbour；　accidents　will　happen　in　the　best　of　families。〃）　　〃It　always　makes　me　mad　to　hear　a　man　talking　about　fidelity　in　niggers。　　There　isn't　a　dd　one　on　'em　who　wouldn't　cut　sticks；　if　he　had　half　a　chance。〃

By　this　time　we　were　near　Charleston；　my　master　thanked　the　captain　for　his　advice；　and　they　all　withdrew　and　went　on　deck；　where　the　trader　fancied　he　became　quite　eloquent。　　He　drew　a　crowd　around　him；　and　with　emphasis　said；　〃Cap'en；　if　I　was　the　President　of　this　mighty　United　States　of　America；　the　greatest　and　freest　country　under　the　whole　universe；　I　would　never　let　no　man；　I　don't　care　who　he　is；　take　a　nigger　into　the　North　and　bring　him　back　here；　filled　to　the　brim；　as　he　is　sure　to　be；　with　dd　abolition　vices；　to　taint　all　quiet　niggers　with　the　hellish　spirit　of　running　away。　　These　air；　cap'en；　my　flat…footed；　every　day；　right　up　and　down　sentiments；　and　as　this　is　a　free　country；　cap'en；　I　don't　care　who　hears　'em；　for　I　am　a　Southern　man；　every　inch　on　me　to　the　back…　bone。〃　　〃Good！〃　said　an　insignificant…looking　individual　of　the　slave…dealer　stamp。　　〃Three　cheers　for　John　C。　Calhoun　and　the　whole　fair　sunny　South！〃　added　the　trader。　　So　off　went　their　hats；　and　out　burst　a　terrific　roar　of　irregular　but　con…　tinued　cheering。　　My　master　took　no　more　notice　of　the　dealer。　　He　merely　said　to　the　captain　that　the　air　on　deck　was　too　keen　for　him；　and　he　would　therefore　return　to　the　cabin。

While　the　trader　was　in　the　zenith　of　his　elo…　quence；　he　might　as　well　have　said；　as　one　of　his　kit　did；　at　a　great　Filibustering　meeting；　that　〃When　the　great　American　Eagle　gets　one　of　his　mighty　claws　upon　Canada　and　the　other　into　South　America；　and　his　glorious　and　starry　wings　of　liberty　extending　from　the　Atlantic　to　the　Pacific；　oh！　then；　where　will　England　be；　ye　gen…　tlemen？　　I　tell　ye；　she　will　only　serve　as　a　pocket…　handkerchief　for　Jonathan　to　wipe　his　nose　with。〃

On　my　master　entering　the　cabin　he　found　at　the　breakfast…table　a　young　southern　military　officer；　with　whom　he　had　travelled　some　distance　the　pre…　vious　day。

After　passing　the　usual　compliments　the　conver…　sation　turned　upon　the　old　subject；niggers。

The　officer；　who　was　also　travelling　with　a　man…　servant；　said　to　my　master；　〃You　will　excuse　me；　Sir；　for　saying　I　think　you　are　very　likely　to　spoil　your　boy　by　saying　'thank　you'　to　him。　　I　assure　you；　sir；　nothing　spoils　a　slave　so　soon　as　saying；　'thank　you'　and　'if　you　please'　to　him。　　The　only　way　to　make　a　nigger　toe　the　mark；　and　to　keep　him　in　his　place；　is　to　storm　at　him　like　thunder；　and　keep　him　trembling　like　a　leaf。　　Don't　you　see；　when　I　speak　to　my　Ned；　he　darts　like　lightning；　and　if　he　didn't　I'd　skin　him。〃

Just　then　the　poor　dejected　slave　came　in；　and　the　officer　swore　at　him　fearfully；　merely　to　teach　my　master　what　he　called　the　proper　way　to　treat　me。

After　he　had　gone　out　to　get　his　master's　lug