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Show 268 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN: OR, surly temper of Legree to tho last degree; and his fury, as was to oo 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. lie 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 burry, stop to enter into any conflict with him. Tom, therefore, remained behind, with a few who bad learned of him to pray, and offered up prayers for the escape of the fugitives. When Legree returned, bailled and disappeinted, 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 1 Was there not a spirit in him which, silent as it was, burned on him like the fires of perdition 1 " I !tate 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 1 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, 'rom was a faithful, va.luablc servant; and, although Legree hated him the more for that, yet the considm ·ation was still somewhat of a restraint to him. 'fhe 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 succeeded, well and good; if not, he would summon Tom before him, and- his teeth clenched and his LIFE AMONG TliE LOWLY. 269 blood boiled- then he would break that 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 galTct, as sho reconnoitred through the knot-hole, " the hunt's going to begin again, to-day!'' Three or four mounted horsemen were curvetting about, on the space 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. Tho 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 inter· est 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, am~ng tho negroes, as much of a holiday as possible. . Cassy placed her ear at the knot-hole; and, as the morning aJr blew d1rectly towards tho house, she coultl 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 ~crits of the llogs, give orders about firing, and the treatment of each, in case of capture. Cas~y ~:·cw back; and: clasping her hands, looked upward, and smd, 0, great Alm1ghty God! we are all sinners· but VOL. II. 23* 1 |