英语天堂-第70部分

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“Stop　that；　you　minx！”　said　the　salesman；　“no　whimpering　here；—the　sale　is　going　to　begin。”　And　acomordingly　the　sale　begun。
Adolph　was　knocked　off；　at　a　good　sum；　to　the　young　gentlemen　who　had　previously　stated　his　intention　of　buying　him；　and　the　other　servants　of　the　St。　Clare　lot　went　to　various　bidders。
“Now；　up　with　you；　boy！　d’ye　hear？”　said　the　auctioneer　to　Tom。
Tom　stepped　upon　the　block；　gave　a　few　anxious　looks　round；　all　seemed　mingled　in　a　common；　indistinct　noise；—the　clatter　of　the　salesman　crying　off　his　qualifications　in　French　and　English；　the　quick　fire　of　French　and　English　bids；　and　almost　in　a　moment　came　the　final　thump　of　the　hammer；　and　the　clear　ring　on　the　last　syllable　of　the　word　“dollars；”　as　the　auctioneer　announced　his　price；　and　Tom　was　made　over。—He　had　a　master！
He　was　pushed　from　the　block；—the　short；　bullet…headed　man　seizing　him　roughly　by　the　shoulder；　pushed　him　to　one　side；　saying；　in　a　harsh　voice；　“Stand　there；　you！”
Tom　hardly　realized　anything；　but　still　the　bidding　went　on；—ratting；　clattering；　now　French；　now　English。　Down　goes　the　hammer　again；—Susan　is　sold！　She　goes　down　from　the　block；　stops；　looks　wistfully　back；—her　daughter　stretches　her　hands　towards　her。　She　looks　with　agony　in　the　face　of　the　man　who　has　bought　her；—a　respectable　middle…aged　man；　of　benevolent　countenance。
“O；　Mas’r；　please　do　buy　my　daughter！”
“I’d　like　to；　but　I’m　afraid　I　can’t　afford　it！”　said　the　gentleman；　looking；　with　painful　interest；　as　the　young　girl　mounted　the　block；　and　looked　around　her　with　a　frightened　and　timid　glance。
The　blood　flushes　painfully　in　her　otherwise　colorless　cheek；　her　eye　has　a　feverish　fire；　and　her　mother　groans　to　see　that　she　looks　more　beautiful　than　she　ever　saw　her　before。　The　auctioneer　sees　his　advantage；　and　expatiates　volubly　in　mingled　French　and　English；　and　bids　rise　in　rapid　sucomession。
“I’ll　do　anything　in　reason；”　said　the　benevolent…looking　gentleman；　pressing　in　and　joining　with　the　bids。　In　a　few　moments　they　have　run　beyond　his　purse。　He　is　silent；　the　auctioneer　grows　warmer；　but　bids　gradually　drop　off。　It　lies　now　between　an　aristocratic　old　citizen　and　our　bullet…headed　acquaintance。　The　citizen　bids　for　a　few　turns；　contemptuously　measuring　his　opponent；　but　the　bullet…head　has　the　advantage　over　him；　both　in　obstinacy　and　concealed　length　of　purse；　and　the　controversy　lasts　but　a　moment；　the　hammer　falls；—he　has　got　the　girl；　body　and　soul；　unless　God　help　her！
Her　master　is　Mr。　Legree；　who　owns　a　cotton　plantation　on　the　Red　river。　She　is　pushed　along　into　the　same　lot　with　Tom　and　two　other　men；　and　goes　off；　weeping　as　she　goes。
The　benevolent　gentleman　is　sorry；　but；　then；　the　thing　happens　every　day！　One　sees　girls　and　mothers　crying；　at　these　sales；　always！　it　can’t　be　helped；　&c。；　and　he　walks　off；　with　his　acquisition；　in　another　direction。
