running a thousand miles for freedom-第7部分

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dence　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…　gage　ready；　the　officer　said；　〃That　is　the　way　to　speak　to　them。　　If　every　nigger　was　drilled　in　this　manner；　they　would　be　as　humble　as　dogs；　and　never　dare　to　run　away。

The　gentleman　urged　my　master　not　to　go　to　the　North　for　the　restoration　of　his　health；　but　to　visit　the　Warm　Springs　in　Arkansas。

My　master　said；　he　thought　the　air　of　Phila…　delphia　would　suit　his　complaint　best；　and；　not　only　so；　he　thought　he　could　get　better　advice　there。

The　boat　had　now　reached　the　wharf。　　The　officer　wished　my　master　a　safe　and　pleasant　jour…　ney；　and　left　the　saloon。

There　were　a　large　number　of　persons　on　the　quay　waiting　the　arrival　of　the　steamer：　but　we　were　afraid　to　venture　out　for　fear　that　some　one　might　recognize　me；　or　that　they　had　heard　that　we　were　gone；　and　had　telegraphed　to　have　us　stopped。　　However；　after　remaining　in　the　cabin　till　all　the　other　passengers　were　gone；　we　had　our　luggage　placed　on　a　fly；　and　I　took　my　master　by　the　arm；　and　with　a　little　difficulty　he　hobbled　on　shore；　got　in　and　drove　off　to　the　best　hotel；　which　John　C。　Calhoun；　and　all　the　other　great　southern　fire…eating　statesmen；　made　their　head…quarters　while　in　Charleston。

On　arriving　at　the　house　the　landlord　ran　out　and　opened　the　door：　but　judging；　from　the　poul…　tices　and　green　glasses；　that　my　master　was　an　invalid；　he　took　him　very　tenderly　by　one　arm　and　ordered　his　man　to　take　the　other。

My　master　then　eased　himself　out；　and　with　their　assistance　found　no　trouble　in　getting　up　the　steps　into　the　hotel。　　The　proprietor　made　me　stand　on　one　side；　while　he　paid　my　master　the　attention　and　homage　he　thought　a　gentleman　of　his　high　position　merited。

My　master　asked　for　a　bed…room。　　The　servant　was　ordered　to　show　a　good　one；　into　which　we　helped　him。　　The　servant　returned。　　My　master　then　handed　me　the　bandages；　I　took　them　down…　stairs　in　great　haste；　and　told　the　landlord　my　master　wanted　two　hot　poultices　as　quickly　as　possible。　　He　rang　the　bell；　the　servant　came　in；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Run　to　the　kitchen　and　tell　the　cook　to　make　two　hot　poultices　right　off；　for　there　is　a　gentleman　upstairs　very　badly　off　indeed！〃

In　a　few　minutes　the　smoking　poultices　were　brought　in。　　I　placed　them　in　white　handker…　chiefs；　and　hurried　upstairs；　went　into　my　master's　apartment；　shut　the　door；　and　laid　them　on　the　mantel…piece。　　As　he　was　alone　for　a　little　while；　he　thought　he　could　rest　a　great　deal　better　with　the　poultices　off。　　However；　it　was　necessary　to　have　them　to　complete　the　remainder　of　the　journey。　I　then　ordered　dinner；　and　took　my　master's　boots　out　to　polish　them。　　While　doing　so　I　en…　tered　into　conversation　with　one　of　the　slaves。　　I　may　state　here；　that　on　the　sea…coast　of　South　Carolina　and　Georgia　the　slaves　speak　worse　Eng…　lish　than　in　any　other　part　of　the　country。　　This　is　owing　to　the　frequent　importation；　or　smug…　gling　in；　of　Africans；　who　mingle　with　the　natives。　Consequently　the　language　cannot　properly　be　called　English　or　African；　but　a　corruption　of　the　two。

The　shrewd　son　of　African　parents　to　whom　I　referred　said　to　me；　〃Say；　brudder；　way　you　come　from；　and　which　side　you　goin　day　wid　dat　ar　little　don　up　buckra〃　（white　man）？

I　replied；　〃To　Philadelphia。〃

〃What！〃　he　exclaimed；　with　astonishment；　〃to　Philumadelphy？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　said。

〃By　squash！　　I　wish　I　was　going　wid　you！　　I　hears　um　say　dat　dare's　no　slaves　way　over　in　dem　parts；　is　um　so？〃

I　quietly　said；　〃I　have　heard　the　same　thing。〃

〃Well；〃　continued　he；　as　he　threw　down　the　boot　and　brush；　and；　placing　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　strutted　across　the　floor　with　an　air　of　independence〃Gorra　Mighty；　dem　is　de　parts　for　Pompey；　and　I　hope　when　you　get　dare　you　will　stay；　and　nebber　follow　dat　buckra　back　to　dis　hot　quarter　no　more；　let　him　be　eber　so　good。〃