Two　days　after；　the　lawyer　of　the　Christian　firm　of　B。　&　Co。；　New　York；　send　on　their　money　to　them。　On　the　reverse　of　that　draft；　so　obtained；　let　them　write　these　words　of　the　great　Paymaster；　to　whom　they　shall　make　up　their　acomount　in　a　future　day：　“When　he　maketh　inquisition　for　blood；　he　forgetteth　not　the　cry　of　the　humble！”
Chapter　31
The　Middle　Passage
“Thou　art　of　purer　eyes　than　to　behold　evil；　and　canst　not　look　upon　iniquity：　wherefore　lookest　thou　upon　them　that　deal　treacherously；　and　holdest　thy　tongue　when　the　wicked　devoureth　the　man　that　is　more　righteous　than　he？”—Hab。　1：　13。
On　the　lower　part　of　a　small；　mean　boat；　on　the　Red　river；　Tom　sat；—chains　on　his　wrists；　chains　on　his　feet；　and　a　weight　heavier　than　chains　lay　on　his　heart。　All　had　faded　from　his　sky；—moon　and　star；　all　had　passed　by　him；　as　the　trees　and　banks　were　now　passing；　to　return　no　more。　Kentucky　home；　with　wife　and　children；　and　indulgent　owners；　St。　Clare　home；　with　all　its　refinements　and　splendors；　the　golden　head　of　Eva；　with　its　saint…like　eyes；　the　proud；　gay；　handsome；　seemingly　careless；　yet　ever…kind　St。　Clare；　hours　of　ease　and　indulgent　leisure；—all　gone！　and　in　place　thereof；　what　remains？
It　is　one　of　the　bitterest　apportionments　of　a　lot　of　slavery；　that　the　negro；　sympathetic　and　assimilative；　after　acquiring；　in　a　refined　family；　the　tastes　and　feelings　which　form　the　atmosphere　of　such　a　place；　is　not　the　less　liable　to　become　the　bond…slave　of　the　coarsest　and　most　brutal；—just　as　a　chair　or　table；　which　once　decorated　the　superb　saloon；　comes；　at　last；　battered　and　defaced；　to　the　barroom　of　some　filthy　tavern；　or　some　low　haunt　of　vulgar　debauchery。　The　great　difference　is；　that　the　table　and　chair　cannot　feel；　and　the　man　can；　for　even　a　legal　enactment　that　he　shall　be　“taken；　reputed；　adjudged　in　law；　to　be　a　chattel　personal；”　cannot　blot　out　his　soul；　with　its　own　private　little　world　of　memories；　hopes；　loves；　fears；　and　desires。
Mr。　Simon　Legree；　Tom’s　master；　had　purchased　slaves　at　one　place　and　another；　in　New　Orleans；　to　the　number　of　eight；　and　driven　them；　handcuffed；　in　couples　of　two　and　two；　down　to　the　good　steamer　Pirate；　which　lay　at　the　levee；　ready　for　a　trip　up　the　Red　river。
Having　got　them　fairly　on　board；　and　the　boat　being　off；　he　came　round；　with　that　air　of　efficiency　which　ever　characterized　him；　to　take　a　review　of　them。　Stopping　opposite　to　Tom；　who　had　been　attired　for　sale　in　his　best　broadcloth　suit；　with　well…starched　linen　and　shining　boots；　he　briefly　expressed　himself　as　follows：
“Stand　up。”
Tom　stood　up。
“Take　off　that　stock！”　and；　as　Tom；　encumbered　by　his　fetters；　proceeded　to　do　it；　he　assisted　him；　by　pulling　it；　with　no　gentle　hand；　from　his　neck；　and　putting　it　in　his　pocket。
Legree　now　turned　to　Tom’s　trunk；　which；　previous　to　this；　he　had　been　ransacking；　and；　taking　from　it　a　pair　of　old　pantaloons　and　dilapidated　coat；　which　Tom　had　been　wont　to　put　on　about　his　stable…work；　he　said；　liberating　Tom’s　hands　from　the　handcuffs；　and　pointing　to　a　recess　in　among　the　boxes；
“You　go　there；　and　put　these　on。”
Tom　obeyed；　and　in　a　few　moments　returned。
“Take　off　your　boots；”　said　Mr。　Legree。
Tom　did　so。
“There；”　said　the　former；　throwing　him　a　pair　of　coarse；　stout　shoes；　such　as　were　common　among　the　slaves；　“put　these　on。”
In　Tom’s　hurried　exchange；　he　had　not　forgotten　to　transfer　his　cherished　Bible　to　his　pocket。　It　was　well　he　did　so；　for　Mr。　Legree；　having　refitted　Tom’s　handcuffs；　proceeded　deliberately　to　investigate　the　contents　of　his　pockets。　He　drew　out　a　silk　handkerchief；　and　put　it　into　his　own　pocket。　Several　little　trifles；　which　Tom　had　treasured；　chiefly　because　they　had　amused　Eva；　he　looked　upon　with　a　contemptuous　grunt；　and　tossed　them　over　his　shoulder　into　the　river。
Tom’s　Methodist　hymn…book；　which；　in　his　hurry；　he　had　forgotten；　he　now　held　up　and　turned　over。
Humph！　pious；　to　be　sure。　So；　what’s　yer　name；—you　belong　to　the　church；　eh？”
“Yes；　Mas’r；”　said　Tom；　firmly。
“Well；　I’ll　soon　have　that　out　of　you。　I　have　none　o’　yer　bawling；　praying；　singing　niggers　on　my　place；　so　remember。　Now；　mind　yourself；”　he　said；　with　a　stamp　and　a　fierce　glance　of　his　gray　eye；　directed　at　Tom；　“I’m　your　church　now！　You　understand；—you’ve　got　to　be　as　I　say。”
Something　within　the　silent　black　man　answered　No！　and；　as　if　repeated　by　an　invisible　voice；　came　the　words　of　an　old　prophetic　scroll；　as　Eva　had　often　read　them　to　him；—“Fear　not！　for　I　have　redeemed　thee。　I　have　called　thee　by　name。　Thou　art　Mine！”
But　Simon　Legree　heard　no　voice。　That　voice　is　one　he　never　shall　hear。　He　only　glared　for　a　moment　on　the　downcast　face　of　Tom；　and　walked　off。　He　took　Tom’s　trunk；　which　contained　a　very　neat　and　abundant　wardrobe；　to　the　forecastle；　where　it　was　soon　surrounded　by　various　hands　of　the　boat。　With　much　laughing；　at　the　expense　of　niggers　who　tried　to　be　gentlemen；　the　articles　very　readily　were　sold　to　one　and　another；　and　the　empty　trunk　finally　put　up　at　auction。　It　was　a　good　joke；　they　all　thought；　especially　to　see　how　Tom　looked　after　his　things；　as　they　were　going　this　way　and　that；　and　then　the　auction　of　the　trunk；　that　was　funnier　than　all；　and　ocomasioned　abundant　witticisms。
This　little　affair　being　over；　Simon　sauntered　up　again　to　his　property。
“Now；　Tom；　I’ve　relieved　you　of　any　extra　baggage；　you　see。　Take　mighty　good　care　of　them　clothes。　It’ll　be　long　enough　’fore　you　get　more。　I　go　in　for　making　niggers　careful；　one　suit　has　to　do　for　one　year；　on　my　place。”
Simon　next　walked　up　to　the　place　where　Emmeline　was　sitting；　chained　to　another　woman。
“Well；　my　dear；”　he　said；　chucking　her　under　the　chin；　“keep　up　your　spirits。”
The　involuntary　look　of　horror；　fright　and　aversion；　with　which　the　girl　regarded　him；　did　not　escape　his　eye。　He　frowned　fiercely。
“None　o’　your　shines；　gal！　you’s　got　to　keep　a　pleasant　face；　when　I　speak　to　ye；—d’ye　hear？　And　you；　you　old　yellow　poco　moonshine！”　he　said；　giving　a　shove　to　the　mulatto　woman　to　whom　Emmeline　was　chained；　“don’t　you　carry　that　sort　of　face！　You’s　got　to　look　chipper；　I　tell　ye！”