I　thanked　him；　and　just　as　I　took　the　boots　up　and　started　off；　he　caught　my　hand　between　his　two；　and　gave　it　a　hearty　shake；　and；　with　tears　streaming　down　his　cheeks；　said：

〃God　bless　you；　broder；　and　may　de　Lord　be　wid　you。　　When　you　gets　de　freedom；　and　sitin　under　your　own　wine　and　fig…tree；　don't　forget　to　pray　for　poor　Pompey。〃

I　was　afraid　to　say　much　to　him；　but　I　shall　never　forget　his　earnest　request；　nor　fail　to　do　what　little　I　can　to　release　the　millions　of　unhappy　bondmen；　of　whom　he　was　one。

At　the　proper　time　my　master　had　the　poultices　placed　on；　came　down；　and　seated　himself　at　a　table　in　a　very　brilliant　dining…room；　to　have　his　dinner。　I　had　to　have　something　at　the　same　time；　in　order　to　be　ready　for　the　boat；　so　they　gave　me　my　dinner　in　an　old　broken　plate；　with　a　rusty　knife　and　fork；　and　said；　〃Here；　boy；　you　go　in　the　kitchen。〃　　I　took　it　and　went　out；　but　did　not　stay　more　than　a　few　minutes；　because　I　was　in　a　great　hurry　to　get　back　to　see　how　the　invalid　was　getting　on。　　On　arriving　I　found　two　or　three　servants　waiting　on　him；　but　as　he　did　not　feel　able　to　make　a　very　hearty　dinner；　he　soon　finished；　paid　the　bill；　and　gave　the　servants　each　a　trifle；　which　caused　one　of　them　to　say　to　me；　〃Your　massa　is　a　big　bug〃meaning　a　gentleman　of　distinction　〃he　is　the　greatest　gentleman　dat　has　been　dis　way　for　dis　six　months。〃　　I　said；　〃Yes；　he　is　some　pumpkins；〃　meaning　the　same　as　〃big　bug。〃

When　we　left　Macon；　it　was　our　intention　to　take　a　steamer　at　Charleston　through　to　Phila…　delphia；　but　on　arriving　there　we　found　that　the　vessels　did　not　run　during　the　winter；　and　I　have　no　doubt　it　was　well　for　us　they　did　not；　for　on　the　very　last　voyage　the　steamer　made　that　we　intended　to　go　by；　a　fugitive　was　discovered　secreted　on　board；　and　sent　back　to　slavery。　　However；　as　we　had　also　heard　of　the　Overland　Mail　Route；　we　were　all　right。　　So　I　ordered　a　fly　to　the　door；　had　the　luggage　placed　on；　we　got　in；　and　drove　down　to　the　Custom…house　Office；　which　was　near　the　wharf　where　we　had　to　obtain　tickets；　to　take　a　steamer　for　Wilmington；　North　Carolina。　　When　we　reached　the　building；　I　helped　my　master　into　the　office；　which　was　crowded　with　passengers。　He　asked　for　a　ticket　for　himself　and　one　for　his　slave　to　Philadelphia。　　This　caused　the　prin…　cipal　officera　very　mean…looking；　cheese…coloured　fellow；　who　was　sitting　thereto　look　up　at　us　very　suspiciously；　and　in　a　fierce　tone　of　voice　he　said　to　me；　〃Boy；　do　you　belong　to　that　gentleman？〃　I　quickly　replied；　〃Yes；　sir〃　（which　was　quite　correct）。　　The　tickets　were　handed　out；　and　as　my　master　was　paying　for　them　the　chief　man　said　to　him；　〃I　wish　you　to　register　your　name　here；　sir；　and　also　the　name　of　your　nigger；　and　pay　a　dollar　duty　on　him。〃

My　master　paid　the　dollar；　and　pointing　to　the　hand　that　was　in　the　poultice；　requested　the　officer　to　register　his　name　for　him。　　This　seemed　to　offend　the　〃high…bred〃　South　Carolinian。　　He　jumped　up；　shaking　his　head；　and；　cramming　his　hands　almost　through　the　bottom　of　his　trousers　pockets；　with　a　slave…bullying　air；　said；　〃I　shan't　do　it。〃

This　attracted　the　attention　of　all　the　passengers。　Just　then　the　young　military　officer　with　whom　my　master　travelled　and　conversed　on　the　steamer　from　Savannah　stepped　in；　somewhat　the　worse