“I　say；　all　on　ye；”　he　said　retreating　a　pace　or　two　back；　“look　at　me；—look　at　me；—look　me　right　in　the　eye；—straight；　now！”　said　he；　stamping　his　foot　at　every　pause。
As　by　a　fascination；　every　eye　was　now　directed　to　the　glaring　greenish…gray　eye　of　Simon。
“Now；”　said　he；　doubling　his　great；　heavy　fist　into　something　resembling　a　blacksmith’s　hammer；　“d’ye　see　this　fist？　Heft　it！”　he　said；　bringing　it　down　on　Tom’s　hand。　“Look　at　these　yer　bones！　Well；　I　tell　ye　this　yer　fist　has　got　as　hard　as　iron　knocking　down　niggers。　I　never　see　the　nigger；　yet；　I　couldn’t　bring　down　with　one　crack；”　said　he；　bringing　his　fist　down　so　near　to　the　face　of　Tom　that　he　winked　and　drew　back。　“I　don’t　keep　none　o’　yer　cussed　overseers；　I　does　my　own　overseeing；　and　I　tell　you　things　is　seen　to。　You’s　every　one　on　ye　got　to　toe　the　mark；　I　tell　ye；　quick；—straight；—the　moment　I　speak。　That’s　the　way　to　keep　in　with　me。　Ye　won’t　find　no　soft　spot　in　me；　nowhere。　So；　now；　mind　yerselves；　for　I　don’t　show　no　mercy！”
The　women　involuntarily　drew　in　their　breath；　and　the　whole　gang　sat　with　downcast；　dejected　faces。　Meanwhile；　Simon　turned　on　his　heel；　and　marched　up　to　the　bar　of　the　boat　for　a　dram。
“That’s　the　way　I　begin　with　my　niggers；”　he　said；　to　a　gentlemanly　man；　who　had　stood　by　him　during　his　speech。　“It’s　my　system　to　begin　strong；—just　let　’em　know　what　to　expect。”
“Indeed！”　said　the　stranger；　looking　upon　him　with　the　curiosity　of　a　naturalist　studying　some　out…of…the…way　specimen。
“Yes；　indeed。　I’m　none　o’　yer　gentlemen　planters；　with　lily　fingers；　to　slop　round　and　be　cheated　by　some　old　cuss　of　an　overseer！　Just　feel　of　my　knuckles；　now；　look　at　my　fist。　Tell　ye；　sir；　the　flesh　on　’t　has　come　jest　like　a　stone；　practising　on　nigger—feel　on　it。”
The　stranger　applied　his　fingers　to　the　implement　in　question；　and　simply　said；
“’T　is　hard　enough；　and；　I　suppose；”　he　added；　“practice　has　made　your　heart　just　like　it。”
“Why；　yes；　I　may　say　so；”　said　Simon；　with　a　hearty　laugh。　“I　reckon　there’s　as　little　soft　in　me　as　in　any　one　going。　Tell　you；　nobody　comes　it　over　me！　Niggers　never　gets　round　me；　neither　with　squalling　nor　soft　soap；—that’s　a　fact。”
“You　have　a　fine　lot　there。”
“Real；”　said　Simon。　“There’s　that　Tom；　they　telled　me　he　was　suthin’　uncommon。　I　paid　a　little　high　for　him；　tendin’　him　for　a　driver　and　a　managing　chap；　only　get　the　notions　out　that　he’s　larnt　by　bein’　treated　as　niggers　never　ought　to　be；　he’ll　do　prime！　The　yellow　woman　I　got　took　in　on。　I　rayther　think　she’s　sickly；　but　I　shall　put　her　through　for　what　she’s　worth；　she　may　last　a　year　or　two。　I　don’t　go　for　savin’　niggers。　Use　up；　and　buy　more；　’s　my　way；…makes　you　less　trouble；　and　I’m　quite　sure　it　comes　cheaper　in　the　end；”　and　Simon　sipped　his　glass。
“And　how　long　do　they　generally　last？”　said　the　stranger。
“Well；　donno；　’cordin’　as　their　constitution　is。　Stout　fellers　last　six　or　seven　years；　trashy　ones　gets　worked　up　in　two　or　three。　I　used　to；　when　I　fust　begun；　have　considerable　trouble　fussin’　with　’em　and　trying　to　make　’em　hold　out；—doctorin’　on　’em　up　when　they’s　sick；　and　givin’　on　’em　clothes　and　blankets；　and　what　not；　tryin’　to　keep　’em　all　sort　o’　decent　and　comfortable。　Law；　’t　wasn’t　no　sort　o’　use；　I　lost　money　on　’em；　and　’t　was　heaps　o’　trouble。　Now；　you　see；　I　just　put　’em　straight　through；　sick　or　well。　When　one　nigger’s　dead；　I　buy　another；　and　I　find　it　comes　cheaper　and　easier；　every　way。”
The　stranger　turned　away；　and　seated　himself　beside　a　gentleman；　who　had　been　listening　to　the　conversation　with　repressed　uneasiness。
“You　must　not　take　that　fellow　to　be　any　specimen　of　Southern　planters；”　said　he。
“I　should　hope　not；”　said　the　young　gentleman；　with　emphasis。
“He　is　a　mean；　low；　brutal　fellow！”　said　the　other。
“And　yet　your　laws　allow　him　to　hold　any　number　of　human　beings　subject　to　his　absolute　will；　without　even　a　shadow　of　protection；　and；　low　as　he　is；　you　cannot　say　that　there　are　not　many　such。”
“Well；”　said　the　other；　“there　are　also　many　considerate　and　humane　men　among　planters。”
“Granted；”　said　the　young　man；　“but；　in　my　opinion；　it　is　you　considerate；　humane　men；　that　are　responsible　for　all　the　brutality　and　outrage　wrought　by　these　wretches；　because；　if　it　were　not　for　your　sanction　and　influence；　the　whole　system　could　not　keep　foothold　for　an　hour。　If　there　were　no　planters　except　such　as　that　one；”　said　he；　pointing　with　his　finger　to　Legree；　who　stood　with　his　back　to　them；　“the　whole　thing　would　go　down　like　a　millstone。　It　is　your　respectability　and　humanity　that　licenses　and　protects　his　brutality。”
“You　certainly　have　a　high　opinion　of　my　good　nature；”　said　the　planter；　smiling；　“but　I　advise　you　not　to　talk　quite　so　loud；　as　there　are　people　on　board　the　boat　who　might　not　be　quite　so　tolerant　to　opinion　as　I　am。　You　had　better　wait　till　I　get　up　to　my　plantation；　and　there　you　may　abuse　us　all；　quite　at　your　leisure。”
The　young　gentleman　colored　and　smiled；　and　the　two　were　soon　busy　in　a　game　of　backgammon。　Meanwhile；　another　conversation　was　going　on　in　the　lower　part　of　the　boat；　between　Emmeline　and　the　mulatto　woman　with　whom　she　was　confined。　As　was　natural；　they　were　exchanging　with　each　other　some　particulars　of　their　history。
“Who　did　you　belong　to？”　said　Emmeline。
“Well；　my　Mas’r　was　Mr。　Ellis；—lived　on　Levee…street。　P’raps　you’ve　seen　the　house。”
“Was　he　good　to　you？”　said　Emmeline。
“Mostly；　till　he　tuk　sick。　He’s　lain　sick；　off　and　on；　more　than　six　months；　and　been　orful　oneasy。　’Pears　like　he　warnt　willin’　to　have　nobody　rest；　day　or　night；　and　got　so　curous；　there　couldn’t　nobody　suit　him。　’Pears　like　he　just　grew　crosser；　every　day；　kep　me　up　nights　till　I　got　farly　beat　out；　and　couldn’t　keep　awake　no　longer；　and　cause　I　got　to　sleep；　one　night；　Lors；　he　talk　so　orful　to　me；　and　he　tell　me　he’d　sell　me　to　just　the　hardest　master　he　could　find；　and　he’d　promised　me　my　freedom；　too；　when　he　died。”
“Had　you　any　friends？”　said　Emmeline。
“Yes；　my　husband；—he’s　a　blacksmith。　Mas’r　gen’ly　hired　him　out。　They　took　me　off　so　quick；　I　didn’t　even　have　time　to　see　him；　and